ABSTRACT
Gums, resins, essential oils, secondary metabolites, mucilage, latex, etc., are important plant by-products serving humans with their unique characteristics through a variety of biological and physicochemical properties. The oleo resins possess both gum and aromatic properties, and thus are used as an excellent source of incense. They are produced from the tree species belonging to the genus Boswellia of Burseraceae family. The oleo gum is exuded from the trees due to the natural or deliberate incisions or wounds on the stem bark. The gum secretion when dried for about 15 to 20 days on the stem bark forms into a specific rounded or amorphous crystalline form. Due to its aromatic nature, the gum has attained a commercial value, and became an important commodity, impacting on the global economy. Generally, the rural/tribal people are involved in the collection of gum during February to May in a year. The over-extraction and improper tapping methods and demand in the international marketshas led to its over-exploitation, causing decreased population of Boswellia species, apart from the other threats, such as grazing, extreme environment, insect attack and infestation, low seed setting, and its success in the fields to grow as mature trees. The major species, such as B. dalzielii, B. frereana, B. neglecta, B. sacra (syn. B. carterii), B. papyrifera, B. occulta, B. serrata, etc., are facing high risks, due to over tapping and improper methods of extraction. Many of these species have entered into endangered (EN) status, in addition to some of them being reported as endemic in nature. Hence, the knowledge on the gum extraction methods serve to save the life of these trees. This chapter discusses on the gum collection protocols, tools, and tapping methods adapted to the Boswellia species for an efficient and quality tapping.
