BALSAM OF TOLU Flashcards
Give the definition for balsam of tolu
It is a resin and it is aromatic
Therefore balsam of tolu is an aromatic resinous substance gotten spontaneously or from the incision from the trunk of Myroxylon balsamum (L.) Harms Family of Leguminosae
Give some of the synonyms of balsam of tolu
Balsam of tolu
Tolu balsam
Resin tolu
Thomas balsam
What is the biological source of balsam of tolu
Recall from the characteristics of balsam we said tolu balsam is solid
Therefore Tolu balsam is a solid or semi solid balsam obtained from the trunk of Myroxylon balsamum (L.) Harms Family of Leguminosae
What is the geographical source of balsam of tolu
Its wild trees grow in Columbia and Venezuela, and it is cultivated in the west indies
Who described the balsam of tolu and in what year
Monardes in 1574
Tolu balsam collection was observed by whom in what year
Weir in 1863
How is tolu balsam collected
First know that Tolu balsam is a pathological resin
It is collected from the trunk tissues as a result of injury. It is collected all year except in rainy seasons, a v shaped incision is made on the bark or sapwood and then a calabash pot is placed at the v shaped angle to collect the flow of the balsam, other incisions are made on higher portions of the tree, yield per tree is about 8 to 10 kg, collected balsams are transferred to large tin containers to be exported
What are the characteristics of balsam of tolu
Characteristics are based on the physical characteristics and solubility
Color is yellowish brown
Taste is vanilla like
Odour is aromatic like drugs containing cinnamic acids
It is insoluble in water and petroleum ether and soluble in benzene and alcohol
Talk about the microscopy of tolu balsam
We should take note that it is a resin gotten from the trunk of a tree and its main constituents are balsamic acids
Therefore
Crystals of cinnamic acid are present
Amorphous resin present
Vegetable debris present
What are the chemical tests for tolu balsam
Here we are testing for the balsamic acid and the resin(toluresinotannols) and the main reagents used are alcohol solution of balsamic tolu and filter solution of balsamic tolu
Therefore
For toluresinotannols
1g of ASBT with ferric chloride gives a green color
Alcoholic solution of balsamic tolu is acidic to litmus paper
For presence of balsamic acids
1g of FSBT plus 5ml of water plus aqueous solution of KMnO4 gives an odour like that of benzaldehyde due to the oxidation of cinnamic acid
What are the chemical constituents of balsam of tolu
The chemical constituents are based on resin, aromatic acids, other esters and total balsamic acids
For resin it consists of 80 percentage of resin usually combined with cinnamic acids and benzoic acids
For aromatic acids it consists of 12 to 15 percentage of cinnamic acid and 8 precent of benzoic acid
For other esters it consists of vanillin, benzyl cinnamate, benzyl benzoate
For total balsamic acids it consists of 30 to 35 percentage
What are the uses of balsam of tolu
Here we have uses related to its characteristics and other uses
For the former it is used as flavoring agents, syrups and perfumery
For the other it is used as expectorants and cough mixtures
