PARTE UTILIZADA= Used part: La secreción resinosa

ACCIÓN FARMACOLÓGICA= Pharmacological action: Expectorante, antiséptico, antifúngico y cicatrizante.

POSOLOGÍA= Posology: Tintura de benjuí (1:5, 71-75 % de etanol, con un contenido en ácido benzoico , superior al 5 % ): 3-10 g/día, en varias tomas, o en uso externo (pomadas, lociones, linimentos).

COMPOSICIÓN QUÍMICA= Chemical composition: El balsamo contiene un 60-80 % de benzoato de coniferilo,10-20 % de ácido benzoico libre, bencilcinamato, vainilina y triterpenos.

ZONA GEOGRÁFICA= Geografical zone: Sur de Asia

ÚLTIMOS AVANCES EN LA QUÍMICA Y ACTIVIDADES BACTERIOLÓGICAS EN LAS PLANTAS MEDICINALES= Medicinal plants, last advances on chemistry and bacteria activities on the medicinal herbs
 
1) Two new arom. compds., trans-(tetrahydro-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-5-oxofuran-3-yl)-Me benzoate (1), 3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-2-oxopropyl benzoate (2) and one new natural product, 4-((E)-3-ethoxyprop-1-enyl)-2-methoxyphenol (3) together with five known arom. compds. have been isolated from the resin of Styrax tonkinensis (Pier.) Craib.  Their structures were detd. by phys. and spectroscopic methods.

2) Four new triterpenoids, 6b-hydroxy-3-oxo-11a,12a-epoxyolean-28,13b-olide (1), 3b,6b-dihydroxy-11a,12a-epoxyolean-28,13b-olide (2), 3b,6b-dihydroxy-11-oxo-olean-12-en-28-oic acid (3), and 3b-hydroxy-12-oxo-13Ha-olean-28,19b-olide (4), and five known triterpenes, 19a-hydroxy-3-oxo-olean-12-en-28-oic acid (5), 6b-hydroxy-3-oxo-olean-12-en-28-oic acid (6), sumaresinolic acid (7), siaresinolic acid (8), and oleanolic acid (9), were isolated from the resin of Styrax tonkinensis.  The structures of these triterpenoids were detd. by physicochem. and spectroscopic methods.  The configuration of compd. 4 was confirmed by X-ray crystallog. anal.  All these triterpenoids inhibited HL-60 cell growth with IG50 values ranging from 8.9 to 99.4 mM.  Oleanolic acid (9) was the most effective antiproliferative agent, with an IG50 value of 8.9 mM.  While 3b,6b-dihydroxy-11-oxo-olean-12-en-28-oic acid (3) exhibited the least effective growth inhibition among these triterpenoids, it induced HL-60 cells to undergo differentiation as measured by an NBT redn. assay.

3) The essential oils from Cedrus atlantica, Styrax tonkinensis, Juniperus communis, Lavandula angustifolia, Melaleuca alternifolia, Pelargonium graveolens, Pogesternon patchouli and Rosmarinus officinalis were analyzed by GC-MS.  Antifungal activities of the oils were investigated by disk diffusion assay and the broth dilution method against Aspergillus niger and A. flavus.  The effects of geraniol and the essential oil fraction from P. graveolens on the antifungal activity of amphotericin B and ketoconazole were examined using a checkerboard microtiter assay against both Aspergillus fungi.  Most of the tested essential oils, with the exception of C. atlantica, J. communis, and P. patchouli, significantly inhibited growth of A. niger and to a lesser extent that of A. flavus, with MICs (minimal inhibitory concentrations) in the range 0.78-12.5 mg/mL.  The essential oil fraction of P. graveolens and its main components, geraniol and citronellol, exhibited additive effects with amphotericin B and with ketoconazole against both Aspergillus species, resulting in fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) indices ranging from 0.52 to 1.00.

Patente extraída del Chemical Abstracts= Patent extrated from the Database Chemical Abstracts
 
 Benjoin cosmetic milk, having hydrating, antiseptic and protective characteristics.      Gongora Mejia, Lucrecia Cecilia.  (Mex.).    Mex. Pat. Appl.  (2009),     18pp.  CODEN: MXXXA3  MX  2008007371  A  20091208  Patent  written in Spanish.    Application: MX  2008-7371  20080609.  Priority: MX  2008-7371  20080609.  CAN 153:342925    AN 2010:397118    CAPLUS   (Copyright (C) 2011 ACS on SciFinder (R))  

The invention, benjoin cosmetic milk, refers to an herb compn. derived from Styrax benzoin or S. tonkinensis that is useful for the daily care and treatment support of different skin disorders.  The compn. acts as a preventive (infections, cracks, contact allergies, sores), adjuvant (relief of several discomforts) and/or as cosmetics (maintaining skin beauty).  The cosmetic includes 3 phases in specific ratios: Oily, from about 30.5% to about 85% of glycerin or almond oil; Balsamic, from about 10% to about 50% of benjoin oil; Aq., from about 5% to about 35% of rose, azahar, lavender, rosemary, jasmine or violet water.  The formula of the invention mainly comprises glycerin, benjoin and rose water.  The manufg. process of the inventive compn. is strict with regard to the ratios, order and form of mixing the ingredients.  The cosmetic provides a natural hypoallergenic alternative for the hydration, antisepsis, regeneration and daily protection of dry, delicate, sensitive or affected skins by health problems, either from internal causes (diabetes, psoriasis, variz, immobility) or external causes (water, chlorine, dust, detergents, cleansers, weather, fibers) to which people are constantly exposed due to the nature of their activities.

1) Fitoterapia : vademecum de prescripcion. 4ª  ed. Barcelona : Masson, 2003, p.140

2) WANG, Feng, et al.  Two new aromatic compounds from the resin of Styrax tonkinensis (Pier.) Craib. Journal of Asian Natural Products Research. (2005),  Volume Date 2006, vol.8, nº1-2, p.137-141.
 
3) WANG, Feng, et al. Triterpenoids from the Resin of Styrax tonkinensis and Their Antiproliferative and Differentiation Effects in Human Leukemia HL-60 Cells. Journal of Natural Products. 2006, vol.69, nº5, p.807-810.
 
4) SHIN, Seungwon. Anti-Aspergillus activities of plant essential oils and their combination effects with ketoconazole or amphotericin B. Archives of pharmacal research. 2003, vol.26, nº5, p.389-393.