IDENTIFICATION OF PHENOLIC-ACIDS AND INOSITOLS IN BALMS AND TISSUES FROM AN EGYPTIAN MUMMY

A number of samples taken from an Egyptian mummy (ca. 100 B.C.) from t he Guimet Museum in Lyon have been analyzed by GC-MS. Derivatives of a romatic acids (hydroxyhydrocinnamic, vaniliic, protocatechuic and gall ic acids) and inositols (non-methylated and mono-O-methyl) have been f ound among the constituents of extracts prepared by methanolysis and t rimethylsilylation. From the reported electron impact mass spectra, io n sets where proposed for a sensitive and selective profiling of these selected compounds by mass fragmentometry. The source of gallic acid and inositol was found to be a vegetable tannin, an ingredient which w as not previously known to be used for mummification in ancient Egypt. The nature and abundance ratios of the detected inositols also appear ed to be a promising criterion to further investigate the botanical so urce of the tannin employed.