4580. Gum Benzoin

Description and references

Balsamic resin from Styrax benzoin Dryand., known as Sumatra benzoin, or from S. tonkinensis (Pierre) Craib, Styracaceae, or other species of Styrax known as Siam benzoin. Habit. Thailand, Cambodia, S. Vietnam, Sumatra, Java, and Sunda Islands. Constit. Ethereal oil, free and combined benzoic and cinnamic acids up to 39%, vanillin, coniferyl benzoate, resin (a mixture of benzoresinol and benzoresinotannol) esterified with benzoic acid, styrol, styracin. Not less than 90% of Siam and not less than 75% of Sumatra benzoic is sol in alc (U.S.P.). Ref: Reinitzer, Arch. Pharm. 264, 131 (1926); Brans, Pharm. Weekbl. 73, 374 (1936); Freudenberg, Bittner, Ber. 83, 600 (1950).