MYRRH-Resins - Pharmacognosy and phytochemistry 2 (BP503TP)

 Synonyms:

 Gum Myrrh, Commiphora, Bissabol

Biological Source:

 It is a gum resin obtained from the stem of Commiphora molmol

Engier.

Family:

 Burseracae.

Geographical source: 

It is mainly collected from Somaliland in the north east of Africa

and south of Arabia.

Collection and Preparation:

The oleo gum resin is collected into lysigenous cavities. The schizogenous ducts form

lysigenous cavity by the breakdown of bark. The gum exudes out upon wounding of bark

and changes its colour from yellowish white to reddish brown and forms hard mass. 

Description:

Shape: Irregular rounded tears

Size: 2.5 to 10 cm in diameter.

Texture: Rough, dull and dusty surface.

Fracture: Brittle, granular fracture.

Colour: Reddish brown.

Odour: Agreeable aromatic.

Taste: Unpleasant, aromatic, bitter, acrid.

Chemical Constituent:

The drug contains mixture of resin (25%), volatile oil (2.5-6.5%) and gum (60%). Along

with these compounds, three free resin acids a, β and g-Commiphoric acids, esters of resin

acid, commiphorinic acid, two phenolic resins a and b-heerabomyrrhol, volatile oil consist

terpene, cuminic aldehyde and eugenol etc.

Chemical Test:

1. A yellowish brown emulsion forms upon trituration with water.

2. Take 0.1gm of drug and 0.5 gm sand, triturate it with ether and filter it. Evaporate the

filterate and add bromine vapour, violet colour develops.

Uses:

It has stimulant, antiseptic property, uterine stimulant, emmenagogue. Due to its

astringent property to mucous membrane it is also used for mouth wash and gargles.

Substituent and Adulterant:

The substituents of myrrh are fadhli or Arabian myrrh, Yemen myrrh, perfumed bdellium

or bissabol, Indian bdellium, African bdellium and Gum hotai etc.

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