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Bursera graveolens

Table of Contents

Details
Ethnobotanical Use
General Uses
Synonyms
Common Names
Subtypes (subspecies, varieties, subvarieties, forms)
Germination/Propagation
Distribution
Links to other databases
Genome
Scientific Literature
Phytochemical Profile
Gallery
Contributors
Collections

Details Top

Internal ID UUID64400e50468f1043227724
Scientific name Bursera graveolens
Authority Triana & Planch.
First published in Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot. , sér. 5, 14: 303 (1872)

Ethnobotanical Use Top

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General Uses Top

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Common products:
Commercial use centers on aromatic heartwood and essential oil. Heartwood is sold as “Palo Santo” and processed into carvings, incense, and small timber objects. The steam-distilled essential oil is marketed as Palo Santo oil.

Industrial and craft applications:
The hardwood is used in carving and small craft items. Charcoal is produced from small pieces and residues. The essential oil is used in fragrance formulations and as a perfuming agent in incense and related products; oil content of heartwood typically ranges from about 0.5–3% (Allen 1991; Heinrich et al., 2004).

Wood and fiber:
The wood is pale to golden-brown, straight- to interlocked-grained, and dense (air-dry ≈0.8–1.0 g/cm³). It machines and carves well and yields a fine, smooth finish suitable for small objects and craftwork.

Fragrance and cosmetics:
The essential oil (CSD: pale yellow; typical specific gravity ≈0.876–0.884 at 20°C; refractive index ≈1.474–1.480 at 20°C; limonene usually the major component) is used in perfume, aromatics, and incense. Because the oil can be a skin sensitizer, formulations generally incorporate it at low levels and avoid use on irritated or broken skin.

Properties relevant to use:
The oil’s limonene-rich profile underlies its fresh citrus-like aroma. Wood density and fine grain enable precise carving and finishing. Oil yield and composition vary with source and season; careful distillation is required to avoid degradation and off-odors.

Standards and regulation:
Where used in cosmetics or fragrances, formulators must meet applicable national and regional regulations (e.g., EU Cosmetic Regulation 1223/2009) and follow IFRA guidance on usage limits for skin-contact applications. Essential oil shipments may require safety data sheets and appropriate hazard classification in accordance with transport regulations (ADR/RID/IMDG/ICAO).

Sustainability and sourcing:
Wild-harvesting for timber and oil can pressure local populations. Access and export may be regulated in some range countries; trade is monitored by CITES for relevant Appendices. Sustainable practices include cultivation and the use of deadfall or pruning residues for oil distillation rather than cutting healthy trees.

Synonyms Top

Scientific name Authority First published in
Amyris caranifera Willd. ex Engl. Monogr. Phan. [A.DC. & C.DC.] 4: 49. 1883 [Mar 1883]
Amyris graveolens Spreng. Syst. Veg. 4(2): 148 (1827)
Amyris pubescens Willd. ex Schltdl. Linnaea 16(6): 527. 1843 [Mar 1843]
Bursera anderssonii B.L.Rob. Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 38: 160 (1902)
Bursera graveolens var. pubescens Engl. Monogr. Phan. 4: 49 (1883)
Bursera graveolens var. villosula Cuatrec. Webbia 12: 431 (1957)
Bursera pubescens (Schltdl.) Standl. Publ. Field Columb. Mus., Bot. Ser. 4: 217. 1929
Bursera tatamaco Triana & Planch. Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot. , sér. 5, 14: 303 (1872)
Elaphrium graveolens Kunth Nov. Gen. Sp. 7: 31 (1824)
Elaphrium pubescens Schltdl. Linnaea 16: 527 (1842)
Elaphrium tatamaco Tul. Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot. , sér. 3, 6: 368 (1846)
Spondias edmonstonei Hook.f. Trans. Linn. Soc. London 20: 230 (1847)
Terebinthus graveolens Rose Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 10: 119 (1906)
Terebinthus pubescens Rose Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 12: 279 (1909)
Elaphrium tacamaco Tul. Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot. , sér. 3, 6: 368 (1846)

