Page 341 - Pharmacognosy 2 PG303

Pharmacognosy-2 (PG303) Level 2 Clinical Pharmacy-Pharm D

Uses
Mastic is used as flavouring agent and preservative in the manufacturing of

food products. It is also used in the manufacturing of chewing gum, perfumes,
cosmetics and varnishes. In addition it is used as an enteric pill-coating in
combination with cetyl alcohol.

Recent studies demonstrated that mastic exhibits various biological activities
such as:
1- Antibacterial activity, attributed to the α-pinene content of volatile oil.
2- Treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcers, due to its healing properties and

bactericidal activity against Helicobacter pylori bacteria.
3- Hepatoprotective and cardioprotective activities, due to its antioxidant and hypo-

tensive contents of α-tocopherol, triterpenes and polyphenols.
4- Antitumor activity on breast, liver, stomach, spleen, uterus and colon cancers, due

to apoptosis induction and antiproliferative activity.
5- Antiplaque action in the oral cavity.

Notes
a- The essential oil fraction of mastic proved to be the most active fraction against

bacteria and fungi. This activity is associated with its high concentration of α-
pinene (66.5%), which is known to possess antimicrobial activity.
b- The high concentration of α-pinene and the enhanced antimicrobial activity of
mastic could be explained by the fact that the resin is excreted in response of
the plant to external damage (e.g. cutting, peeling of bark). Such damage is
applied during the collection of mastic.

Substitutes
1- Bombay mastic, obtained from Pistacia khinjuk which can be distinguished from

the genuine mastic (P. lenticus) by the following: it is darker in color, less
vitreous, less soluble in oil of turpentine but more soluble in alcohol and it has
higher acid value (103-109) than genuine mastic (45-67).
2- Indian mastic obtained from P. cabulica.
3- Pistachio mastic obtained from P. terebinthus.

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