RESINS DRUGS

1. RESINS AND RESIN
COMBINATION
By Faseeha Mudassir
3rd Prof, Pharm-D

2. 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.

3. GENERAL
PROPERTIES
Physical Nature,
Chemical Nature

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. CLASSIFICATION OF
RESINS

7. 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-

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. CRUDE DRUGS
CONTAINING RESINS
AND RESIN
COMBINATIONS
resins, glycoresins,
oleoresins, oleo-gum
resins and balsam
containing plants

18. RESINS Rosin and cannabis

19. ROSIN
SYNONYMS:
Rosin
Colophony
Chir
BOTANICAL ORIGIN:
Pinus palustris
FAMILY:
Pinaceae
PART USED:
Solid Resin

20. PROPERTIES OF ROSIN
Hard and brittle
Soluble in alcohol, ether and other organic solvents
Odor is faint, piny.

21.  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.

22. CANNABIS
SYNONYMS:
Indian hemp
Marijuana
Pot
BOTANICAL ORIGIN:
Cannabis sativa
FAMILY:
Moraceae
PART USED:
Dried flowering parts of the pistillate plants of Cannabis

23. 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

24. GLYCORESINS Podophyllum, jalap,
ipomoea, colocynth

25. PODOPHYLLUM
SYNONYMS:
May Apple
Mandrake
BIOLOGICAL ORIGIN:
Podophyllum peltatum
Podophyllum emodi
FAMILY:
Berberidaceae
PART USED:
Dried rhizome and root

26. PREPARATION OF
PODOPHYLLUM RESIN
Podophyllum 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.

27. 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.

28. JALAP
SYNONYMS:
Jalap
Jalap root
BOTANICAL ORIGIN:
Exogonium purga
FAMILY:
Convolvulaceae
PART USED:
Dried, tuberous root.

29. PREPARATION OF JALAP
RESIN
Extracting 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.

30. 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

31. IPOMOEA
SYNONYMS:
Orizaba jalap
BOTANICAL ORIGIN:
Ipomoea orizabensis
FAMILY:
Convolvulaceae
PART USED:
The dried root

32. 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

33. COLOCYNTH
SYNONYMS:
Colocynth apple
Bitter apple
BOTANICAL ORIGIN:
Citrullus colocynthis
FAMILY:
Cucurbitaceae
PART USED:
Dried pulp of the unripe but fully grown fruit

34. CONSTITUENTS:
•Principle active constituent is glycoresin colocynthin.
In addition, it contains:
•Alkaloid
•Gum etc.
USES:
i. Hydragogue
ii. Cathartic

35. OLEORESINS Turpentine, capsicum,
and ginger

36. TURPENTINE
SYNONYMS:
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

37. PROPERTIES OF TURPENTINE
Odor and taste are characteristic.
Soluble in ether, alcohol, chloroform and glacial acetic
acid.

38. CONSTITUENTS:
The drug constituents are
•Volatile oil
•Resin
USES:
i. Employed externally as counter-irritant.

39. CAPSICUM
SYNONYMS:
Capsicum
Chillies
Cayenne pepper
BOTANICAL ORIGIN:
Capsicum frutescens (African chillies)
Capsicum annum (tabasco pepper)
FAMILY:
Solanaceae
PART USED:
Dried, ripe fruit

40. 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

41. GINGER
SYNONYMS:
Ginger
Adrak
Zingiber
African ginger
BOTANICAL ORIGIN:
Zingiber officinale
FAMILY:
Zingiberaceae
PART USED:
Dried rhizome

42. PROPERTIES OF GINGER
Odor is Pleasant aromatic
Taste is Pungent

43. 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

44. OLEO-GUM RESINS Asafoetida, myrrh

45. 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

46. 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

47. 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.

48. 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

49. BALSAMS
Storax, Peruvian
balsam, tolu balsam,
benzoin

50. STORAX
SYNONYMS:
Liquid storax
Styrax
BOTANICAL ORIGIN:
Liquidambar orientalis (Levant storax)
Liquidambar styraciflua (American storax)
FAMILY:
Hammamelidaceae
PART USED:
Balsam obtained from trunk

51. 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

52. PERUVIAN BALSAM
SYNONYMS:
Peruvian balsam
Peru balsam
BOTANICAL ORIGIN:
Myroxylon pereirae
FAMILY:
Leguminosae
PART USED:
Balsam obtained from exposed wood of trees.

53. 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.

54. 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

55. PROPERTIES OF TOLU
BALSAM
Odor is agreeable aromatic resembling to that of vanilla.
Taste is aromatic and slightly pungent.

56. 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.

57. BENZOIN
SYNONYMS:
Gum benzoin
Luban
BIOLOGICAL ORIGIN:
Styrax benzoin (Sumatra benzoin)
Styrax tonkinensis (Siam benzoin)
FAMILY:
Styraceae
PART USED:
Balsamic resin obtained from Styrax species.

58. 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

59. REFERENCES
Pharmacognosy- 9th edition by Varro. E. Tyler – Lynn. R.
Brady – James. E. Robbers.
Textbook of Pharmacognosy- 6th edition by Heber. W.
Youngken.
https://www.google.com./images