Pharmacognosy | Resins and Resin Combinations

Resins

amorphous products with complex nature
Oxidation products of terpenes
Burn with a characteristic, smoky flame

Resins — physical characteristics

Hard, transparent/translucent, and when heated, they soften and melt

Methods of isolating resins (3)

1. Use of alcohol;

2. distillation;

3. punctures

Isolation — use of alcohol (2)

Jalap, podophyllotoxin

Isolation — distillation (2)

Copaiba, turpentine

Isolation — punctures

Mastic

Resins — classifications (4)

1. Resin acids,

2. resin alcohols,

3. resenes,

4. glycoresins

Resin acids

Contain oxyacids and form resinates (metallic salts)

Resin acids — use

Used in soaps and varnishes

Resin acid — Used in soaps and varnishes (3)

1. Abietic acid - rosin

2. Commiphoric acid - myrrh

3. Copaivic acid - copaiba

Resin alcohols

Occur in free state and ester forms;
Tannin and alcohol component combined through ester

Resin alcohols — types (2)

1. Resinotannol

2. Resinol

Resinotannols

Complex alcohols with high molecular weight; give a tannin reaction with iron salts

Resinols

Resin alcohols that give no reaction

Resin alcohol — found in aloe

Aloeresinotannol

Resin alcohol — found in balsams (2)

Peruresinotannol;

Toluresinotannol

Resin alcohol — found in benzoins (2)

Siaresinotannol;

Sumaresinotannol

Resenes

• Neutral substances (not form salts)

• devoid of characteristic chemical/pharmacologic properties

Glycoresins

• Contain sugars

• Sugars + complex resin acids

Resins — categories (6)

1. Resins,

2. oleoresins,

3. gum resins,

4. olegum resins,

5. balsams,

6. latex

Not balsams; an oleoresin (2)

Canada turpentine;

Balsam of Copaiba

Latex

Consists of polyisoprenes

Latex — examples (3)

Rubber, gutta perca, chico

Resins (7)

1. Podophyllum

2. Rosin

3. Eriodictyon

4. Jalap

5. Mastic

6. Cannabis

7. Kava

+ Guaiac (not discussed extensively)

Podophyllum — synonyms (2)

mayapple or mandrake

Podophyllum — source

Podophyllum peltatum

Podophyllum — constituents (3)

1. Podophyllotoxin,

2. α-peltatin, β-peltatin,

3. etoposide, tenoposide

Podophyllum — Podophyllotoxin use (2)

Antimitotic and caustic

Podophyllum — α-Peltatin and β-peltatin use

Purgative

Podophyllum — Etoposide and tenoposide use

Anti-cancer

Rosin — synonym

colophony

Rosin — source

Pinus palustris (pine tree)

Rosin — constituents

Hydrides of abietic acid;
Common adulterant of other resinous products

Rosin — uses (2)

Stiffening agent in cerates; diuretic

Eriodictyon — synonym

yerba santa

Eriodictyon — source

Eriodictyon californicum

Eriodictyon — constituent

Eriodyctiol

Eriodictyon — uses (2)

Disguise bitterness of quinine; stimulating expectorant

Jalap — source

Exogonium purga

Jalap — constituents (2)

Purganol, jalapin

Jalap — use

Purgative

Mastic — synonym

mastiche

Mastic — source

Pistacia lentiscus

Mastic — family

Anacardiaceae

Mastic — constituents (2)

α-resin (mastichic acid), β-resin (masticin)

Mastic — uses (3)

Chewed as breath sweetener;
dental varnish to seal cavities;
microscopal mountant

Cannabis — synonyms (3)

Indian hemp, Mary Jane, or pot

Cannabis — source

Cannabis sativa

Cannabis — family

Moraceae

Cannabis — constituents

Cannabinols, with Δ9-THC or tetrahydrocannabinol as the most active

Cannabis — resin

Hashish

Cannabis — Hashish constituent

Δ9-THC (tetrahydrocannabinol)

Cannabis — Hashish uses (3)

Euphoric; control cancer chemotherapy-induced nausea (Dronabinol)

Cannabis — Drug-type vs Hemp-type

Drug-type: THC-dominant, psychoactive, mature plant
Hemp-type: Cannabidiol-dominant, used for ropes, young plant

Dronabinol

THC analog for treatment of nausea

Cannabis — seed use

Used for paints and soap

Kava — synonym

kava-kava

Kava — source

Piper methysticum

Kava — constituents (3)

Yangonin, kawain, methysticin

Kava — uses (3)

Centrally acting skeletal muscle relaxants,
antipyretic,
anesthetic

Kava — counterpart

Counterpart of Curare, an alkaloid

Kava — sample resins

pine resin, golden copal resin, elemi resin

Kava — Pine resin

Colophony (Portugal)

Kava — Golden copal resin source

Agathis philippinensis

Kava — Elemi resin source

Pili nuts (Canarium sp.)

Oleoresins

Homogenous mixtures of resins and volatile oils

Oleoresins (4)

1. Turpentine

2. Ginger

3. Copaiba

4. Capsicum

Turpentine — synonyms (2)

gum turpentine or gum thus

Turpentine — source

Pinus palustris

Turpentine — constituents

Turpentine oil + rosin

Turpentine — use

Counterirritant

Ginger — synonym

Zingiber

Ginger — scientific name

Zingiber officinale

Ginger — aroma constituents

Bisabolene, zingiberene, zingiberol

Ginger — pungency constituents

Zingerone, shogaol, gingerol

Ginger — uses (3)

Condiment, carminative, antibacterial

Copaiba — synonym

balsam of copaiba

Copaiba — source

Copaifera spp.

Copaiba — uses (2)

Genitourinary antiseptic,
diuretic

Capsicum — synonym

cayenne pepper

Capsicum — types (3)

African;
Tabasco;
Louisiana Long

African Capsicum

Capsicum frutescens

Tabasco Capsicum

Capsicum annum var. conoides

Louisiana long Capsicum

Capsicum annum var. longum

Capsicum — constituent

Capsaicin

Capsaicin — classification

Not a resin but an alkaloid

Capsicum — uses (3)

Irritant, condiment, external analgesic

Capsicum — toxic effects (2)

Teratogenic poison; causes irritation to kidneys

Only gum resin

Gamboge

Gamboge — synonym

gutta gamba

Gamboge — scientific name

Garcinia hanburyi

Gamboge — family

Clusiaceae

Gamboge — constituent

Gambogic acid

Gamboge — uses (2)

Pigment, purgative; now little used in human medicine

Oleogum resins

Mixtures of resin, gum, and volatile oils

Oleogum resins (2)

1. Myrrh

2. Asafetida

+ Frankincence (not discussed extensively)

Myrrh — synonym

gum myrrh

Myrrh — scientific name

Commiphora molmol

Myrrh — constituents (2)

α, β, δ-commiphoric acids;
protocatechuic acids

Myrrh — uses (3)

Embalming material,
incense,
astringent in mouthwash