Common names Top

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Language Common/alternative name
Spanish terebinthus graveolens
Spanish spondias edmonstonei
Spanish elaphrium tatamaco
Spanish elaphrium pubescens
Spanish elaphrium graveolens
Spanish amyris caranifera
Arabic ربد
Arabic ورد الحمار
Croatian sveto drvo
Italian palosanto
Italian palo santo
Japanese パロサント
Lithuanian kvapioji bursera
Polish palo santo
Slovenian palo santo
Chinese 聖木
Chinese 祕魯聖木
Chinese 帕洛桑托
Chinese 印加聖木

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

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Name Authority First published in
Bursera graveolens subsp. malacophylla (B.L.Rob.) A.Weeks & Tye Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 161: 407 (2009)
Bursera graveolens subsp. graveolens Unknown

Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

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Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

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Forms (abbr. f.) Top

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Germination/Propagation Top

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Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
  • Northern America
    • Mexico
      • Mexico Central
      • Mexico Gulf
      • Mexico Northeast
      • Mexico Southeast
      • Mexico Southwest
  • Southern America
    • Caribbean
      • Cuba
      • Southwest Caribbean
    • Central America
      • Costa Rica
      • El Salvador
      • Guatemala
      • Honduras
      • Nicaragua
    • Northern South America
      • Venezuela
    • Western South America
      • Colombia
      • Ecuador
      • Galápagos
      • Peru

Links to other databases Top

Suggest others/fix!
Database ID/link to page
World Flora Online wfo-0000576197
UNII D041Y34RO2
Tropicos 4700223
KEW urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:127138-1
The Plant List kew-2687541
Open Tree Of Life 5146120
NCBI Taxonomy 300214
IUCN Red List 67836767
IPNI 127138-1
iNaturalist 62814
GBIF 7286883
Freebase /m/07jtll
EPPO BUEGR
USDA GRIN 8169
Wikipedia Bursera_graveolens

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.

