peruvian balsam

2. Peru balsam
0 Botanical origin: Myroxylon pereirae ( Klostzsch)
0 Family: Leguminosae
0 Part used: oleoresnous liquid
0 Habitat: Central America in the forest of San Salvado ,
naturlized in Florida and Srilanka

3. Cont ….
0 Constituents :
Cinnamein 60% (consist of benzyl
cinnamate and in lesser quantity benzyl benzoate)
resin ester 30-38% ( peruresinotannol cinnamate and
benzoate ) , vannilin , free cinnamic acid , peruviol and
also other substances in small quantity.

4. Derivation of name
0 Myroxylan is derived from Greek word Myron
meaning ointment
0 And Xylon meaning wood
0 Pereira is in honour of English Pharmacognosist
0 Peru refers to the early importation of the balsam into
Spain via Lima Peru

5. Collection
0 Balsam is pathological product and is formed by
injury to the trees
0 The tree is beaten on four sides
0 Than scorched with a torch to cause the bark to
separate from trunk
0 Four intermediates are strips are left un-injured so as
not to kill the tree
0 Within the week the bark drops from the trunk
0 The balsam begin to exude freely from the exposed
wood

6. Cont …..
0 Areas are rapped with rags
0 And removed time by time when saturated with
balsam
0 Rags are boiled with water and water cools
0 Balsam settle out , recovered , strained and packed.

7. Characters
It is
Dark brown
Viscous liquid appaers reddish brown and
transparent in thin layer
Free from stickiness
It has no empyreumatic
Aromatic vanilla like odour
Bitter , acrid and persistant taste

8. Uses
It is used as
Stimulant
Expectorat
Paracetiside
It is used externally as well as internally in
chronic bronchitis and asthma
It is used in soap manufacturing for fragrance
and it makes a soft creamy lather

9. Proprietary products
0Anusol
0Eudicaine

11. Adulteration
It is used for adulteration of
Castor oil
Copaiba
Canada terpentina

12. Dose
0 Best dose of syrup given is 10-30 drops with the yolk an
egg added or with gumarabica