RESINS AND RESIN DRUGS

RESINS AND RESINS

COMBINATION
The term ‘resin’ is applied to more or less
solid, amorphous products of complex
chemical nature. These are amorphous
mixtures of essential oils, oxygenated
products of terpenes and carboxylic acids
 Resins and related resinous products are

produced in plants during normal growth or

secreted as a result of injury to the plants

 The y usually occur in schizogenous or

schizolysigenous cavities or ducts

GENERAL PROPERTIES
Physical characters –
1.All resins are heavier than water , they are
usually amorphous, hard, and brittle solids.
2.They are insoluble in water and usually
insoluble in petroleum ether but dissolve more
or less completely in alcohol, chloroform and
ether.
3. Chemically, resins are complex
mixtures of resin acids, resin
phenols (resinols),
alcohols (resinotannols),
resin esters
chemicall and inert compounds
y resenes. known as

4. Many resins whenboiled with

alkalies yield soaps
5.By the action of heat they soften
yielding
clear, adhesive fluids , Resins burn with a

characteristic, smoky flame.

6.Resins are often associated with volatile oils

(oleoresins), with gums (gum-resins) or

with oil and gum (oleo-gum-resins).

7.Resins may also be combined in a

glycosidal manner with sugars.(glycoresins)

 CHEMICAL
NATURE :
 Chemically resins are not pure substances

but complex mixtures of several resinous

substances as resin acids, resin alcohols, resin
esters, and neutral resins.
 Resins do not contain nitrogen elements
 ( Non nitrogenous compounds)
 CLASSIFICATION OF
RESINS
 Resins are classified in three different
ways:
1. Taxonomical classification, i.e. according to
botanical origin, e.g. Berberidaceae resins.
2. Classification according to predominating
chemical constituent; e.g. acid resins,
resene resins, glycosidal resins; etc.
 3.Resins may be classified according to the
portion of the main constituents of the resin
or resin combination; e.g. resins, oleoresins,
oleo-gum-resins, balsams.
 CLASSIFICATION OF
1.RESINS
Acid resins –
Here the resins occur along with their acids.
Examples –
Colophony – Abietic acid
Sandrac - Sandracolic acid
Myrrh - Commiphoric
acid
Copaiba
- Copaivic acid
2. Ester resins –
This group contains esters chie
f
as the constituents of the
resins-
Examples
Benzoin and Storax ,
Benzoin contains benzyl benzoate,
Storax contains cinnamyl cinnamate
3.Resin alcohols –
They occurs as in free state or
as esters , examples –

Balsam of peru with perru resino tannol

Guaiaccum resin with guaic resinol
They are also further classified into –

Resins: colophony, cannabis.

Oleoresins: copaiba, ginger.
Oleo-gum-resins: asafoetida, myrrh.
Balsams: balsam of Tolu, balsam of Peru.
Glycoresins : jalap and Ipomoeia
Resenes : Asafoetida, colophony
 BALSAM

S
Balsams are resinous mixtures that contain large
proportions of cinnamic acid, benzoic acid or
both or esters of these acids.
 The term “balsam” is often wrongly applied to
oleoresins and should be reserved for such
substances as balsam of Peru, balsam of Tolu and
storax, which contain a high proportion of
aromatic balsamic acids.
 PREPARATION OF
RESINS
Two general classes of resinous substances are
recognized and this classification is based on
the method used in preparing them:
1. Natural resins, occur as exudates from plants,
produced normally or as result of pathogenic
conditions
 Example by artificial punctures e.g.
mastic; or deep cuts in the wood of the
plant e.g. turpentine, or by hammering and
scorching, e.g. balsam of Peru.
2. Prepared resins;
Are obtained by different methods. The drug
containing resins is powdered and extracted
with alcohol till exhaustion. The Concentrated
alcoholic extract is either evaporated, or
poured into water and the precipitated resin is
collected, washed and carefully dried.
 In the preparation of oleoresins; ether or
acetone having lower boiling point are used.
The volatile oil portion is removed through
distillation.

