RESINS AND RESIN COMBINATION

By Faseeha Mudassir3rd Prof, Pharm-D

RESINS

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.

They are usually formed in schizogenous or

schizolysigenous cavities or ducts.

They are end product of metabolism.

GENERAL PROPERTIES

Physical Nature, Chemical Nature

PHYSICAL NATURE

Brittle, amorphous solids

Hard, transparent or translucent.

Insoluble in water.

Dissolve in alcohol or other organic solvents.

When heated, they become soft and finally melt.

On evaporation, these solutions deposit resin as a varnish-like film.

Burn with a characteristic smoky flame.

CHEMICAL NATURE

Chemically, resins are complex mixtures of resin acids,

resin alcohols, resinotannols, esters, and resenes.

Resins do not contain nitrogen elements (Non

nitrogenous compounds).

Many resins ,when boiled with alkalis yield soaps.

CLASSIFICATION OF RESINS

CLASSIFICATION OF RESINS

Resins are classified in three different ways:

i.Taxonomical classification, i.e. according to botanical origin,

e.g. Berberidaceae resins.

ii.Classification according to predominating chemical

constituent; e.g. acid resins, resene resins, glycosidal resins;

etc.

iii.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 ACCORDING TO PREDOMINATING CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS a. Acid Resin:

Contain a Large proportion of oxyacids.

Having both properties of carboxylic acids and phenols.

Occur both in free state and as esters.

Soluble in aqueous solution of alkalis, forming soap like solutions or colloidal suspensions.

Their metallic known as resinates, Used in manufacture of soaps and varnishes.

Examples:

a.Abietic acids in rose or colophony

b.Copaivic acid in copaiba

c.Commiphoric acid myrrh

CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO PREDOMINATING CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS b. Ester Resin:

This group contains esters as the chief constituents of

the resins- Examples -

Benzoin and Storax ,

Benzoin contains benzyl benzoate,

Storax contains cinnamyl cinnamate

CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO PREDOMINATING CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS c. Resin Alcohols:

Occur in free state or in combined state as esters.

Examples –

Balsam of peru with perru resino tannol

Guaiaccum resin with guaic resinol

RESINS MAY BE CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO THE PORTION OF THE MAIN CONSTITUENTS OF THE RESIN OR RESIN COMBINATION 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

DIFFERENCES B/W Glycoresins, Oleoresin, Oleo-gum resins and balsams

GLYCORESINS

Resins in combination with glycosides are known as glucoresins or glycoresins.

These are complex mixtures.

On hydrolysis, they yield sugars and complex resin acids.

EXAMPLES:

a.Jalap

b.Podophyllum

OLEORESIN

Resin often occur in more or less homogenous mixtures with volatile oils and these mixtures are known as oleoresin.

EXAMPLES:

a.Turpentine

b.copaiba

OLEO-GUM RESIN

Oleo resin occur in mixtures with gums and these mixtures are called gum-oleo resins.

Gums can be separated easily from oleoresins because gums are water-soluble carbohydrate derivatives.

EXAMPLES:

a.Asafoetida

b.Myrrh

BALSAMS

Balsams are resinous mixtures that contain cinnamic

acid, benzoic acid, or both, or esters of these acids.

EXAMPLES:

a.Benzoin

b.Peru balsam

c.Tolu balsam

d.Styrax

CRUDE DRUGS CONTAINING RESINS

AND RESIN COMBINATIONS

resins, glycoresins, oleoresins, oleo-gum resins and balsam containing plants

RESINS Rosin and cannabis

ROSIN

SYNONYMS:

Rosin

Colophony

Chir

BOTANICAL ORIGIN:

Pinus palustris

FAMILY:

Pinaceae

PART USED:

Solid Resin

PROPERTIES OF ROSIN

Hard and brittle

Soluble in alcohol, ether and other organic solvents

Odor is faint, piny.

CONSTITUENTS:

• Anhydrides of abietic acid

• Sylvic acid

• Sapinic acid

• Pimaric acid

• Resene etc.

USES:

i. As stiffening agent in cerates, plasters, and ointments

ii. As a diuretic in veterinary medicine.

iii. Manufacture of varnishes, varnish and paint dyers, printing inks, soaps, sealing wax, floor coverings etc.

iv. As an adulterant of other resinous products.

CANNABISSYNONYMS:

Indian hemp

Marijuana

Pot

BOTANICAL ORIGIN:

Cannabis sativa

FAMILY:

Moraceae

PART USED:

Dried flowering parts of the pistillate plants of Cannabis

CONSTITUENTS:

•15-20% of resin, which contain major active principle 1,3,4 Tetra hydro cannabinol (Commonly known as Δ THC). Other constituents include:

•Cannabinol

•Cannabidiol

•Cannabidiolic acid etc.

USES:

Though it is a drug of abuse, medicinal marijuana is used as

i.Sedative

ii.Hypnotic

iii.Narcotic analgesic

iv.Antibacterial agent

v.It has psychotropic properties due to 1,3,4 Tetra hydro cannabinol.

