RESINS. 47 



As an illustration of the extreme complexity of the 

 resins the following chemical formula for Asafoetida is 

 shown : * 



(i) Free ferulic acid. ^ • 



C^H, (OH) (0CHf;5.Cri = CH— COOH. 



(2) Vanillin, CeH, (OH) (OCH3) CHO. 



(3) Ethereal oil. This contains 



Terpene, C^.H^, 

 Disulphids C^H^.S^ 



(C,oH,eO)n 

 CgHjgS^ 



(4) Gum. Ether insol. 



(5) Resin. (Asa resinotannol, C24H330^, OH.) 



(6) Ether sol. resin — asa resinotannol — which yields 



Resorcin, C^H, (OH^). 



Protocatechuic acid, C^Hg (OH^) COOH. 



As an illustration of the complexity of a balsam the 

 ultimate chemical analysis of Balsam of Peru is as fol- 

 lows : 



(i) Free cinnamic acid, C. aid., CeH^, CH. CH, CO, H. 



(2) VanUlin, C,H, (OH) (OCH) CHO. 



(3) Cinnamein (fluid portion of balsam), consisting of 



much benzoic acid, benzyl esters, C^Hj, 



COO, CH^C.H, 

 Little cinnamic acid benzyl ester, 

 Peruviol (C,,U,fi), CeH^CH equals CH, COO, 



CHjCjHj. 



(4) Resin. Ester of Peru resinotannol, C^Hj^O^OH, 



which yields cinnamic acid, benzoic and the 

 Peru resinotannol, C,gH,gO^OH. 

 Only the more important of this group will be here 

 studied. 



♦ Wicsner: Die Rohcstoffe dcs Pflanzenreichs. Hoffman, Volatile 

 Oils. Tschirch, Die Harze. 



