Physico-chemical studies of Siberian pine (Pinus sibirica) derived chewing gum

In this work, ‘Siberian chewing gum’, a natural product derived from the resin of Pinus sibirica Du Tour, to which healing effects on mouth, stomach and duodenum chronic ulcers are attributed, has been characterized by Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier- Transform Infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and thermal analysis techniques. With regard to the vibrational spectrum, the band at 1693 cm-1, ascribed to ν(CO) terpenic oxo groups, suggests the presence of diterpenes, while the existence of hydroxystilbenes and their glycosides is consistent with the absorption bands in the 3380-3080 cm-1, 1800-1300 cm-1 and 1000-450 cm-1 regions. On the other hand, the thermal behavior of the Siberian chewing gum, elucidated by thermogravimetry (TG), derivative thermogravimetry (DTG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) techniques, resembles that of arabinogalactan, albeit with a more delayed decomposition.