Frankincense An enriching factor of Oman’s heritage

by tapping on the tree in multiple places. the luban production process begins by tapping the branches of the tree with a sharp tool until a milky colour and viscous resins begins to come out from the holes made by scratching the tree. Within 14 days, the liquid solidifies or freezes, and then it is harvested.

Tapping frankincense trees is not a random process. It is a process that requires special technical skill and expert hands. Even the process of tapping on the tree varies from one tree to another according to their size. The harvest lasts for three months, and the average yield per tree is 7 to 10 kilograms.

Omani frankincense, which is considered one of the best types of luban in the world, is still on demand in many countries around the world, as it is included in the manufacture of medicines, oils, powders, perfumes, special candles and cosmetics, in addition to its use in many places of worship around the world.

It is, also, used as an important material in the incense industry, which is one of the symbols of Omani culture and is used almost daily in every Omani house. It was mentioned and praised by Ibn Sina, a Muslim scientist, who said “it cures all diseases”.

Since ancient times, India, the African continent, and the Sultanate of Oman have been famous for using luban in traditional folk medicine to treat many diseases —the most important of which are mouth and skin ulcers, hair loss, diarrhea, colds, and arthritis, and was used against snake venom or poison.

A team of researchers at the Research Center for Natural and Medical Sciences at Nizwa University, confirmed the possibility of increasing the production of the Acetyl ketobeta-bowsellic Acid (AKBA) from 5 per cent to 30 per cent from a natural source — that is, luban gum — and purity up to 99.9 per cent, as it is an effective compound against types of cancer cells. This method, actually, was first invented and registered as a patent in the name of the university.

Efforts to protect luban include preserving it in its habitats, protecting it from grazing and the unfair use of its lands, and conducting surveys of the luban environment in a number of areas in order to identify the plant intensity of this species and the current state of these trees.