Scientific Literature Top

Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
Title Authors Publication Released IDs
The Repellent Capacity against Sitophilus zeamais (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and In Vitro Inhibition of the Acetylcholinesterase Enzyme of 11 Essential Oils from Six Plants of the Caribbean Region of Colombia Muñoz-Acevedo A, González MC, Alonso JE, Flórez KC Molecules 12-Apr-2024
PMCID:PMC11051817
doi:10.3390/molecules29081753
PMID:38675573
Identification and Genome Characterization of a Novel Virus within the Genus Totivirus from Chinese Bayberry (Myrica rubra) Xu Z, Gao Y, Teng K, Ge H, Zhang X, Wu M, Li R, Wu Z, Zheng L Viruses 12-Feb-2024
PMCID:PMC10893191
doi:10.3390/v16020283
PMID:38400058
Acaricidal and insecticidal activity of essential oils obtained from the aerial parts of three Mexican Bursera species Krengel F, Pavela R, Ocampo-Bautista F, Guevara-Fefer P Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 17-Nov-2023
PMCID:PMC10724095
doi:10.1007/s11356-023-30895-w
PMID:37975981
Antibacterial Efficiency of Tanacetum vulgare Essential Oil against ESKAPE Pathogens and Synergisms with Antibiotics Roman H, Niculescu AG, Lazăr V, Mitache MM Antibiotics (Basel) 17-Nov-2023
PMCID:PMC10669310
doi:10.3390/antibiotics12111635
PMID:37998837
The significance of essential oils and their antifungal properties in the food industry: A systematic review Abdi-Moghadam Z, Mazaheri Y, Rezagholizade-shirvan A, Mahmoudzadeh M, Sarafraz M, Mohtashami M, Shokri S, Ghasemi A, Nickfar F, Darroudi M, Hossieni H, Hadian Z, Shamloo E, Rezaei Z Heliyon 29-Oct-2023
PMCID:PMC10637975
doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21386
PMID:37954273
Larvicidal Potential of Caribbean Plants Layne-Yarde RN, Sandiford SL Biomed Res Int 26-Aug-2023
PMCID:PMC10474962
doi:10.1155/2023/5518863
PMID:37663786
Therapeutic Applications of Essential Oils from Native and Cultivated Ecuadorian Plants: Cutaneous Candidiasis and Dermal Anti-Inflammatory Activity Sosa L, Espinoza LC, Valarezo E, Bozal N, Calpena A, Fábrega MJ, Baldomà L, Rincón M, Mallandrich M Molecules 05-Aug-2023
PMCID:PMC10420932
doi:10.3390/molecules28155903
PMID:37570874
Adult conspecific density affects Janzen-Connell patterns by modulating the recruitment exclusion zones Bonanomi G, Bobrovskikh A, Cartenì F, Mazzoleni S, Giannino F Front Plant Sci 27-Jun-2023
PMCID:PMC10333542
doi:10.3389/fpls.2023.1079975
PMID:37441185
Biogeographical Relationships and Diversity in the Peruvian Flora Reported by Hipólito Ruiz and José Pavón: Vegetation, Uses and Anthropology Arias-Gámez JM, Linares-Perea E, Vicente-Orellana JA, Galán-de-Mera A Biology (Basel) 13-Feb-2023
PMCID:PMC9953382
doi:10.3390/biology12020294
PMID:36829570
Effects of Microencapsulated Essential Oils on Equine Health: Nutrition, Metabolism and Methane Emission Elghandour MM, Maggiolino A, García EI, Sánchez-Aparicio P, De Palo P, Ponce-Covarrubias JL, Pliego AB, Salem AZ Life (Basel) 06-Feb-2023
PMCID:PMC9963397
doi:10.3390/life13020455
PMID:36836812
Galápagos tortoise stable isotope ecology and the 1850s Floreana Island Chelonoidis niger niger extinction Conrad C, Barceló LP, Scheinberg L, Campbell PD, Wynn A, Gibbs JP, Aguilera WT, Cayot L, Bruner K, Pastron AG, Jones EL Sci Rep 23-Dec-2022
PMCID:PMC9789057
doi:10.1038/s41598-022-26631-y
PMID:36564467
In vitro antiplasmodial activity of selected plants from the Colombian North Coast with low cytotoxicity Vergara S, Diaz F, Diez A, Bautista JM, Moneriz C Trop Parasitol 24-Nov-2022
PMCID:PMC9832501
doi:10.4103/tp.tp_9_22
PMID:36643988
Evaluation of Essential Oils as Sprout Suppressants for Potato (Solanum tuberosum) at Room Temperature Storage Thoma JL, Cantrell CL, Zheljazkov VD Plants (Basel) 11-Nov-2022
PMCID:PMC9696970
doi:10.3390/plants11223055
PMID:36432783
Special Issue on Plant and Marine-Derived Natural Product Research in Drug Discovery: Strengths and Perspective Duarte N Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 11-Oct-2022
PMCID:PMC9608971
doi:10.3390/ph15101249
PMID:36297361
Lignans: a versatile source of anticancer drugs Mukhija M, Joshi BC, Bairy PS, Bhargava A, Sah AN Beni Suef Univ J Basic Appl Sci 04-Jun-2022
PMCID:PMC9166195
doi:10.1186/s43088-022-00256-6
PMID:35694188