When the resin occurs associated with gum

(gum-resins), the resin is extracted with
alcohol leaving the gum insoluble.
Crude drugs containing resins
And resin combinations
 GINGE
R
Biological source –
It consists of the whole or cut dried
peeled and unpeeled rhizomes of Zingiber
officinale. It contains NLT 0.8% total Gingerols on
air dry basis. Family – Zingiberaceae
Chemical constituents –

phenolic compounds, terpenes, polysaccharides, lipids,

organic acids, and raw fibers.

It contains 1-2% of volatile oil, 5-

8% pungent principle, resinous mass and starch

It contains pungent principles gingerol, zingiberone

& traces of shogaol and phenolic compounds such as
quercetin, zingerone, gingerenone-A, and 6 -
dehydrogingerdione
terpene components in ginger, such as β-
bisabolene, α-curcumene, zingiberene, α-
farnesene, and β-sesquiphellandrene, which are
considered to be the main constituents of ginger
essential oils.
Uses
–
1.Used as stomachic, Used as an aromatic
2. Used as a carminative, Used as stimulant
3. Used as flavouring agent, Ginger oil is
used in mouth washes, ginger
bevarages and liquors.
BENZOIN
Synonyms – Gum benzoin, Luban, Loban, Sambrani,
Lobana (Sumatra benzoin)

Biological source- Benzoin is the balsamic resin

obtained from the incised stem of Styrax benzoin,
Styrax paralleloneurus (Sumatra) or Styrax
tonkinensis (Siam). Should contain NLT 25 % of total
Balsamic acids.
Family – Styraceae
Chemical constituents –
It contains 25% of balsamic acids
– Cinnamic acid and benzoic acid
It contains 70-80% resin consisting
triterpenoids, siaresinoli of acid
c
resinolic acid. and suma
It also contains vanillin, sterol,
phenyl propyl cinnamate responsible for
the aromatic smell
 CHEMICAL TESTS -

1. Heat small amount of benzoin slowly in a dry

test tube --- melts and evolves white fumes,
Which on condensation form crystalline
sublimate.
2. Benzoin when heated with potassium
permanganate solution --- odour of
benzaldehyde ( Sumatra benzoin )
3. Benzoin is extracted with alcohol and to the extract

Water was added --- milky white solution is formed.

*4. Digest benzoin with few drops of petroleum ether for

5 minutes. Pour 1ml of the above solution in a

porcelain dish containing 2-3 drops of con. Sulphuric

acid and rotate the dish --- reddish brown colour is

produced ( Benzoin confirmed).

 USES
-1.Used as an antiseptic

2. Used as an expectorant
3. Used on the skin for ulcers, bed sores
(pressure ulcers), cracked skin
4. It is used in the preparation of Compound
benzoin tincture
 SIAM
BENZOIN
Chemical constituents – It contains about 70%
crystalline and 10% amorphous coniferyl benzoate, 10%
free benzoic acid, 6% siaresinolic acid, vanillin,
cinnamyl benzoate ( Absence of cinnamic acid)

Uses – Antiseptic, expectorant, used in perfumery,

cosmetics etc
ASAFOETID
A
Synonyms – Heeng, hing, hingu

Biological source –

It is the oleo-gum-resin obtained by incising the

living rhizomes and roots of Ferula foetida,

Ferula asafoetida

Family - Umbelliferae
CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS -

It contains 4-20% of volatile oil, 45-60% of resin and

20% of gum.

Volatile oil contains Pinene, organic disulphide

(isobutylpropenyl disulphide responsible for alliaceous
odour). Resin contains free asaresinotannaol and in
combination with ferulic acid.
 CHEMICAL TESTS -
1. Powder triturated with water – yellowish
orange emulsion is produced.
*2. Combined umbelliferone test –
Triturate the drug (if in tear form) with sand.
Drug is boiled with hydrochloric acid for
5minutes. It is filtered and add alcohol and excess
of ammonia to the filtrate – A blue fluorescence
is produced .
3.Drug is treated with few drops of 50% nitric acid
– Green colour is produced
4.Drug is treated with few drops of sulphuric acid
– red colour is produced which changes to violet
on washing with water.
Uses – As a carminative, an expectorant, an
antispasmodic , as a laxative, nervine tonic.
stomach-ache, flatulence, against intestinal
parasites, weak digestion and influenza.
COLOPHONY
Synonyms – Chir, long needle pine, Rosin
Biological source –
Colophony is the solid residue obtained after
distilling the oleo-resin from various species of
pinus- pinus longifolia, pinus palustris, pinus
maritima
Family - Pinaceae
 CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS-

