Mastic is classified as which type of plant exudate?

Mastic is classified as which type of plant exudate?

• A. Resin
• B. Oleoresin
• C. Oleogum resin
• D. Balsam

Answer: (A)

The plant exudate types differ by whether they are solid resins, resins with oils, gum-containing resins, or oily aromatic resins. Mastic is a hard, brittle solid exudate collected from Pistacia lentiscus, composed mainly of terpenes and related compounds. That makes it a resin: a pure resinous solid without substantial volatile oil content. It doesn’t have the gum fraction, so it isn’t an oleogum resin, and it isn’t rich in essential oils like a balsam, nor is it a true oleoresin (which would combine resin with a significant amount of essential oil). So mastic is classified as a resin.

The plant exudate types differ by whether they are solid resins, resins with oils, gum-containing resins, or oily aromatic resins. Mastic is a hard, brittle solid exudate collected from Pistacia lentiscus, composed mainly of terpenes and related compounds. That makes it a resin: a pure resinous solid without substantial volatile oil content. It doesn’t have the gum fraction, so it isn’t an oleogum resin, and it isn’t rich in essential oils like a balsam, nor is it a true oleoresin (which would combine resin with a significant amount of essential oil). So mastic is classified as a resin.