Leung's Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics

GALBANUM

Source: Ferula gummosa Boiss. (syn. F.
galbaniflua Boiss. et Buhse) and other
Ferulaspecies (Family Umbelliferae or
Apiaceae).

Common/vernacular names:Galbanum resin,
galbanum gum, galbanum oleoresin, galba-
num gum resin, and galbanum oleogum resin.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Resinous perennial herbs up to 1 m high,
spreading, stems solid, with resin ducts
throughout the plants; leaves gray-green
hairy; flowers in umbels, yellow; seeds flat;
native to the Middle East and western Asia
(e.g., Iran, Turkey, and Afghanistan). Part
used is the dried resinous exudation obtained
by incising the stems near the ground. There
are two types of galbanum: soft galbanum (or
Levant galbanum) is a viscous liquid, while
hard galbanum (or Persian galbanum) is a
solid. The former contains more volatile oil
and is used for the production of galbanum oil.
A resinoid is prepared by solvent extraction; it
often contains a high-boiling odorless solvent
such as diethyl phthalate, diethyl sebacate, or
propylene glycol used as dilutent (ARCTANDER;
GUENTHER).

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION

Galbanum containsfrom 5%(Persian) to more
than 26% (Levant) volatile oil; about 60%
resin consisting mainly of resinic acids;
30–40% gummy substances containing galac-
tose, arabinose, galacturonic acid, and 4-
methylglucuronic acid residues; and umbelli-
ferone and its esters, among others (ARCTAN-
DER;CLAUS;GUENTHER;LIST AND HO€RHAMMER;
KARRER;MARTINDALE).1–3
The volatile oil contains 63–75% monoter-
pene hydrocarbons (mostly 3-pinene, 3-
carene, anda-pinene, with small amounts of
d-limonene, terpinolene, etc.);4,5 monoter-
pene alcohols (linalool, terpineol, borneol,

fenchol, etc.) and their acetates;^1 sesquiter-

penes (e.g., cadinene, guaiol, bulnesol, galba-

nol, and 10-epijunenol);1,6,7azulenes (e.g.,

guaiazulene and isoguaiazulene); thiol esters

(e.g.,S-isopropyl-3-methylbutanethioate and

S-sec-butyl-3methylbutanethioate);^8 polysul-

fanes;^9 pyrazines (e.g., tetramethylpyrazine,

2,6-diethyl-3-methylpyrazine, and 2-meth-

oxy-3-secbutylpyrazine);10,11 and (E,Z)-l,3,

5-undecatriene and (E,E)-1,3,5-undecatriene

(LIST AND HO€RHAMMER).12–14

The (E,Z)-isomer ofn-1,3,5-undecatriene

is reported to be the major odor principle of

galbanum.^12

PHARMACOLOGY AND BIOLOGICAL

ACTIVITIES

Extracts (aqueous, hydroalcoholic, and chlo-

roform) of galbanum gum have been reported

to have antimicrobial properties (especially

againstStaphylococcus aureus)in vitro; they

were alsoeffectivein preservingemulsions for

up to 6 months without change in physical or

organoleptic characteristics.15,16

The methanol–chloroform extract has been

reported to alleviate morphine withdrawal

symptoms induced in mice by naloxone.^17

The essential oil, the hydroalcoholic and

the methanolic extracts displayed a concen-

tration-dependent spasmolytic activity on iso-

lated rat ileum. Such activity was partially

attributed toa- andb-pinene.^18

The acetone extract of the seed exhibited

anticonvulsant activity at sub-toxic levels

against experimental seizures in mice.^19

TOXICOLOGY

One report indicated galbanum oil to be non-

irritating and nonsensitizing to human skin.^20

USES

Medicinal, Pharmaceutical, and Cosmetic.

Now rarely used in pharmaceuticals. Galba-

num oil and resinoid are used as fragrance

Galbanum 299