Benzoin is a balsamic resin obtained from incisions made on several species of Styrax trees native to Southeast Asia. There are two main types - Sumatra benzoin from Styrax benzoin and Siam benzoin from Styrax tonkinesis. Sumatra benzoin contains a higher amount of benzoic and cinnamic acids which give it an aromatic odor. Siam benzoin contains mainly coniferyl benzoate and has a vanilla-like odor. Both types are used as expectorants and antiseptics in preparations like compound tincture of benzoin. They are also used industrially to add fragrance to products.

2. BENZOIN:
• SYNONYM: Sumatra benzoin, Loban
(Luban), Benzonium, Gum benjiamin,
Siam benzoin.

3. BIOLOGICAL SOURCE:
• It is balsamic resin obtained from incision on stem
of Styrax benzoin Dryand (Sumatra benzoin) or
Styrax paralleloneurus Perkins and from other
species of Styrax is known in the market as
Sumatra benzoin or it may also contain balsamic
resin from Styrax tonkinesis & other species
commercially known as Siam benzoin, belonging
to family Styraceae. It should contain not less
than 25% of total balsamic acids with reference to
dry alcohol soluble matter.

4. Styrax benzoin Dryand – Sumatra benzoin
Styrax paralleloneurus- Sumatra benzoin
Styrax tonkinesis - Siam benzoin
Styrax subdenticulata – Penang benzoin

5. GEOGRAPHICAL SOURCE-
• Indigenous to south eastern Asia & East
Indies.
• Sumatra benzoin- Sumatra islands,
Malacca, Malaya, Java & Borneo.
• Siam benzoin- Thailand, Vietnam & Laos
• S. subdenticulata--- Penang benzoin.

6. GEOGRAPHICAL SOURCE-
• The plant from which benzoic is obtained
are large trees indigenous to south eastern
Asia and East indies
• Sumatra benzoin is mostly derived from the
cultivated plants in Sumatra Island.
• Siam Benzoin is come mostly from the
provience of Luang Probang of Thialand
• it is also produced in Vietnam and Laos.

8. MORPHOLOGY:
Sumatra benzoin
• Colour: - Grayish brown to gray.
• Odour: - Aromatic & characteristic.
• Taste: - Sweetish & slightly acrid.
• Size: - It occurs in the form of lumps of
varying sizes or tears. Tears are externally
yellowish, milky white; the surface is
uneven when heated fumes of benzoic &
cinnamic acids are produced.

9. Siam benzoin
• Colour: - Yellowish brown to rusty brown.
• Odour: - Agreeable & vanilla like.
• Taste: - Sweetish & slightly acrid.
• Size: - It occurs as hard brittle masses
and when heated it is softened & becomes
plastic.

10. Schematic diagram

11. COLLECTION & PREPRATION
• Benzoin trees are not grown in India. (Imported
from Indonesia).
• Benzoin is a pathological resin & Collected from
6 year old plant.
• Incisions are made at base of plant.
• Do not collect first yellowish exudates (No
medicinal value) .
• Later exudates are collected, Dried.
• Size reduction is carried out & Packed, AY10kg

13. CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS:
• Sumatra benzoin contains free balsamic acids
25 % (benzoic and cinnamic acid (20%) and
ester derived from them.
• Triterpenoid acids such as sumaresinolic acid
& sia resinolic acid are also present. The
major constituent of Siam benzoin (less amt.
of cinnamic acid) is an ester Coniferyl
benzoate (About 76%)

14. • The drug also contains styrol, vanillin &
phenyl propyl cinnamate.
• Siam benzoin differs from Sumatra
variety that it contains insufficient
cinnamic acid to give an odour of
benzaldehyde when warmed with
potassium permagnate solution.

15. Chemical test
• Alcoholic sol. of benzoin + H20 – Milky white colour.
• Heat benzoin in test tube- close T.T. with glass slide---
observe slide under microscope--- crystals of cinnamic
acid.
• Benzoin + ether + 2-3 drops of H2S04 –
Dark brown –Sumatra
Dark purple-Siam
• Benzoin + KMn04 ------warm
Smell of benzealdehyde- Sumatra
No odour-Siam

16. Sr.
No.
SIAM BENZOIN SUMATRA BENZ
OIN
1 Alcohol soluble matt
er
NLT 90% NLT 76%
2 Benzoic acid content NLT 12% NLT 6%
3 Foreign organic matt
er
< 1.0% -
4 Loss on drying NOT MORE THAN 10 %
5 Acid insoluble ash NOT MORE THAN 10 %
STANDARD

17. Difference between Sumatra & Siam benzion
Sr.
No.
Sumatra benzion Siam benzion
1 Styrax benzoin Dryand
Styrax paralleloneurus
Styrax tonkinesis
2 Sumatra islands Thailand, Vietnam & Laos
3 Colour: - Grayish brown to
gray
Colour: - Yellowish brown t
o rusty brown.
4 Odour: - Aromatic & charac
teristic.
Odour: - Agreeable & vanill
a like.
5 Size: - It occurs in the form o
f lumps of varying sizes or te
ars.
It occurs as hard brittle mass
es .

18. Sr.
No.
Sumatra benzion Siam benzion
6 when heated fumes of benzoi
c & cinnamic acids are produ
ced.
when heated it is softened
& becomes plastic.
7 free balsamic acids (benzoic a
nd cinnamic acid)
ester Coniferyl benzoate (A
bout 76%) (less amt. of cinn
amic acid)
8 Give an odour of benzaldehyd
e
Does not give an odour of
benzaldehyde
9 Benzoin + ether + 2-3 drops o
f H2S04 – Dark brown
Benzoin + ether + 2-3 drops
of H2S04 – Dark purple

19. Uses :
It is used as an irritant expectorant,
carminative & diuretic.
It is externally used as antiseptic &
protective.
It is used in the form of compound
tincture of benzoin & as an inhalation
especially in the treatment of upper
respiratory tract infection.

20. It is preferred to retard rancidity of fat &
oils in the preparation of benzoated lard.
Industrially it is used to fix the odour of
incense, soaps, perfumes & several other
cosmetics & to mask the taste of
Pharmaceutical preparations.

21. Benzoin
• Marketed formulation :
1] Benzoin compound Tincture

23. Storage condition -
• Packaging and storage—Preserve in well-
closed containers.
• Labeling—Label it to indicate whether it is
Sumatra Benzoin or Siam Benzoin.

24. Reference books
• Textbook of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry By
Vinod D Rangari first edition. Page no -430,431
• Textbook of Pharmacognosy by S.S.Handa and
V.K.Kapoor Page No -257,258
• Textbook of Pharmacognosy by G.K.Singh and Anil
Bhandari Page No -143,144
• Textbook of pharmacognosy by Ashutosh kar page no-
• 220 ,221
• Textbook of harmacognosy by Mohhamad Ali , page no -
321,322.