GLYCORESINS Podophyllum, jalap, ipomoea, colocynth

PODOPHYLLUMSYNONYMS:

May Apple

Mandrake

BIOLOGICAL ORIGIN:

Podophyllum peltatum

Podophyllum emodi

FAMILY:

Berberidaceae

PART USED:

Dried rhizome and root

PREPARATION OF PODOPHYLLUM RESINPodophyllum resin is also called podophyllin.

Powdered mixture of resin is extracted by percolation with alcohol followed by precipitation of concentrated percolate with acidified water.

Precipitated resin is washed twice with water.

Then dried and powdered.

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS:

3.5-6% resin whose active principles are lignans. These include:

•Podophyllotoxin

•Alpha- peltatin

•Beta- peltatin

USES:

i.Possess purgative properties.

ii.Resin is antimitotic and caustic.

iii.As a bitter tonic.

JALAP

SYNONYMS:

Jalap

Jalap root

BOTANICAL ORIGIN:

Exogonium purga

FAMILY:

Convolvulaceae

PART USED:

Dried, tuberous root.

PREPARATION OF JALAP RESINExtracting the powdered jalap with an alcohol-water mixture.

Percolate is concentrated and then slowly poured into water and constantly stirred.

Precipitated resin is washed with hot water, collected and dried.

Jalap resin occurs as yellowish brown masses or powder.

CONSTITUENTS:

Resins including glycosides such as:

•Ipurganol

•Jalapin

In addition to this it contains:

•Volatile oil

•Starch

•Gum

•Sugar

USES:

i.Cathartic

ii.Hydragogue

iii.Purgative

IPOMOEA

SYNONYMS:

Orizaba jalap

BOTANICAL ORIGIN:

Ipomoea orizabensis

FAMILY:

Convolvulaceae

PART USED:

The dried root

CONSTITUENTS:

Glucosidal resins containing:

•Glucoside and methyl pentoside of jalapinolic acid and its methyl ester

Also

•Fat

•Phytosterol

•Calcium oxalate

USES:

i.Hydragogue

ii.Cathartic

iii.Source of resina ipomoea

COLOCYNTH

SYNONYMS:

Colocynth apple

Bitter apple

BOTANICAL ORIGIN:

Citrullus colocynthis

FAMILY:

Cucurbitaceae

PART USED:

Dried pulp of the unripe but fully grown fruit

CONSTITUENTS:

•Principle active constituent is glycoresin colocynthin.

In addition, it contains:

•Alkaloid

•Gum etc.

USES:

i.Hydragogue

ii.Cathartic

OLEORESINS Turpentine, capsicum, and ginger

TURPENTINESYNONYMS:

Gum turpentine

Gum thus

BOTANICAL ORIGIN:

Pinus palustris

FAMILY:

Pinaceae

PART USED:

Turpentine is concrete oleoresin obtained from Pinus species

The oleoresin is secreted in ducts located directly beneath the cambium in the sap-wood.

PROPERTIES OF TURPENTINEOdor and taste are characteristic.

Soluble in ether, alcohol, chloroform and glacial acetic acid.

CONSTITUENTS:

The drug constituents are

•Volatile oil

•Resin

USES:

i.Employed externally as counter-irritant.

CAPSICUMSYNONYMS:

Capsicum

Chillies

Cayenne pepper

BOTANICAL ORIGIN:

Capsicum frutescens (African chillies)

Capsicum annum (tabasco pepper)

FAMILY:

Solanaceae

PART USED:

Dried, ripe fruit

CONSTITUENTS:

•Capsaicin, extremely pungent principle

•Red coloring matter Capsanthin

•Volatile oils

•Fixed oils

•Carotenoids

•Ascorbic acid (vitamin C)

USES:

i.Irritant and carminative

ii.Rubefacient

iii.As a nerve stimulant and condiment.

iv.As a source of vitamin- C.

v.As an appetizer.

vi.As a stomachic

GINGERSYNONYMS:

Ginger

Adrak

Zingiber

African ginger

BOTANICAL ORIGIN:

Zingiber officinale

FAMILY:

Zingiberaceae

PART USED:

Dried rhizome

PROPERTIES OF GINGER

Odor is Pleasant aromatic

Taste is Pungent

CONSTITUENTS:

Aroma is due to volatile oil whose principle constituents are 3 sesquiterpenes:

•Bisabolene

•Zingiberene

•Zingiberol

Pungency is due to ginger oleo resins which has 2 ketones:

•Zingerone

•Shogaol

•In addition it contains 50% starch.

USES:

i.As a flavoring agent.

ii.As a condiment.

iii.Aromatic stimulant and carminative.

iv. As stomachic.

v.Ginger oil is used in mouth washes, ginger beverages and liquors.

