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 the Guimet Museum in Lyon have been analyzed by GC-MS. Derivatives of aromatic acids (hydroxyhydrocinnamic, vanillic, protocatechuic and gallic acids) and inositols (non-methylated and mono-O-methyl) have been found among the constituents of extracts prepared by methanolysis and trimethylsilylation. From the reported electron impact mass spectra, ion 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 was not previously known to be used for mummification in ancient Egypt. The nature and abundance ratios of the detected inositols also appeared to be a promising criterion to further investigate the botanical source of the tannin employed.