Phytochemical Profile Top

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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
You can also contribute to this by clicking here.
Name PubChem ID Canonical SMILES MW Found in Proof
> Lignans, neolignans and related compounds / Lignan lactones
(5aR,8aR,9S)-9-(1,3-benzodioxol-4-yl)-4-methoxy-5a,6,8a,9-tetrahydro-5H-[2]benzofuro[6,5-f][1,3]benzodioxol-8-one 163106153 Click to see COC1=C2CC3COC(=O)C3C(C2=CC4=C1OCO4)C5=C6C(=CC=C5)OCO6 382.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.53.229
5-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-5a,8,8a,9-tetrahydro-5H-[2]benzofuro[5,6-f][1,3]benzodioxol-6-one 5199318 Click to see C1C2COC(=O)C2C(C3=CC4=C(C=C31)OCO4)C5=CC6=C(C=C5)OCO6 352.30 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.53.229
9-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-4-methoxy-5a,6,8a,9-tetrahydro-5H-[2]benzofuro[6,5-f][1,3]benzodioxol-8-one 72762427 Click to see COC1=C2CC3COC(=O)C3C(C2=CC4=C1OCO4)C5=CC6=C(C=C5)OCO6 382.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.53.229
Burseranin 11234404 Click to see 382.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/CHIN.200533271
https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.53.229
Picropolygamain 10338061 Click to see 352.30 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.53.229
https://doi.org/10.1002/CHIN.200533271
Polygamain 156202 Click to see 352.30 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.53.229
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids
(1R,3aR,5aR,5bR,7aR,9R,11aR,11bR,13aR,13bS)-3a,5a,5b,8,8,11a-hexamethyl-1-prop-1-en-2-yl-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,7a,9,10,11,11b,12,13,13a,13b-hexadecahydrocyclopenta[a]chrysen-9-ol 10550384 Click to see CC(=C)C1CCC2(C1C3CCC4C5(CCC(C(C5CCC4(C3(CC2)C)C)(C)C)O)C)C 426.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.53.229
Alpha-Amyrin 73170 Click to see 426.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.3987/COM-03-9822
Epilupeol 5270628 Click to see CC(=C)C1CCC2(C1C3CCC4C5(CCC(C(C5CCC4(C3(CC2)C)C)(C)C)O)C)C 426.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/CHIN.200533271
https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.53.229
Lup-20(29)-en-3-ol, (3beta)- 521518 Click to see CC(=C)C1CCC2(C1C3CCC4C5(CCC(C(C5CCC4(C3(CC2)C)C)(C)C)O)C)C 426.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.53.229
Lupeol 259846 Click to see CC(=C)C1CCC2(C1C3CCC4C5(CCC(C(C5CCC4(C3(CC2)C)C)(C)C)O)C)C 426.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.53.229
https://doi.org/10.1002/CHIN.200533271
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Oxosteroids / 16-oxosteroids
(1R,2S,4aS,4bR,6aR,10aR,12aR)-1-(carboxymethyl)-2-(2-carboxypropan-2-yl)-1,4a,4b,9,9-pentamethyl-3,4,5,6,7,8,10,10a,12,12a-decahydro-2H-chrysene-6a-carboxylic acid 163188569 Click to see 502.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1039/JR9640004254
1-(carboxymethyl)-2-(2-carboxypropan-2-yl)-1,4a,4b,9,9-pentamethyl-3,4,5,6,7,8,10,10a,12,12a-decahydro-2H-chrysene-6a-carboxylic acid 75067116 Click to see 502.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1039/JR9640004254
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Stigmastanes and derivatives
beta-Sitosterol 3-O-beta-D-galactopyranoside 296119 Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)CO)O)O)O)C)C)C(C)C 576.80 unknown https://doi.org/10.3987/COM-03-9822
Sitogluside 5742590 Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)CO)O)O)O)C)C)C(C)C 576.80 unknown https://doi.org/10.3987/COM-03-9822
> Organoheterocyclic compounds / Benzofurans
3,6-Dimethyl-7a-hydroxy-5,6,7,7a-tetrahydrobenzofuran-2(4H)-one 156203 Click to see 182.22 unknown https://doi.org/10.1039/JR9640004254
Schizonepetin 86575555 Click to see 182.22 unknown https://doi.org/10.1039/JR9640004254
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-3-O-glycosides
Astragalin 5282102 Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O 448.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.3987/COM-03-9822
Avicularin 5490064 Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)OC4C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O 434.30 unknown https://doi.org/10.3987/COM-03-9822
Hyperoside 5281643 Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O)O 464.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.3987/COM-03-9822
Kaempferol 3-O-beta-D-xyloside 21310440 Click to see 418.30 unknown https://doi.org/10.3987/COM-03-9822

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