Resins are solid or highly viscous substances produced by plants or through synthetic means that are typically convertible to polymers. They are mixtures of organic compounds that plants secrete for protective benefits in response to injury. Resins are classified based on their composition and include resin acids, resin esters, resin alcohols, resin phenols, and gluco resins. Balsams specifically contain aromatic acids like benzoin and cinnamic acid and are produced from trees including Storax, Peru balsam, Tolu balsam, and Benzoin. These balsams are composed of mixtures including lignans, cinnamic acid, esters, and sometimes volatile oils. They have traditional medical uses

1. Resins
In polymer chemistry and materials science, resin is a solid or highly viscous substance of
plant or synthetic origin that is typically convertible into polymers. Resins are usually
mixtures of organic compounds. Plants secrete resins for their protective benefits in response
to injury.
Classification
1.  Resin acid: carboxylic acid group containing resinous substances e.g. abietic acid
(colophony) & commiphoric acid (myrrh)  Resin ester: esters of resin acids or the
other aromatic acids like benzoic, cinnamic, salicylic acid etc. e.g. dragon’ blood and
benzoin  Resin alcohol (resinol): alcoholic compound with high mol. wt. e.g.
benzoresinol in benzoin & storesinol in storax.  Resin phenol (resino tannols):
contains phenol group e.g. peru- resinotannol in peru balsam & tolu-resinotannol in
tolu balsam & siaresinotannol in benzoin  Gluco resins: resins when get combined
with sugars by glycosylation e.g. Convolvulaceae family drugs
2. 6. CLASSIFICATION  Resene: stable, neutral, unaffected by most chemical
reagents or by exposure to moisture produced a hard film. e.g. asafetida  Oleo resin:
resin+ volatile oil e.g. turpentine, ginger, copaiba, Canada  Gum resin: resin+ gum
e.g. ammoniacum  Oleogum resin: resin+volatile oil+gum e.g. myrrh, asafetida,
gamboges  Balsam: contains aromatic acids like benzoin & cinnamic e.g. Tolu
balsam, peru balsam, storax
Biosynthesis of resin
The aromatic acids in balsams are un-doubtedly formed by way of the shikimic acid-
phenylpropanoid pathway. It is also believed that phenylpropanoid precursors are involved in
the formation of more com-plex resin components. The lignan. po-dophyllotoxin, which
presumably arises via an oxidntive coupling of 2 cinnamic acid residues (Fig. 6-1), is an
example of this type of resin component. This belief is sup-ported oy the observed .1.4%
incor-poration of radioactivity into podophyllotoxin dur-ing preliminary feeding studies using
phenylalanine-U�14C and Podophyllum e111odi.
Plants
Podophyllum
Parts used
Podophyllum consists of the dried rhi-zome and roots of Podophyllum peltntum Linne (Fam.
Berberidaceae) (Fig. 6-2). 1t is also known as mayapple or mandrake.
Geographical source
Most of the commercial sup-plies come from the central United States and from Virginia and
North Carolina. The drug was known to the Indians, who in-troduced it to the early settlers.
The drug should not be confused with mandragora, referred to as mandrake by the ancient
Greeks and Asiatics
Chemical constituents

2. Podophyllum contains 3.5 to 6% of a resin whose active principles are lignans. These include
podophyllotoxin (20% ), a-peltatin (10%), and 13-peltatin (5%). A number of lignan
glycosides are in tht> plant, but because of their water solubility, they are lost during the
normal preparation of the resin.
Uses
Podophyllum possesses drastic purgative properties. Its resin is also em-ployed as an
antimitotic and caustic,
Cannabis
Parts used
pot consists of the dried flowering tops of the pistillate plants of Cannabis saliva Linne (Fam.
Moraceae).
Geographical source
The plant is an annual herb indigenous to central and western Asia and is culti-vated in India
and other tropical and tern� perate regions for the fiber and seed. Cannabis was used in-
China and India, spread slowly through Persia to Arabia where the resin was known as
hashish
Chemical
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the main active ingredient in cannabis. It works by disrupting
the nervous system of the person taking it. The THC present in cannabis isn’t psychoactive in
its natural state; it has to be heated to be activated.
Cannabidiol (CBD) is another substance found in cannabis. It seems to lack the disruptive
properties of THC, but researchers have recently taken a particular interest in CBD for its
therapeutic potential.
Uses
The health benefits of medical marijuana include relief from pain and muscle spasm, nausea
associated with chemotherapy, and anorexia. Benefits are seen in immune function,
neuroplasticity, emotional and mood regulation, vascular health and digestive function.
Capsicum
Parts used
Capsicum or cayenne pepper is the dried, ripe fruit of Capsicum frutescens
Geographical source
C. frutescens is a small spreading shrubreaching 1 meter in height and is indige
nous to tropical America and cultivated in tropical localities in Africa india America japan
chemical constituents

