Pistacia lentiscus Mastic

Boelens, M. H. and Jimenez, R. 1991. Chemical composition of the essential oil from the gum and various parts of Pistacia lentiscus. L. (Mastic Gum Tree). Elavour Fragrance J. 6 271-275. 

K.J. van der Berg, J. ven der Horst, J.J. Boon, 0.0. Sudmeijer, Cis 1,4 poly P myrcene the structure of the polymeric fraction of mastic resin (Pistacia lentiscus) elucidated, Tetrahedron... 

Mastic. Balsam tree pistachia galls mastiche mastix lentisk Mastisol. Concrete resinous exudation from Pistacia lentiscus L., Anacardiaceae. Habit Mediterranean Islands, especially Chios. Cwtso f. Volatile oil (about 2%) mastieinic, mast iconic acids masticoresene. 

Al-Said, M. S., Ageel, A. M., Parmar, N. S., and Taiiq, M. 1986. Evaluation of mastic, a crude drug obtained from Pistacia lentiscus for gastric and duodental anti-ulcer activity. J. Ethnopharmacol. 15 271-278. Asaoka, K. 1996. Chitin/Chitosan, The Choice Food Supplement for Over 10,000 Physicians in Japan. New York Vantage Press. 

Capsaicin—Capsicum frutescens C i nge rol s—Zingiber officinale Mastic—Pistacia lentiscus Turpentine—Pinus palustrus Aspidinol—Dryopteris filix-mas Balm of Gilead—Populus balsamifera Frankincense—Boswellia carter i Asafoetida—Ferula assa-foetida... 

Mastic and sandarac, which are soluble in alcohol, were formerly used as varnishes, particularly in the Middle Ages, for the protection of oil and watercolor paintings or for coating metals. Sandarac is the resinous exudate of Tetraclinis ar-ticulata (Cupressaceae) and mastic is obtained from Pistacia lentiscus var. chia (Pistaciaceae). Mastic is still collected on the island of Chios in the Aegean it was once the monopoly of Greek emperors. Its use to sweeten the breath and for dental purposes was first recorded in 400 B.C. (19). 

Resins are the products of various shrubs and trees, especially conifers. In addition to essential oils, resins contain resin acids, such as tricyclic diterpene abietic acid, resin alcohols (resinols), resin esters and other substances. Particularly weU known is Chios mastic gum. Real mastic is only produced in the south part of Chios Island, and comes from the mastic tree Pistacia lentiscus var. chia, Anacardiaceae). It is used to flavour alcohoHc beverages (especially Hqueurs and ouzo), wine, baked goods, chewing gum and some cosmetic products. The essential oil with a balsam-Hke odour has antiseptic properties as it contains a- and fS-pinene as essential ingredients. 

Mastic mas-tik n [ME mastiky fr. L mastichey fr. Gk mastichey prob. back-formation fr. mastichan] (14c) (1) A solid resinous material obtained from the mastic tree Pistacia lentiscus) and used in adhesives and lacquers. (2) Asphalt masticy a composition of mineral matter with resin and solvent. (3) Any pasty material used as a waterproof coating or as cement for setting tile. 

GUM MASTIC is a yellowish or greenish transparent resin obtained by incision of a type of balsam tree, Pistacia lentiscus, grown in the Mediterranean region. It is soluble in ether or acetone, almost entirely soluble in alcohol, and partly in oil of turpentine. About 2% of volatile oil is present. It is sold in cases for use in medicine, dental cements, plasters, varnishes, lacquers, adhesives, chewing gum, and incense. 

Mastic is harvested from Pistacia lentiscus in the Greek island of Chios. It is a soft (55 °C) resin, which has been used for hundreds of years in the Mediterranean area as a chewing gum to give a fresh breath. Solutions in alcohol or aromatic hydrocarbons are used in wood - coatings, printing - inks and - adhesives (theater make-up). 

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