Resins

Plant Synonyms Biological Family Morphology Main chemical Chemical tests Uses
Source Constituent
Sumatra Loban Balsamic resin Stryaceae Occurrence – brittle Free balsamic acids 1.On heating, gives irritating -Antiseptic
Benzoin obtained from masses, opaque, white tears (benzoic & cinnamic fumes of benzoic & cinnamic -carminative
Styrax Color - Greyish acids), triterpenoid acids acids -healing reagent in
benzoin & brown/reddish brown (80%) – summaresinolic 2.1gm benzoin + 4ml respiratory tract
Styrax Fracture – uneven & siaresinolic acids KMNO4 Odour of infections
paralleloneur Taste – sweet & slightly benzaldehyde (Sumatra
us acrid benzoin)
Odour – Agreeable & 3.2.5g benzoin + 10ml ether
vanilla like (shake well & pour this
extract in porcelain dish) + 2-
3 drops of H2SO4
If deep brown colour –
Sumatra benzoin
If deep purplish red colour –
Siam benzoin
Siam Balsam resin Stryaceae Occurrence – Opaque, Siaresinol benzoate, 1.Alcoholic solution of -Antiseptic
Benzoin obtained from brittle & milky white. phenyl propyl benzoin + water = milky -carminative
Styrax Block of small tears which cinnamate, benzoic acid white solution -healing reagent in
tonkinesis are glassy, transparent, 2.Small quantity of benzoin respiratory tract
reddish brown & embedded when heated in test tube infections
in matrix covered with glass plate may
Color – Yellow to reddish show crystals of cinnamic
brown acid
Odour – vanilla like
Taste – Balsamic (slightly
acrid)
Guggul Scented Obtained by Burseraceae Colour – brown to pale Steroids 1.Ethyl extract of guggul + -Anti-inflammatory
Bdellium, making deep yellow (Guggulosterone E & Z, acetic anhydride, boil + 2ml -antirheumatic
Gum incision at Odour – Agreeable, Guggulosterone I, II, III) H2SO4 = green color develops -hypolipidemic
Guggul basal part of aromatic & balsamic at the junction due to sterols -hyper-
the stem bark Taste – bitter cholesteremic
of Size – 0.5 to 1 to 2.5 cm in
Commiphora diameter
weightti Shape –
round/agglomerated tear
Solubility – partly soluble
in alcohol
Ginger Zinziber, Rhizomes of Zingiberaceae Occurrence – laterally Sesqueterpene 1.Ginger powder + Baryta -Carminative
Adrakh, Zingiber compresses, bearing short, hydrocarbon – water [alkali-2% KOH] + boil -used in post
Aadu officinale flat, ovate & oblique α-zingiberene, β- = pungency of ginger is operative nausea &
branches on upper side & bisabolene, α-farnesene, destroyed vomiting
bud at the apex β-sesquiphell&rene, α- 2.On heating, it gives -relief from pain &
Size – 5-15 cm × 1.5-6.5cm curcumene phenolic ketones (zingerone swelling in
Fracture – short, starchy, & aliphatic aldehydes rheumatoid arthritis
fibrous Phenolic ketones -in motion sickness
Surface – Longitudinal (responsible for
 striations pungency) –
Color – buff colored Gingerol, shogaol,
Taste – agreeable & gingediol,
pungent hexahydrocurcumin
Odour – agreeable &
aromatic
Asafoetida Hing. Obtained by Umbelliferae Shape – tears (rounded or Volatile oils (10-17%) – 1.Broken surface treated with -Nervine stimulant,
Devil’s making flattened & translucent & pinene, terpene, conc. H2SO4 = red or used in nervous
dung incision from opaque) sulphides with Sulphur brownish red color disorders & in
roots & Size – 0.5 – 3 cm in 2.Freshly broken surface of hysteria
rhizomes of diameter Resin (40-64%) - tear + 50% HNO3 = green -carminative & in
Ferula Color – yellowish white Resene A (50%), free color gastric disorders
foetida, changing to reddish brown Ferulic acid (1.3%), in 3.When triturated with water -flavoring agent
Ferula Taste – bitter combined form as gives white emulsion
rubricaulis, Odour – Intense, resinotannol (16%) 4.Triturate about 0.5gm of
Ferula persistent, penetrating drug with s& + 5ml HCl +
narthex little water, filter, to the
(India) filtrate add equal volume of
ammonia = Blue fluorescence
of umbelliferone
Myrrh Gum myrrh, Obtained by Burseraceae Colour – externally – α, β & γ commiphoric 1. 0.1gm of resin + 0.5gm of -Antiseptic
Bol, Myrrha making reddish brown, internally – acid, α & β sand when triturated with -astringent
incision on the brown heerabomyyrhholic acid ether, filtered & allowed to -stimulant
bark of Odour & taste – aromatic evaporate = thin film formed
Commiphora Size – 1.5-3 cm in diameter gives violet color on contact
molmol Shape – round or irregular with bromine vapour
tears 2.When triturated with water
Fracture – granular = yellowish brown emulsion
Surface – translucent &
brittle
Whitish spot on broken
pieces
Colophony Rosin, Residue left Pinaceae Shape – irregular, sharply Abietic acid (90%), 1.Dissolve 1gm of colophony -Diuretic
Amber after the angled pieces Sapinic acid, Pimaric powder in 10ml acetic -stimulant
resin, Gum distillation of Size – different sizes acid anhydride in dry test tube + 1 -disinfectant
resin, Pine Turpentine oil Appearance – brittle. drop of conc. H2SO4, stir it by -in the preparation
resin from crude Transparent or translucent glass rod = purplish red of ointments,
oleo-resin of Color – amber or yellowish colour changing to violet is plasters, etc.
Various brown produced
species of Odour – Turpentine like 2.Alcoholic sol. Of
Pinus Taste – slightly bitter colophony gives acidic
Solubility – Insoluble in reaction with litmus paper
water, but soluble in 3.Dissolve colophony in light
organic solvents petrol & filter + 2-3 times
dilute copper acetate sol.=
petrol layer shows emerald
green colour (due to copper
salt of abietic acid