It contains resin acids – abietic acid , neutral

inert substance – resenes, esters of fatty acid.
Chemical tests –
1.Dissolve the powdered drug in 2-3ml of acetic
anhydride in a test tube and a drop of con.
Sulphuric acid – violet colour is produced
2.An alcoholic solution of colophony is acidic
to litmus
3.Colophony is dissolved in light petroleum
and filtered. To the filtrate 2-3 times its
volume , dilute copper acetate solution is
added – emerald green colour is seen in the
petroleum layer ( upper layer )
Uses –
Used in the preparation of
plasters and ointments.
Used in the manufacture of varnishes and
disinfecting liquids. paper sizing, adhesives,
paints, printing inks and plasticizers.
GUGGUL

Synonyms

Gum guggul, Salai-gogil, Indian bdellium tree

Biological Source

Guggul is a gum resin obtained by incision of the bark

of Commiphora mukul (H. and S.) Engl., belonging to
family Burseraceae.

Geographical Source

The tree is a small, thorny plant distributed throughout India.

Chemical Constituents

Guggul contains gum (32%), essential oil (1.45%), sterols

(guggulsterols I to VI, β-sitosterol, cholesterol, Z- and E-
guggulsterone), sugars (sucrose, fructose), amino acids, α-
camphorene, cembrene, allylcembrol, flavonoids (quercetin and
its glycosides), ellagic acid, myricyl alcohol, aliphatic tetrols, etc.
Uses
Guggul significantly lowers serum triglycerides and
cholesterol as well as LDL and VLDL cholesterols (the
bad cholesterols). At the same time, it raises levels of
HDL cholesterol (the good cholesterol), inhibits
platelet aggregation, and may increase thermogenesis
through stimulation of the thyroid, potentially resulting
in weight loss.

It is astringent, aritirheumatic, antiseptic, expectorant,

aphrodisiac, demulcent, and emmenagogue. The resin
is used in the form of a lotion for indolent ulcers and as
a gargle in teeth disorders, tonsillitis, pharyngitis, and
ulcerated throat.
MYRRH

Synonyms: Gum-resin Myrrh; Gum Myrrh; Arabian or Somali

Myrrh; Myrrha.

Biological Source

Myrrh is an oleo gum-resin obtained from the stems

of Commiphora molmol Eng. or C. abyssinica or other
species of Commiphora, belonging to family Burseraceae.

Geographical Source

It grows in Arabian pennisula, Ethiopia, Nubia, and Somali land.

Chemical Constituents

Myrrh contains resin (25–40%), gum (57–61%), and volatile oil

(7–17%). Large portion of the resin is ether-soluble
containing α-, β-, and γ-commiphoric acids, resenes, the esters of
another resin acid and two phenolic compounds.
The volatile oil is a mixture of cuminic aldehyde, eugenol, cresol,
pinene, limonene, dipentene, and two sesquiterpenes. The
disagreeable odour of the oil is due to mainly the disulphide. The
gum contains proteins (18%) and carbohydrate (64%) which is a
mixture of galactose, arabinose, glucuronic acid, and an oxidase
enzyme.
Chemical Tests

1. A yellow brown emulsion is produced on trituration with water.

2. Ethereal solution of Myrrh turns red on treatment with bromine
vapours. The solution becomes purple with nitric acid.
Uses

Myrrh is used as carminative and in incense and

perfumes. It has local stimulant and antiseptic properties
and is utilized in tooth powder and as mouth wash.
Topically it is astringent to mucous membranes. It is used
in a tincture, paint, gargle and rinse due to its
disinfecting, deodorizing, and in inflammatory
conditions of the mouth and throat. Alcoholic extracts are
used as fixatives in the perfumery industry.