乳香

English text reference: Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2020 Edition)

Overview

Olibanum is the resinous exudate obtained from the bark of the trunk of Boswellia carterii Birdw. and its congeneric species Boswellia bhaw-dajiana Birdw. (Fam. Burseraceae). It is classified into Somali Olibanum and Ethiopian Olibanum, and each kind is further divided into Olibanum Pearl and Raw Olibanum.

Description

The drug occurs as long-ovoid, tear-shaped, or nearly globular tears or irregular masses of variable size. The larger ones are up to 2 cm long (Olibanum Pearl) or 5 cm long (Raw Olibanum). The surface is yellowish-white, translucent, and covered with a yellowish-white powder, which becomes darker on storage. The texture is brittle and softens on heating. The fractured surface is glassy or waxy. It has a characteristic odour and a slightly bitter taste.

Identification

(1) The product is oily when burning, with black smoke and aroma; it is ground into white or yellowish-white emulsion by adding water.

(2)

Somali Olibanum

Take the volatile oil under [Content Determination], add anhydrous ethanol to make a solution containing 2.5mg per 1ml, as a test solution. Take a-pinene control, add anhydrous ethanol to make a solution containing 0.8mg per 1ml, as a control solution. According to the gas chromatography (General rule 0521) test, with polyethylene glycol (PEG-20M) capillary column, the procedure of heating; the initial temperature of 50 ℃, held for 3 minutes, at a rate of 25 ℃ per minute to 200 ℃, held for 1 minute; the inlet temperature of 200 ℃, the detector temperature of 220 ℃, the shunt ratio of 20: 1. Theoretical plate number according to the calculation of the a-pinene peak should not be less than 7000 The theoretical plate count should be not less than 7000 according to the peak of a-pinene. 1μl each of control solution and test solution was taken and injected into the gas chromatograph. The chromatogram of the test solution should show the same retention time as that of the peak of the control solution.

Ethiopian Olibanum

Take octyl acetate control product, add anhydrous ethanol to make a solution containing 0.8mg per 1ml, as the control solution. The same as Somalia frankincense identification method test, the test solution should be presented in the chromatogram and the control solution peak retention time of the chromatographic peaks consistent with the chromatographic peaks.

Examination

Impurities

Not more than 2% for Olibanum Pearl, and not more than 10% for Raw Olibanum <2301>.

Assay

Somali Olibanum should contain not less than 6.0% (ml/g) of volatile oil, and Ethiopian Olibanum should contain not less than 2.0% (ml/g) of volatile oil.

Somali Olibanum shall contain not less than 6.0 per cent (ml/g) of volatile oil and Ethiopian Olibanum shall contain not less than 2.0 per cent (ml/g) of volatile oil.

Prepared slices

Vinegar-processed Olibanum

Processing

Take clean Olibanum and stir-fry it according to the method of vinegar processing <0213> until the surface is shiny.

For every 100kg of Olibanum, use 5kg of vinegar.

Property

Warm.

Flavor

Pungent and bitter.

Meridian tropism

Heart, liver, and spleen meridians.

Actions

To promote blood circulation and relieve pain, reduce swelling and generate new tissue.

Indications

Used for chest pain due to blood stasis, epigastric pain, dysmenorrhea and amenorrhea, postpartum blood stasis, abdominal pain due to masses, rheumatic arthralgia, spasm of tendons and vessels, traumatic injury, carbuncles, swelling, and sores.

Dosage

3-5 g；Apply externally in appropriate amounts.

Administration

Decocted in soup or in pills or powder; powdered and applied.

Precautions

Use with caution in pregnant women and those with weak stomach.

Storage

Preserve in a cool and dry place.

乳香

Text reference: Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2015 Edition)

Overview

Olibanum is the dried resin exuding from the bark of Boswellia carterii Birdw. or Boswellia bhaw-dajiana Birdw. (Fam. Burseraceae). The drug is divided into Somalia olibanum and Ethiopia olibanum, each of which is divided into olibanum drops and born olibanum again.

Description

Elongated ovoid-droplike nipples, subrounded grains or agglutinated into irregular pieces which varying in size, the large one up to 2 cm (olibanum drops) or 5 cm (born olibanum) in length. Externally yellowish-white, translucent, covered with yellow dustlike powder. Texture fragile, softening when heating, broken surface with glass-like or waxy luster. With characteristic aromatic odour; taste slightly bitter.

Identification

（2）索马里乳香

Examination

Foreign matter

Not more than 2 per cent for olibanum drops and 10 per cent for born olibanum <2301>.

Assay

Weigh accurately 20 g of the powder, carry out the method for determination of volatile oil <2204, method 1>.

Prepared slices

Olibanum

Processing

Stir-bake the clean Olibanum as described under the method for stir-baking with vinegar <0213> to lustrous on surface.

Property

Warm.

Flavor

Pungent and bitter.

Meridian tropism

Heart, liver, and spleen meridians.

Actions

To activate the blood, relieve pain, disperse swelling, and promote tissue regeneration.

Indications

Chest bi disorder, heart pain, pain in stomach duct, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, postpartum stasis and obstruction, abdominal pain caused by masses, painful bi disorder caused by wind-dampness, hypertonicity of the sinews and vessels, traumatic injuries, swelling abscess, sore and ulcer.

Dosage

Decocted or used in pills and powder, 3-5 g. Appropriate amount for topical application, ground into powder for applying it to pars affecta.

Precautions and Warnings

Used with caution during pregnancy and in patients with weak stomach.

Storage

Preserve in a cool and dry place.