PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS BETA VULGARIS /73

Benzoin

Styrax benzoin

DESCRIPTION

^| Medicinal Parts: The medicinal part of the plant is the

balsamic resin obtained from the mechanically damaged

trunk.

Flower and Fruit: The flowers are in terminal or axillary

panicled racemes. The flowers are fused and their structures

are in fives. The calyx is campanulate, weakly 5 toothed,

densely silky tomentose and red-brown on the inside. The

corolla is 6 to 11 mm long with 5 tips, brown-red, silky

tomentose on the outside and at the margin. There are 8 to 10

stamens fused below to a tube and a 1-chambered ovary

above and 2- to 3-chambered ovary below. The fruit is nut-

like, appressed pubescent with a diameter of up to 3 cm. The

seeds are light brown with 6 longitudinal stripes and are up

to 2 cm long.

Leaves, Stem and Root: Styrax benzoin is an evergreen tree,
which grows up to 30 m high. The leaves are alternate and
the petioles are rust brown-downy pubescent. They are
W approximately 1 cm long. The lamina is 8 to 13 cm long, 2.5
to 5 cm wide, ovate or elongate with a rounded base and
irregularly curved-dentate margin. The lamina is covered
with white and brown star hairs beneath. The bark is wine-
red and the wood is white.

Characteristics: The flowers have a strong fragrance.

Habitat: The plant is native to western Java and Sumatra.

Production: Sumatra benzoin (Gum benzoin) is the balsamic

resin from the damaged trunk of Styrax benzoin and Styrax

paralleloneurum. The optimal age of trees to be harvested is

7 years. The tree is cut, causing it to exude resin to heal the

cuts. The resin is then collected in a vessel and left to melt to

a homogenous mass in the sun.

Other Names: Benjamin Tree

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY
COMPOUNDS
Ester mixture (70 to 80%): composed of coniferyl benzoate
and cinnamyl benzoate, as well as cinnamyl cinnamoate
" (styracin), propyl cinnamoate

Phenylacrylic acids: cinnamic acid (10%)

Benzoic acid (to 30%)

Resins

EFFECTS

The expectorant effect with which the drug is credited could

not be proven experimentally (it possibly originated in

connection with an "aroma,therapy," due to its vanilla

content).

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: Benzoin is "used for respiratory catarrh.

Chinese Medicine: In China, benzoin is used for stroke,

syncopes, post partal syncope due to heavy loss of blood,

and for chest and stomach pain.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

No health hazards are known in conjunction with the proper

administration of designated therapeutic dosages.

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: Whole herb preparations are for

internal use.

Storage: Benzoin should be tightly sealed and stored below

25°C.

LITERATURE

Bacchi EM, Sertie JA, Villa N. Katz H, delta7-stigrnasteryl-3

betaD-glucoside from Styrax officinalis. Part II. Planta Med,

61:221-2, 1976 Nov.

Bacchi EM, Sertie JA, Villa N. Katz H, Preliminary

investigations on the herba of Styrax officinalis. I. Planta Med,

61:290-3, 1973 Nov.

Hansel R, Keller K, Rimpler H, Schneider G (Ed), Hagers

Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 5. Aufl., Bde 4-6

(Drogen), Springer Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1992-

1994.

James WD, White SW, Yanklowitz B, Allergic contact

dermatitis to compound tincture of benzoin. J Am Acad

Dermatol 11:847-50, 1984 Nov.

Berberis vulgaris

See Barberry

Bergenia crassifolia

See Elephant-Ears

Beta vulgaris

See Beet