Colophony

Synonyms:-

Rosina, Long needle pine, Colophonium, Pine resin
Biological source:-

Colophony is the solid residue of turpentine oil left after distilling the crude oleo resin obtained from Pinus species like

• Pinus palustris,
• P. echinata,
• P. maritime,
• P. longifolia.

Family:-

Pinaceae

Geographical source:-

It is mainly prepared in Pakistan, South East USA, North America,South West France, Europe and India (in Himalayan territories).

Collection and Preparation:-

Nearly 80 species of Pinaceae family are available from which the oleo resin, a mixture of turpentine oil and colophony is collected. The trees contains normal oleo resin but in small quantity. After incision the new oleo resin containing ducts are formed which produces good amount of oleo resin. This oleo resin is collected and kept in copper distilling vessels with water and heated. Turpentine oil is distilled oil and colophony left as residue forms and
collected.

Macroscopical Characters:-

• Colour: Amber coloured or sometimes Yellowish to yellowish brown.
• Odour: Faint.
• Taste: Angular, Translucent masses.
• Size: Varies in size.
• Appearance: Glossy appearance with brittle nature.

It has solubility in alcohol, chloroform, ether, fixed oil, essential oils, light petroleum and glacial acetic acid but insoluble in water.

Chemical Constituents:-
It mainly contains unsaturated resin acids principally

• abietic acid (nearly 90 percent),
• esters of oleic acids,
• volatile oil (0.5 percent),
• resines (5 to 6 percent),
• sapenic acid,
• pimaric acid etc.

The unsaponifiable matter of colophony contains high molecular weight alcohols and hydrocarbons.

Chemical Test:-
1. Dissolve 1 gm of drug into 10 ml acetic anhydride and heat gently. Now add drop of sulphuric acid which gives bright red colour changes to violet colour.
2. Dissolve drug in light petroleum ether and make up the double volume with dilute copper acetate solution. The petroleum ether layer shows emarald green colour which shows the presence of copper salt of abeitic acid.

Uses:-
It is used as diuretic, stimulant, ointment preparation, varnishes manufacturing, insulators, soaps, ink preparations. It is also used in flooring preparation, soldering compounds,mastics and pressure sensitive adhesive manufacturing.

Adulterant:-
It is adulterated with black resin and apic resin.

MCQ:- 

1. Match of the following

i. Volatile oil          A. 90%

ii.  Resin                B. 0.5%

iii. Abietic acid     C. 5-6%

A. i →A,ii →B,iii→C

B.i →A,ii →C,iii→B

C.i →C,ii →B,iii→A

D.i →B,ii →C,iii→A

2. Which of the following is use of colophony ?

A. Anti diuretic

B. Ointment preparation

C. Diuretic

D. B and C

3. Turpentine oil is distilled oil and colophony left as residue forms. True or false

A. True

B. False

4. Synonyms of colophony

A. Pine Resin

B. Gum resin

C. Red resin

D. Resin Gum

5. Which of the following Chemical Constitution is not present in colophony ?

A. Sapenic acid

B. Ellagic acid

C. Abietic acid

D. Pimaric acid

6. Which sentence is true about colophony ?

A. Colophony is cultivated in Japan.

B. Colophony has saturated resin.

C. Colophony is use for preparation of face wash.

D. Colophony is oleo resin.

7. Which sentence is false about colophony ?

A. Colophony has amber in colour.

B. Colophony is brittle in nature.

C. Colophony is water soluble.

D. Colophony is alcohol soluble.

8. Which of the following is not use of colophony ?

A. Soap

B. Anti Diuretic

C. Ink

D. Diuretic

9. Which of the following is adulterant of colophony ?

A. Black Resin

B. Apic resin

C. A and B

D. None of the above

10. Colophony belong to family

A. Ginsengacea

B. Liliaceae

C. Solanaceae

D. Pinaceae

Answer Key

1. D

2. D

3. A

4. A

5. B

6. D

7. C

8. B

9. C

10. D

Reference :- 

Colophony contains resin acids (about 90%), neutral inert substances formerly known as resenes and esters of fatty acids.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/rosin