Indian Bdellium-Synonym Scented bdellium-obtained from the bark of the naturally occurring plant Commiphora mukul Engler., Balsamodendron mukul Hook. ex. Stocks., and Commiphora weightii (Arn) Bhand

5. Indian Bdellium

Synonym Scented bdellium.

Biological Sources Indian bdellium is the oleo-gum-resin obtained from the bark of the naturally occurring plant Commiphora mukul Engler., Balsamodendron mukul Hook. ex. Stocks., and Commiphora weightii (Arn) Bhand, belonging to family: Burseraceae.

Preparation The oleo-gum-resin Indian bdellium is obtained by the incision made on the bark and the exudates are collected. Each fully grown plant produces about 0.5 to 1 kg of the product which is normally collected from January through March every year.

Characteristic Features The oleo-gum-resin from Indian bdellium has a brown to pale yellow or sometimes dull green colour. It has an agreeable balsamic and aromatic odour with a typical bitter taste. The drug is usually obtained as irregular mass, rounded or agglomerated cluster of tears. The tears are found to be transparent, having a waxy surface and quite brittle in nature. It is sticky in touch and has a fractured surface. It is partially alcohol soluble; but when triturated with water it usually gives rise to a white emulsion.

Chemical Constituents This oleo-gum-resin mostly comprises of resin (60%), gum (30%), volatile oil (1–1.5%) moisture (5%) and foreign organic substances (3-4%). The volatile oil fraction contains various terpenes, such as: β-murcene, dimyrcene, polymyrcene, caryophyllene and isocaryophyllene (Section 2.9.2).

Source:Pharmacognosy And Pharmacobiotechnology By Ashutosh Kar