eastern North America, reaching Minnesota
and Wisconsin. Canada balsam is not a true
balsam because it does not contain benzoic or
cinnamic acid or their esters (seeglossary).
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
The bark ofA. balsameacontains a volatile
oil (up to 30%) and an odorless resin.
The volatile oil is composed entirely of
monoterpenes (37.4%b-phellandrene, 36.4%
b-pinene, 23.5% a-pinene, and 2.7%
a-phellandrene).^1 The resin makes up the
remainder of the oleoresin and contains
neutral and acidic materials (e.g., abietic and
neoabietic acids; diterpenoids).
PHARMACOLOGY AND BIOLOGICAL
ACTIVITIES
In guinea pigs, oral administration of abietic
acid (an abietane diterpenoid found in the oleo-
resin) produced antiallergic activity.In vitro
inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase by abietic acid
may be a contributing factor to the activity.^2
The essential oil (balsam fir oil) extracted
from the foliage has shownin vitrocytoxicity
againstseveraltumorcelllines.Themainactive
constituent was identified asa-humulene.^3
TOXICOLOGY
Oleoresin considered as nontoxic when ap-
plied externally.^4 Internal toxicity data not
available.
USES
Medicinal, Pharmaceutical, and Cosmetic.
Oleoresin used in certain ointments and
creams as antiseptic and as treatment for
hemorrhoids; as a fixative or fragrance ingre-
dient in soaps, detergents, creams, lotions, and
perfumes. Maximum use levels reported are
0.15% in soaps and 0.2% in perfumes.^4
Formerly used in dentistry as an ingredient in
root canal sealers and dentifrices (ADA).^5
Food. Both the oleoresin and oil have had
limited use in major categories of foods, in-
cluding alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages,
frozen dairy desserts, candy, and gelatins and
puddings. Use levels have been low, generally
below 0.001% (10 ppm).
Traditional Medicine. Bark resin used ex-
ternally by American Indians for burns, sores,
and cuts and to relieve heart and chest pains.
Also reportedly used in treating tumors.^6
Others. Due to its ability to dry to a brittle,
clear glass-like residue, Canada balsam (usu-
ally freed from volatile oil and dissolved in
xylene) was extensively used as a cement for
lenses and prepared microscopic slides. Its use
in some “balsam” hair grooming products
probably takes advantage of this property to
stiffen hair and give it “body.”
COMMERCIAL PREPARATIONS
Oleoresin and oil. Oleoresin was formerly
official in U.S.P.
Regulatory Status. Only needles and twigs of
A. balsameaand their appropriate prepara-
tions are approved for food use as natural
flavoring substances (§172.510).
REFERENCES
See the General References forARCTANDER;CLAUS;FEMA;GUENTHER;KROCHMAL AND KROCHMAL;MERCK;
SARGENT;UPHOF.
- H. J. Petrowitz et al.,Riechst., Aromen,
K€orperpflegem., 12 , 1 (1962).
2. N. N. Ulusu et al.,Phytother. Res., 16 ,88
(2003).
66 Balsam canada
