Yellow beeswax is obtained from the honeycomb of Apis mellifera bees. It is a yellow to brown colored, soft solid with an agreeable odor. Chemically, it contains esters of fatty acids and alcohols such as myricyl palmitate, cerotic acid, and melissic acid. Beeswax is insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents. It is used in ointments, polishes, candles, and cosmetics due to its hardening properties. Adulterants like colophony and stearic acid can be detected by solubility and melting point tests.

1. PHARMACOGNOSY OF YElLOW BEESWAX
Academica In-Charge, HOD,
PritamJuvatkar
Mobile :
Email : pritamjuvatkar@gmail.Com
9987779536
Department of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry
Konkan Gyanpeeth Rahul Dharkar College of
Pharmacy and Research Institute, karjat

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• Content
• Synonym
• Biological source
• Family
• Macroscopic characters
• Chemical constituents
• Uses
• Substitute
• Chemical test
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Synonym: Bees wax; Cera-flava
Biological source:
Yellow bees wax is purified wax and obtained from the honey comb of the bees Apis mellifeca
Family: Apidae.
Macroscopical characters:
• Colour: Yellow to yellowish-brown
• Odour: Agreeable and honey-like
• Extra Feature: Yellow bees wax is non-crystalline solid. It is soft to touch and crumbles under the pressure
of fingers to plastic mass. Under molten condition, it can be given any desired shape. It breaks with a
granular fracture.
• Solubility: It is insoluble in water, soluble in hot alcohol, ether, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, fixed and
volatile oils.
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Chemical constituents:
It contains
 Esters of straight chain monohydric alcohols with straight chain acid
 Chief constituents Myricin i.e. Myricyl palmitate
 Cerotic acid
 Melissic acid and aromatic substance cerolein
Chemical test:
Saponifications claud test: Boil 0.5 gm of bees wax with 20 ml of aqueous caustic soda solution for 10 minutes,
cool it. No turbidity is produced.
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Myricyl palmitate
Cerotic acid

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Uses
• In preparation of ointments, plasters and polishes.
• In ointment for hardening purposes and the manufacture of candles, moulds and in dental and electronic
industries.
• In cosmetics for preparation of lip-sticks and face creams.
• Ingredient of paraffin ointment I.P.
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Adulterants
• With colophony, hard paraffin, stearic acid, Japan wax,
• Spermaceti carnauba wax.
• Adulteration can be detected on the of solubility and melting point.
• The genuine wax should not give turbidity when 0.5g of wax is boiled with 20 ml of aqueous caustic soda for
10 minutes and cooled.
• White bees wax: Obtained by bleaching yellow bees wax, should not be used for ophthalmic purpose
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7. PRESENTED BY:
MR. PRITAM VIJAY JUVATKAR
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
KONKAN GYANPEETH RAHUL DHARKAR COLLEGE OF PHARMACY AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE, KARJAT
UNIVERSITY OF MUMBAI
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