synonyms, source, constituents, constituents, tests, uses

1. PERUVIAN BALSAM

2. SYNONYMS
 Balsam Peru
 Indian balsam
 Black balsam
 China oil
 Honduras balsam
 Surinam balsam

3. SOURCE
 Balsam Peru is obtained from Toluifer pereiare
(Klotzsch) Baill. (Myroxylon pereiare Klotzsch)
belonging to family: Leguminosae.

4. GEOGRAPHICAL SOURCE
Central America in the forests of San Salvado.

5. PREPARATION
 Peruvian Balsam is a pathological product and is obtained
usually by inflicting injury to the trees.
 It is prepared by beating the stems of the trees with mallet.
 After a week the injured areas of the stem are scorched so as
to separate the bark from the stem and after a similar duration
the bark is peeled off completely.

6.  The desired balsam starts exuding freely from all the exposed
surfaces, which are then covered carefully with cloth or rags to
absorb the exuding balsam.
 The cloth or rags that are completely soaked with the balsam
is then removed and boiled with water in a large vessel slowly.
 Thus, the balsam gets separated and settles at the bottom of
the vessel.
 The supernatant layer of water is removed by decantation
and the residual balsam is dried and packed in the containers.

7. CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES
 It is a dark brown, viscid liquid having a pleasant
aromatic odour.
 It has a peculiar warm bitter taste and persistent
aftertaste which resembles like vanilla.
 The Balsam Peru is transparent in thin films.
 It does not harden on being exposed to atmosphere.
 It is brittle when cold.
 It is almost insoluble in water and petroleum ether but
soluble in ethanol, chloroform and glacial acetic acid.

8. CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS
 Peruvian balsam contains free benzoic and
cinnamic acids (12-15%); benzyl (40%); esters of
these acids (5.2-13.4% cinnamein); and volatile oil
(1.5-3%).
 The fragrant volatile oil contains
toluene, styrol, benzoic and cinnamic acids.

9.  The resins esters (30-38%) are chiefly composed
of peruresinotannol cinnamate and
benzoate, vanillin, free cinnamic acid and peruviol
(or nerolidol).


10. USES
• Stimulant, expectorant, parasiticide.
• Used in scabies and skin diseases;.
• It is a good antiseptic, expectorant and a stimulant to the heart,
increasing blood pressure; its action resembles benzoic acid.
• Given internally, it lessens mucous secretions, and is of value in
leucorrhoea and chronic bronchitis, and asthma.
• It is also used in soap manufacturing, for its fragrance, and because
it makes a soft creamy lather, useful for chapped hands.
• Balsam of Peru can be applied alone or as an ointment made by
melting it with an equal weight of tallow.