3. capsicum contains cpsaicin(0.2%) an extremely pungent principle in the dissepiments of the
fruit. Capsaicin is a phenol. 😊
It imparts a distinctly pungent taste to water, even when diluted to 1 part in 11 million parts
of water. Capsicum also con-tains about 1.5% of a volatile oil, a fixec. oil, can)tenoids, and
up to 0.2% of ascorbic acid (vitamin C).
Uses
Capsicum is an irritant and a carminative; it is used as a rubefa-cient and also as a stimulant
and a condi- ment. The usual dose is 60 mg. Capsicum oleoresin has the same properties. The
usual dose is 15 mg.
Balsams
Storax
Parts used
Stor:ax is a balsam obtai,n_ed . from the trunk of Liquid,ambar; orienta.lis Miller
Storax is also knqwn as liquid storax or styrax.
Geographical source
L. orientalis is a tree that attains a height
of about 15 meters and grows in Asia Minor. L. styraciflua is a tree that attains a height of up
to 40 meters and grows in southern North America, Central America, and northern South
America.
Chemical constituents
Composition. Purified storax contains circa 33 to 50% storesin, an alcoholic resin, both free
and as cinnamic esters. Contains 5 to 15% cinnamic acid, 5 to 15% cinnamyl cinnamate, circa
10% phenylpropyl cinnamate; small amounts of ethyl cinnamate, benzyl cinnamate, and
styrene, Some may contain traces of vanillin.
Uses
People take storax for cancer, coughs, colds, stomach pain, diarrhea, epilepsy, sore throats,
bronchitis, and parasitic infections. Storax is sometimes applied directly to the skin to protect
or treat wounds, or to treat ulcers, skin infections, eczema, and scabies. Storax is an
ingredient in Compound Benzoin Tincture
Peruvian balsam
Parts used
Peru balsam is an herb. The oily sap from the bark is used to make medicine.
Geographical source
Forests of San Salvador (Cent. America), near the coast of Pacific Ocean this coast is known
as Balsam Coast. Also in Honduras and Gautemala in Central America, Peru balsam was
formerly exported from the Port of Callao in Peru and hence the name Peru balsam.

4. Chemical constituents
Composition. Balsam of Peru contains 25 or so different substances, including cinnamein,
cinnamic acid, cinnamyl cinnamate, benzyl benzoate, benzoic acid, and vanillin. It also
contains cinnamic acid alcohol and aldehyde, farnesol, and nerolidol
Uses
Peru balsam has been used in the treatment of dry socket in dentistry, on the skin as a
treatment for wounds and ulcers, and in suppositories for hemorrhoids. However, there are
only older, small studies to support these uses
Tolu balsam
Parts used
It is tapped from the living trunks of Myroxylon balsamum.
Geographical
Tolu balsam is a balsam that originates from South America Colombia, Peru, Venezuela
Chemical cons
Tolu balsam is comprised of 3/4 fragrant resinous compound, containing approximately 15%
free cinnamic acid and benzoic acid and about 40% of the benzyl and related esters of these
free acids. A volatile oil is present in small amounts (from 1.5% to 7%). Traces of styrene,
coumarin and vanillin are also present.
Uses
People take tolu balsam for cough, bronchitis, swollen airways, and cancer. Tolu balsam is
applied directly to the skin to treat bedsores, cracked nipples, cracked lips, and minor skin
cuts.
Benzoin
Benzoin is the balsamic resin obtained
from Styrax benzoin
geographical source
The plants are trees of medium height
that grow in southeastern Asia and the East
Indies.
Chemical
Benzoin oil's main chemical components are benzoic, cinnamic acids, benzyl benzoate,
benzoic aldehyde, vanillin and coniferyl benzoate
Siam benzoin consists principally of coniferyl benzoate(60-70%) it yields not less than 90%
of alcohol soluble extractive.
Smaller amounts of free benzoic acid 10% triterpene, siaresinol 6% and a trace of vanillin

5. Sumatra benzoin
It contains free balsamic acids : cinnamic 10% benzoic 6%
It yields not less than 75% of alcohol soluble extractive ;
Uses
Benzoin is also used on canker sores in and around the mouth to protect them so they can
heal. Benzoin is also used to help relieve and soothe minor irritation of the nose, throat, and
airways (e.g., laryngitis, croup) when it is mixed with hot water and the steam is inhaled.