Myrrh
»Myrrh is the oleo-gum resin obtained from stems and branches of Commiphora molmolEngler and other related species of Commiphoraother than Commiphora mukul(Fam.Burseraceae).
Packaging and storage—
Preserve in tight containers,and store at controlled room temperature,in a dry place.
Labeling—
Label it to indicate the species of Commiphorafrom which the oleo-gum resin was obtained.Label it to indicate that it is intended for topical and oropharyngeal use only.
Botanic characteristics—
Myrrh occurs in rounded or irregular tears,or bumps of agglutinated tears,of variable sizes;brownish yellow to reddish brown,covered with some grayish or yellowish dust,externally;rich brown or reddish brown internally,sometimes marked with white spots or lines;thin splinters,translucent or almost transparent;brittle;waxy,granular,conchoidal fracture;characteristic and aromatic odor;aromatic,bitter,and acrid taste.
Identification—
A:
Triturate 0.4g of crushed Myrrh with 1g of washed sand,shake for a few minutes with 10mLof ethyl ether,and filter.Evaporate the filtrate to dryness in a porcelain dish,and add a few drops of nitric acid to the residue:a purplish violet color is produced instantly.
B:
Transfer 0.1g of powdered Myrrh to a test tube,and add 1mLof nitric acid:a red color is produced.Upon addition of a crystal of vanillin,the red color deepens.The red color does not diminish when water is added.
C:
Thin-Layer Chromatographic Identification Test á201ñ—
Test solution—
Transfer 0.5g of finely powdered Myrrh to a 10-mLcentrifuge tube,add 2mLof alcohol,shake for 1minute,centrifuge,and filter.Apply 2µLof the filtrate to the plate.
Standard solution—
Dissolve accurately weighed quantities of (E)-anethole,linalool,(–)-bornyl acetate,and (R)-(–)-carvone in toluene,and dilute quantitatively,and stepwise if necessary,with toluene to obtain a solution having known concentrations of about 7µg per mLof (E)-anethole,8µg per mLof linalool,and 10µg per mLeach of (–)-bornyl acetate and (R)-(–)-carvone.Apply 1µLto the plate.
Developing solvent system:
a mixture of toluene and ethyl acetate (93:7).
Spray reagent—
Dissolve 0.5mLof p-anisaldehyde in 10mLof glacial acetic acid,add 85mLof methanol,and mix.Carefully add 5mLof sulfuric acid,and mix.[NOTE—Prepare fresh immediately before use.]
Procedure—
[NOTE—Wash the plate in Developing solvent system,and air-dry prior to use.]Proceed as directed in the chapter.Spray the plate with Spray reagent,heat in an oven at 100
for 5minutes,and examine in white light.The chromatogram of the Standard solutionexhibits four well-resolved spots:an olive-brown spot due to (E)-anethole at an RFvalue of about 0.6;an orange-brown spot due to (–)-bornyl acetate at an RFvalue of about 0.5;a reddish brown spot due to (R)-(–)-carvone at an RFvalue of about 0.4;and a deep gray spot due to linalool at an RFvalue of about 0.2.The chromatogram of the Test solutionexhibits an intense purplish red spot at an RFvalue of about 0.7and two moderately intense purplish red spots at RFvalues of about 0.5and 0.4.The chromatogram of the Test solutionmay exhibit other spots of varying intensities,including a spot at the origin.
for 5minutes,and examine in white light.The chromatogram of the Standard solutionexhibits four well-resolved spots:an olive-brown spot due to (E)-anethole at an RFvalue of about 0.6;an orange-brown spot due to (–)-bornyl acetate at an RFvalue of about 0.5;a reddish brown spot due to (R)-(–)-carvone at an RFvalue of about 0.4;and a deep gray spot due to linalool at an RFvalue of about 0.2.The chromatogram of the Test solutionexhibits an intense purplish red spot at an RFvalue of about 0.7and two moderately intense purplish red spots at RFvalues of about 0.5and 0.4.The chromatogram of the Test solutionmay exhibit other spots of varying intensities,including a spot at the origin.
D:
Thin-Layer Chromatographic Identification Test á201ñ—
Test solution—
Transfer 0.5g of finely powdered Myrrh to a test tube containing 5.0mLof alcohol,and warm the mixture in a water bath for 2to 3minutes.Cool,and filter.
Standard solution—
Dissolve accurately weighed quantities of (E)-anethole and thymol in alcohol,and dilute quantitatively,and stepwise if necessary,with alcohol to obtain a solution having known concentrations of about 4µg of (E)-anethole per mLand about 1mg of thymol per mL.
Developing solvent system:
a mixture of toluene and ethyl acetate (98:2).
Procedure—
Proceed as directed in the chapter.Allow the plate to air-dry,and examine under UVlight at 365nm.The chromatogram of the Test solutionshows no blue to violet fluorescent zones in the lower third of the chromatogram (absence of Commiphora mukul).
Loss on drying á731ñ—
Dry 1.0g of powdered Myrrh between 100and 105for 2hours:it loses not more than 15.0%of its weight.
and 105for 2hours:it loses not more than 15.0%of its weight.
Foreign organic matter á561ñ:
not more than 2%.
Total ash á561ñ:
not more than 10.0%.
Acid-insoluble ash á561ñ:
not more than 5.0%.
Alcohol-soluble extractives,Method 2á561ñ:
not less than 40%and not more than 70%.
Water-soluble extractives,Method 2á561ñ:
not less than 50%.
Volatile oil content á561ñ:
not less than 6.0%.
Heavy metals,Method IIá231ñ:
0.002%.
Auxiliary Information—
Staff Liaison:Gabriel I.Giancaspro,Ph.D.,Senior Scientist and Latin American Specialist
Expert Committee:(DSB)Dietary Supplements:Botanicals
USP28–NF23Page 1319
Pharmacopeial Forum:Volume No.28(1)Page 78
Phone Number:1-301-816-8343