Resins (Heavier Terpenoids/ Terpenes) Flashcards
(6 cards)
What are Resins?
Resins are the heavier terpenes - a catch all word for dense, sticky substances
They are a mixture of Resin acids, Resin alcohols, Resin phenols which are usually described as
- Resins mixed with EOs - Oleoresin
- Resins mixed with Gums - Gum resins. Gums are water soluble exudates usually made of heteropolysaccharides, and are polar
- Resins, Oil and gum mixes - Oleo-gum resins.
Why do herbs have them?
Protection (and response to damage) from fungi and insects.
Examples: frankincense and myrhh, also calendula flowers
What are their physical properties?
Constituents separable by distillation
Water-insoluble but soluble in 90% ethanol and also in fixed oils and volatile oils.
Soften on heating
What are the properties and examples of Oleo-resins?
- Mixture of EO and resins in conifers
- Compounds separable by distillation
- Spice ‘oleoresins’ are often phenylpropanoid derivatives: capsaicinoids in capsicum and resinous gingerols in ginger.
- Phenolic resin found in propolis is collected by bees from resinous plants - used by the bees as an antimicrobial in the hive, and used to preserve mummies by the Egyptians.
What are the properties and some examples of Oleo- gum resins?
Astringent (resins) and antimicrobial (resin, EO),
antiseptic, diuretic, stimulating.
- Benzoin - from Styrax benzoin contains cinnamic, benzoic and triterpene acids.
- Myrrh - Commiphora genus > 200 species. Treat pain and inflammation. Resin of C. mukul in India and of C. molmol in Egypt valued for antiseptic, anaesthetic, and anti-tumour activities. Myrrh tincture is used for recurrent throat and gum disease.
- Frankinsense - Gum oleoresins: water-soluble gums, EO and heavier resinous compounds - example Frankinsense. Clinical trials: IBD, RA, osteoarthritis and asthma.
What are the properties and some examples of Diterpenes?
These are 20-carbon atoms too large to be volatile, found in oleoresins and resins. Soluble in high percentage ethanol/ water solvents.
- Grindelia: Diterpenes (grindelic acid), have antispasmodic, antiinflammatory, antibacterial and antitussive effects; Traditionally used for bronchitis. Agum-like substance, rich in diterpenes, oozes out of the buds. Bitter, aromatic, (smaller more volatile terpene compounds - borneol, alphapinene, plus antiinflammatory triterpene aglycones (grindeliasapogenin D, oleanolic acid, bayogenin).
- Rosemary, Sage. Carnasol and carnosic acid. Aromatic bitter principle, antiinflammatory and antioxidant. Anticarcinogenic on prostate, colon, melanoma, breast cancer and leukaemia. Neuroprotective effects upon neuronal cells, more than resveratrol or Sulforaphane. Rosemary extract reported for chemopreventive, antitumoral and anti-metastatic activities.
- Gingko. Ginkgolides: diterpene lactones, or terpene Ginkgo trilactones (three lactone rings each).Platelet activating factor inhibitor (PAF). Bronchodilatory. Synergistic with flavonols to produce antiinflammatory and CNS-protective effects. Studies suggest neuroprotective properties in hypoxia/ischaemia, seizure activity and peripheral nerve damage.
- Andrographis: Traditionally for common cold, diarrhoea, fever, jaundice, as a liver tonic and for cardiovascular health. Andrographolide Hepatoprotective against Plasmodium berghei infection in animals. Inhibits the proliferation of tumour cell lines in vivo (specifically breast, CNS, colon, lung, melanoma, ovarian, prostate, renal and leukaemia).
- Vitex. Clerodadienols. One of several diterpenes in vitex with dopaminergic properties. Suppress prolactin, help to improve premenstrual mastodynia and other symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.
- White Horehound - Traditionally used in Europe for cough remedies. Marrubiin: Antimicrobial activity against gram positive bacteria. Analgesic, anti-hypertensive, antidiabetic, antioxidant and vasorelaxant properties. Marrubenol inhibits smooth muscle contraction by blocking L-type calcium channels.