OLEO-GUM RESINS Asafoetida, myrrh

ASAFOETIDA

SYNONYMS:

Hing

Devil’s dung

Gum asafoetida

BOTANICAL ORIGIN:

Ferula foetida

FAMILY:

Umbelliferae

PART USED:

Oleo gum resin obtained by incising the living rhizomes and roots

CONSTITUENTS:

Odor is because of Volatile oil which contains:

•Pinene

•organic disulphide (isobutylpropenyl disulphide)

Resins which contains:

•free asaresinotannaol and in combination with ferulic acid.

USES:

i.As a carminative.

ii.As expectorant.

iii.As antispasmodic

iv.As a laxative

v. As tonic

MYRRH

SYNONYMS:

Myrrh

Gum myrrh

BOTANICAL ORIGIN:

Commiphora molomol

Commiphora abyssinica

FAMILY:

Burseraceae

PART USED:

Oleo gum resin obtained from incisions made in the bark.

CONSTITUENTS:

•Odor of myrrh is due to presence of volatile oil.

Resin composed of:

•Resin acids (alpha, beta, and gamma-Commiphoric acids)

•Resenes

•Phenolic compounds, one of which yields protocatechuic acid and pyrocatechin.

•Gum that forms mucilage and yield arabinose on hydrolysis.

USES:

i.Is a protective.

ii.As stimulant and stomachic

iii.In mouth washes as astringent

BALSAMS Storax, Peruvian balsam, tolu balsam, benzoin

STORAX

SYNONYMS:

Liquid storax

Styrax

BOTANICAL ORIGIN:

Liquidambar orientalis (Levant storax)

Liquidambar styraciflua (American storax)

FAMILY:

Hammamelidaceae

PART USED:

Balsam obtained from trunk

CONSTITUENTS:

Levant storax consist of:

•2 resin alcohol (alpha-storesin and beta-storesin)

•Storesin cinnamate

•Styracin or cinnamyl cinnamate

•Phenyl-propyl cinnamate

•Volatile oil

•A trace of vanillin

•Free cinnamic acid

USES:

i.Pharmaceutic aid for benzoin tincture

ii.As stimulant

iii.Expectorant

iv.As an antiseptic

PERUVIAN BALSAM

SYNONYMS:

Peruvian balsam

Peru balsam

BOTANICAL ORIGIN:

Myroxylon pereirae

FAMILY:

Leguminosae

PART USED:

Balsam obtained from exposed wood of trees.

CONSTITUENTS:

Volatile oil, cinnamein which consists of:

•Benzyl cinnamate

•Benzyl benzoate

Resin esters composed of:

•Peruresinotannol

•Cinnamte

•Benzoate

In addition it also contains:

•Vanillin

•Free cinnamic acid

•Peruviol

USES:

i.Local protectant and Rubefacient

ii.As parasiticide in skin conditions

iii.As antiseptic and vulnerary

iv.Applied externally either alone, in alcoholic solution or in the form of ointment.

TOLU BALSAM

SYNONYMS:

Tolu balsam

Balsam of Tolu

BOTANICAL ORIGIN:

Myroxylon balsamum

FAMILY:

Leguminosae

PART USED:

Balsam obtained by incising the barks and sap wood of tree of M. balsamum

PROPERTIES OF TOLU BALSAMOdor is agreeable aromatic resembling to that of vanilla.

Taste is aromatic and slightly pungent.

CONSTITUENTS:

•Esters, chiefly toluresinotannol cinnamte

Small amounts of:

•Benzoate

•Volatile oil, chiefly benzyl benzoate

•Free cinnamic acid

•Free benzoic acid

•vanillin

USES:

i.Pharmaceutical aid for benzoin tincture.

ii.As an expectorant

iii.Pleasant flavoring in medicinal syrups, confectionery, chewing gums and perfumery.

BENZOINSYNONYMS:

Gum benzoin

Luban

BIOLOGICAL ORIGIN:

Styrax benzoin (Sumatra benzoin)

Styrax tonkinensis (Siam benzoin)

FAMILY:

Styraceae

PART USED:

Balsamic resin obtained from Styrax species.

CONSTITUENTS:

•Free balsamic acids, chiefly cinnamic and benzoic acids and esters derived from them.

Triterpene acids, especially:

•19-hydroxyoleanolic

•6-hydroxyoleanolic

Small traces of:

•Vanillin

•Phenylpropyl cinnamate

•Cinnamyl cinnamate

•Phenylethylene

USES:

i.Antiseptic, stimulant, expectorant and diuretic properties.

ii.Benzoin tincture is used as topical protectant.

iii.Benzoic acid and its salts are used as preservatives of food, drinks, fats, pharmaceutic preparations etc.

iv.Medicinally, benzoic acid is used as antifungal agent.

v.It is an ingredient in benzoic and salicylic acid ointment which is effective in the treatment of athlete's foot.

REFERENCES

Pharmacognosy- 9th edition by Varro. E. Tyler – Lynn. R. Brady – James. E. Robbers.

Textbook of Pharmacognosy- 6th edition by Heber. W. Youngken.

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