FEMA 2501

BeschreibungHerbaceous, tall plant that grows in northern Persia (F galbaniflua) or in southern Persia (F. rubicaulia and F. ceratophylla). F. galbaniflua is widespread also in Turkey and Lebanon. The plant yields a resinous exudate, which is the part used, distinguished commercially in two types: Levant galbanum (soft) and Persian galbanum (hard). The resin has a characteristic, aromatic odor and a bitter, warm, acrid taste. It contains approximately 15 to 26% essential oil. Galbanum has a warm, resinous, somewhat spicy and balsamic odor.The essential oil is obtained by steam distillation of the dried resinous gum. It is a pale-yellow to yellow liquid with a balsamic, somewhat spicy, characteristic odor. Its main constituents include myrcene, cadinene, d-α-pinene, β-pinene, and sesquiterpene alcohols.The resinoid once was prepared by hydrocarbon solvent extraction and subsequent evaporation of the solvent; today a high-boiling, odorless solvent is added prior to evaporation; this solvent is left in the finished commercial product. The solvent-free resinoid is a dark-amber, viscous liquid with a characteristic balsamic odor. It yields turbid solutions in alcohol.