Oleoresins (Capsaicin, Capaiba, Male Fern, Ginger, Turpentine)

2.8 Oleoresins

Oleoresins are homogenous mixtures of resins and volatile oils. These are, in fact, the vegetative secretions obtained as natural products and composed of resin(s) dissolved in essential oils.

Nevertheless, based on the presence of the relative quantum of volatile oil in the naturally occurring mixture, the oleoresins may be either liquid, or semisolid, or solid. In normal practice, there exists a small amount of “natural” exudate from oleoresin containing trees attributed to insect damage, traces of broken twigs, and other similar injuries, but the commercial supplies are invariably accomplished by deliberate methodical and artificial incisions made on the bark and even into the wood.

A few important oleoresins shall be discussed in the Sections that follow, namely: Capsaicin, Capaiba, Male Fern, Ginger, Turpentine.

Source:Pharmacognosy And Pharmacobiotechnology By Ashutosh Kar