Page 140 - Pharmacognosy 02-06203

Shape: Masses of whitish almond tears embedded in greyish brown or reddish
resinous matrix .
Taste: Gritty when chewed .
Solubility: Entirely sol. In alcohol.
Constituents:
Free balsamic acid: Cinnamic and benzoic acid
Balsamic esters of both acids Resin:
Sumaresinolic acid triterpenic
acids

Uses:
For respiratory catarrh.

Test for identity:
1. On warming with KMnO4 Benzaldehyde odor is formed due to free
cinnamic acid .
2. Sublimation test: Heating in a dish covered with a slide and examine the
white condensed fumes crystals of benzoic acid are shown as Rods while those of
cinnamic acid are shown as plates.

Siam benzoin

Balsamic resin obtained from incised stems of Styrax tonkinensis f. Styraceae
Shape: Small whitish tears embedded in glassy reddish brown transparent resinous
matrix.

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