Balsam of Peru

It appeared that the impure alcohol isolated from balsam of Peru was, in fact, identical with nerolidol. When allowed to stand for three to four weeks with phenyl-isocyanate both alcohols yielded a phenyl-urethane, melting at 37" to 38°. A mixture of the two bodies suffered no depression in melting-point. The alcohols have the formula 15 260-The alcohol from balsam of Peru is therefore mixed with a small quantity -of an alcohol of higher specific gravity, the nature of which is still undetermined. Traces of benzyl alcohol were found in it, but not in sufficient quantity to account for the differences observed. Oxidation experiments did not throw any light on the question. It may therefore be safely assumed that the peruviol of Thoms consisted in the main of nerolidol, but contaminated with a substance of the same boiling-point to such an extent that its combustion figures pointed to the formula CjjH. jO instead of... 

Cinnamic alcohol, C Hj. CH CH. CH OH, or y-phenyl-allyl alcohol, is found in the form of esters, principally of either acetic or cinnamic acid in storax, balsam of Peru, and in hyacinth and other essential oils. 

Indisch, a. (East) Indian. — indischer Balsam, balsam of Peru. — indische Bohne, St.-Ignatius s-bean. — indische Feige, prickly pear. — indischer Flachs, jute. — indisches GrasSl, palmarosa oil. —- indisches Rohr, rattan. — indischer Safran, turmeric. 

Coumarin was first isolated by Vogel in 1820 by extraction from tonka beans (Dipteryx odorata). It was subsequently identified in a large number of plants belonging to many different families. Its better known occurrences are in sweet clover (Melilotus alba and M. officinalis), sweet woodruff (Asperula odorata), vanilla leaf (Trilisa odoratissima), vanilla beans (Vanillaplanifolia), cassia (Cinnamorum cassia), lavender (Lavendula officinalis) and balsam of Peru (Myroxylon pereirae) (Perone, 1972 Maries et al, 1987 Boisde Meuly, 1993 Budavari, 1998). 

Benzyl alcohol (1) occurs widely in essential oils both as the free alcohol, and, more importandy from a fragrance standpoint, in the form of various esters. Although benzyl alcohol itself is rather bland in odor, combined with its much more fragrant esters it is an important part of the odor of jasmine, ylang-ylang, gardenia, some rose varieties, narcissus and peony, as well as castoreum, balsams of peru and tolu, and propolis. Benzyl alcohol occurs primarily in flower oils and tree exudates, whereas a large number of essential oils obtained from other parts of a wide variety of plants contain no benzyl alcohol or its esters (1). 

Vanillin has a low potential for acute and chronic toxicity , Vanillin is known to cause allergic reactions in people previously sensitized to balsam of Peru, benzoic acid, orange peel, cinnamon, and clove, but vanillin itself is not an allergic sensitizer. Vanillin has been reported to be a bioanhmutagen, demonstrating the ability to protect against mutagenic effects by enhancement of an erroi-fiee post-replication repair pathway. 

Muizzuddin et al. recently studied contact urticaria in an attempt to define sensitive skin objectively.22 Skin responsiveness was assessed using balsam of Peru, which induces NICU. They found that individuals with self-assessed sensitive skin were more susceptible to NICU. This group was also more susceptible to stinging induced by lactic acid and stratum corneum barrier removal using tape stripping. 

Vanillin is known to cause allergic reactions in people previously sensitized to balsam of Peru, benzoic acid, orange peel, cinnamon, and dove, but vanillin itself is not an allergic sensitizer. 

Balsam of Peru is derived from species of Myroxylon such as Myroxylon balsamum and Myroxylon pereirae and has been used in medicinal and cosmetic ointments for centuries. It contains about 25 different substances, including triterpenoids, and can cause allergic reactions. Its sensitizing constituents have been determined (63). 

Balsam of Peru is a topical photosensitizer (SEDA-19, 162) and can cause contact urticaria (64,65). A systemic... 

Rudzki E, Grzywa Z. Immediate reactions to balsam of Peru, cassia oil and ethyl vanillin. Contact Dermatitis 1976 2(6) 360-1. 

Hausen BM, Simatupang T, Bruhn G, Evers P, Koenig WA. Identification of new allergenic constituents and proof of evidence for coniferyl benzoate in balsam of Peru. Am J Contact Dermatitis 1995 6 199-208. 

Temesvari E, Soos G, Podanyi B, Kovacs I, Nemeth I. Contact urticaria provoked by balsam of Peru. Contact Dermatitis 1978 4(2) 65-8. 

Cancian M, Fortina AB, Peserico A. Contact urticaria syndrome from constituents of balsam of Peru and fragrance mix in a patient with chronic urticaria. Contact Dermatitis 1999 41(5) 300. 

Bruynzeel DP, van den Hoogenband HM, Koedijk F. Purpuric vasculitis-like eruption in a patient sensitive to balsam of Peru. Contact Dermatitis 1984 ll(4) 207-9. 

The fragrance mix, introduced in 1977 by Larsen (1), is used to detect sensitivity to fragrances in, for example, cosmetics and household products (SEDA-20, 149) (2). The mix contains eight widely used fragrance compounds. Additional indicators of fragrance allergy are balsam of Peru and colophony. 

Melilotus officinalis (sweet clover) Myroxylon species (balsam of Peru) Pithecollobium jiringa (jering fruit) Sophora falvescens (Ku shen) Trifolium pratense (red clover) Gentiana species (gentian)... 

Myristica fragrans (nutmeg) Myroxylon species (balsam of Peru)... 

In one case, allergic contact dermatitis to tea tree oil presented with an extensive erythema multiforme-like reaction (16). However, a skin biopsy from a target-like lesion showed a spongiotic dermatitis without the features of erythema multiforme. Five months after treatment with systemic and topical glucocorticoids, patch testing elicited a 3+ reaction to old, oxidized tea tree oil, a 2+ reaction to fresh tea tree oil, a 2+ reaction to colophony, a 1+ reaction to abitol, and a 1+ reaction to balsam of Peru. 

Ointment bases do not seem to cause contact allergy in the anogenital region too often, despite wide use. Wool wax alcohol and amerchol L-101 are the most important (15,17). Contact sensitivity to balsam of Peru and fragrance mix is not infrequent and reflects the ubiquitous presence of these substances (16). 

Hausen BM, Evers P, Stuwe HT, Konig WA, Wollenweber E. Propolis allergy (IV). Studies with further sensitizers from propolis and constituents common to propolis, poplar buds and balsam of Peru. Contact Dermatitis 1992 26(l) 34-44. 

Many people who are allergic to tea tree oil also react to turpentine, colophony, fragrances, balsam of Peru, and plant extracts of Compositae (8). 

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