Peruvian Balsam-Synonyms Balsam Peru; Indian balsam; Black balsam; China oil; Honduras balsam; Surinam balsam

2. Peruvian Balsam

Synonyms Balsam Peru; Indian balsam; Black balsam; China oil; Honduras balsam; Surinam balsam.

Biological Source Balsam Peru is obtained from Toluifer pereiare (Klotzsch) Baill. (Myroxylon pereiare Klotzsch) belonging to family: Leguminosae.

Preparation Peruvian Balsam is a pathological product and is obtained usually by inflicting injury to the trees. Most of the world's commercial supply comes from El Salvador, although some is also produced in Honduras.

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.

It also contains total balsamic acids, which is calculated on the basis of dry alcohol-soluble matter ranging between (35-50%).

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

Uses

1. Peru balsam is a local protectant and rubefacient.

2. It also serves as a parasiticide in certain skin disorder.

3. It is used as an antiseptic and vulnerary* and is applied externally either as ointment or alone or in alcoholic solution.

4. It acts as an astringent to treat hemorrhoids.

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* Vulnerary: A folk remedy or herb to promote wound healing.

Source:Pharmacognosy And Pharmacobiotechnology By Ashutosh Kar