What are the pharmaceutical uses of resins? at least 5 uses.
Answers
Uses: The hard transparent resins, such as the copals, dammars, mastic and sandarac, are principally used for varnishes and cement, while the softer odoriferous oleo-resins (frankincense, elemi, turpentine, copaiba) and gum resins containing essential oils (ammoniacum, asafoetida, gamboge, myrrh, and scammony) are more largely used for therapeutic purposes and incense.
Isolation of Resins: Pharmaceutical resins are obtained from the plants and animals by one of the following methods 2.
By extraction with alcohol and precipitation with water, e.g. Jalap, Podophyllum, Ipomoea, etc.
By distillation for separation of oil, e.g. Copaiba, Colophony, etc.
By heating the plant part, e.g. Guaiacum.
As plant exudates by incisions, e.g. Myrrh, Asafoetida, Balsams, etc.
By collecting fossil resins, e.g. copal, kauri, etc.
By processing the encrustations i.e. shellac.