PERUVIAN BALSAM

SYNONYMS

Balsam Peru Indian balsam Black balsam China oil Honduras balsam Surinam balsam

SOURCE

Balsam Peru is obtained from Toluifer

pereiare (Klotzsch) Baill. (Myroxylon pereiare

Klotzsch) belonging to family: Leguminosae.

GEOGRAPHICAL SOURCE

Central America in the forests of San Salvado.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

 

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.