25274 81379 7 -------------- ON THE COVER Pine Pinus spp. Family: Pinaceae OVERVIEW ity.? A study examining the effects of an extract of P densifolia ine trees are evergreen conifers (cone-bearing trees) that bark suggests that it may be useful in the treatment of 8 Poriginate almost exclusively in the temperate regions of the diabetes. In one study fermented pine seed shell extract Northern Hemisphere.' Pines are the source of many commer­ protected mice from death associated with E. coli infection and 9 cial products. Pine medicinal preparations are made from the also demonstrated anti-tumor and antioxidant activity. The essential oil of distilled leaves, from the resin and its derivatives essential oil distilled from the needles of P ponderosa strongly 10 produced from the bark, and from the short (3-5 em) sprouts inhibited fungal growth in one study. The essential oil obtained from P mugo has been shown to possess antioxidant collected in the spring. activity.11 An extract from the cones of P parviflora inhibit When the trunk of a pine tree is wounded, pine resin, a thick, HIV replication in laboratory studies.'2 A study in mice sticky material, flows to the surface to form a protective coat that showed that the extract from pinecones of P parviflora also had seals the wound to pathogenic microorganisms and prevents the antimicrobial and anti-tumor properties.l3 An ointment loss of sap. 2 To obtain resin commercially, a tapping cut is made containing pine resin has shown promise in the treatment of in the pine bark and the resin drops are collected into buckets or wounds, burns, and other skin diseases involving infection and 2 14 1 bags. For many years the production of pine resin was almost inflammation. • 5 A exclusively a French industry, but later spread to other European - Gayle Engels and Laura Deschler 4 countries, Russia, Brazil, India, and North America.3· In recent References years, production has decreased in the former source nations and I. VanWyk B, Wink M. Medicinal Plants of the World. Portland, OR: Timber has shifted to Southeast Asia and China.4 Press; 2004. 2. Moussouris Y, Regato P. Forest Harvest: An Overview of Non Timber Forest Products in the Mediterranean Region. WWF Mediteranean Programme. HISTORICAL AND TRADITIONAL USES 1999. Available at: http://www.fao.org/documents/show_cdr.asp?url_file= Pine needle oil, pine resin-derived turpentine oil, and pine /DOCREP/X5593E/X5593EOO.htm. sprouts are approved by the German Commission E for treat­ 3. Grieve M. A Motkm Herbal Vol2. New York: Dover Publications Inc; 1971. 4. Coppen JJW, Hone GA. Non-Wood Forest Products 2: Gum naval stores: ing coughs, chronic bronchitis, and other irritations or infec­ Turpentine and rosin from pine resin. Natural Resources institute: Food and tions of the respiratory tract.5 They are also approved for exter­ Agriculture O rganization of the United Nations. Rome; 1995. Available at: nal use to relieve muscle soreness and stiffness, arthritis, and http://www.fao.org/documents/show_cdr.asp?url_fue=/docrepN6460EN64 60EOO.htm. Accessed November 22, 2004. neuralgia. The Commission E also recognizes that these pine 5. Blumenthal M, Busse WR, Goldberg A, Gruenwald J, Hall T, Riggins CW, products have antiseptic properties and can help to break up Rister RS, editors. Klein S, Rister RS , translators. The Compute German mucus secretions in the upper and lower respiratory tract and Commission E Monographs--Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Austin, increase local blood flow.6 TX: American Botanical Council; Boston: In tegrative Medicine Communi­ cation; 1998. The main products of pine resin are turpentine oil and rosin.2 6. Blumenthal M, Goldberg A, Brinckmann J, eds. Herbal Medicine: Expanded The viscous resin from various pine species is distilled to Commission E Monographs. Austin, TX: American Botanical Council; Newton, MA: Integrative Medicine Communications; 2000. produce oil of turpentine. A by-product of this distillation 7. Jung M, Chung H, Choi J, et al. Antioxidant principles from the needles of process is rosin, a brittle, translucent substance. Rosin has been red pine, Pinus densifWra. Phytotherapy &search. 2003; 17(9): I 064-1068. used in the manufacture of soaps, while turpentine vapors have 8. Kim Y, Wang M, Rhee H. A novel alpha-glucosidase inhibitor from pine bark. Carbohydrate &search. 2004;339(3):715-717. been used to treat congestion of the upper and lower respiratory 9. Mihara S, Unten S, Kakuta H, et al. Diverse biological activities of fermented tract associated with chronic bronchitis. 1•2 When rubbed on the pine seed shell extract. Anticancer Research. 2002;22(3):1569-1574. skin, turpentine oil acts as a counter-irritant to relieve mild 10. Krauze-Baranowska M, Mardarowicz M, Wiwart M, et al. Antifungal activ­ muscle, joint, or nerve pain. ' Turpentine oil also has antiseptic ity of the essential oils from some species of the genus Pinus. Zeitschrift for Natuforschung- Section C- Biosciences. 2002;57(5-6):478-482. 1 properties and stimulates peripheral circulation. ·5 Pine resin I I. Grassmann J, Hippeli S, Vo ll mann R, et al . Anitoxidative properties of the extracts, such as turpentine oil, have traditionally been used essential oil from Pinus mugo. journal of Agricultural & Food Chemistry. internally as a treatment for chronic cough, bladder and kidney 2003;5 1(26):7576-7582. 12. Takayama H, Bradley G, Lai P, et al. Inhibition of human immunodeficiency complaints, and rheumatism.3 They are also used externally as virus forwa rd and reverse transcription by PC6, a natural product from cones plasters and ointments for antiseptic actions in eczema and to of pine trees. AIDS Research & Human &troviruses. 199 1;7(3):349-357. stimulate topical circulation. The crude resin has been used 13. Harada H, Sakagami H, Ko nno K, et al . Induction of antimicrobial activity by antitumor substances from pine cone extract of Pinus parvifWra Sieb. Et topically for various skin conditions.3 Zucc. Anticancer Research. 1988;8(4):581 -587. 14. Khmel'nitskii 0 , Simbirtsev V, Konusova V, et al. Pine resin and biopin oint­ MODERN RESEARCH ment: effects on cell composition and histochemical changes in wounds. Pharmacological research on pine-derived materials is being Bulktin ofExperimental Biology and Medicine. 2002;133(6):583-585. 15. Simbirtsev A, Konusova G, Mchelidze G, et al. Pine resin and biopin oint­ conducted in many countries. The extract of the needles of ment: effects on repair processes in tissues. Bulktin of Experimental Biology Pinus densifolia was shown to possess strong antioxidant activ- and Medicine. 2002; 133(5):457-460. www.herbalgram.org 2005 HerbaiGram 65 I 1 Membership Levels & Benefits Yes, I want Please add $20 for addresses outside the U.S. to join the American Individual - $50 ~ Online access to HerbMedPro TM ~ Subscription to our highly­ Comprehensive access to Botanical Council! acclaimed journal scientific studies and publications Please detach application and mail ro: American Botanical Council, P.O . 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