Chemical Composition:  

Free ferulic acid,resin,saradaferin (sesquiterpenoid coumarin),caffeic acid cinnamyl ester ,23.3 per cent. of gum; 19.2 per cent. of essential oil, containing sulphur; and 57.5 per cent. of a resin which is free from sulphur and melts at 74° to 76° C. (165.2°-168.8° F.). The ether soluble resin of sagapenum can be separated by saponification into umbelliferone and sagaresitannol (C24H₂₇O4.OH). This latter yields on oxidation oxypicric acid. The oil is pale yellow, very fluid, lighter than water, and of a disagreeable alliaceous odor. Sagapenum was formerly used in doses of from ten to thirty grains (0.65-2.0 Gm.) in amenorrhea, hysteria, etc.; also externally in plasters as a discutient.It contains from 50 to 60 per cent. of resin, 23 to 30 per cent. Of gum, 3-11% of volatile oil containing sulphur, and 1-4% of bassorin, together with calcium malate and phosphate, and small amounts of sulphur and impurities; the resin contains sagaresinotannol and umbelliferone. Although it resembles galbanum in many ways it may be distinguished by its solubility in petroleum spirit, sagapenum yielding a much larger also amount of resin than galbanum, the volatile oil contains sulphur, that of galbanum being free from it,sesquiterpene coumarin glycosides, persicaosides A-D, and two known phytosterol glucosides, sitosterol 3-O-beta-glucoside and stigmasterol 3-O-beta-glucoside.

Part used : Stem,gum