Uses of Benzoin Oil

Benzoin oil is produced by an alcohol extract of the resin from the benzoin tree, which is a member of the Styrax genus. The oil has been traditionally used to treat conditions such as asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory disorders. However, no clinical studies are listed with databases run by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, or the National Center for Biotechnology Information that support these uses. However, benzoin oil has been shown to be useful for preventing skin infections, for a potential treatment for cancer and as an adhesive for surgical bandages.

Cellular Death

A study appearing in the August 2010 issue of the "Journal of Ethnopharmacology" investigated the ability of benzoin oil to promote apoptosis, or genetically programmed cell death. The researchers tested the efficacy of benzoin oil on the killing of human liver cancer cells. The study found that an ethanol extract of the oil increased the amounts of factors known to contribute to cellular death. The authors concluded that the extract could have benefits in treating liver cancer.

Penile Warts

The January 1998 issue of the "Singapore Medical Journal" analyzed the ability of benzoin oil to combat outbreaks of penile warts. The researchers supervised the application of a benzoin tincture, which is a solution containing alcohol. The study found that up to 83 percent of the patients had no signs of warts after six weeks. The authors concluded that concentrations as low as 0.25 percent of benzoin oil in ethanol was sufficient for the treatment of penile warts.

Surgical Bandages

Benzoin oil has been used for its ability to increase the adhesiveness of surgical bandages on the skin and for its antibacterial activities. The October 2000 issue of "Dermatological Surgery" included an article that documented these properties. The author details a procedure, where the skin is "de-oiled" by the use of acetone before the bandage is applied. The study stated that the use of benzoin oil greatly improves the adhesiveness of surgical bandages and aids in the prevention of infection.

Antibacterial

An article appearing in the March 1996 issue of "Military Medicine" described a procedure that used benzoin oil for the re-use of bottles in the operating room. The authors investigated the growth of several strains of bacteria on a surface covered with the oil and found that only one species, Bacillus cereus, was able to survive for more than 15 minutes, but was inactivated after 24 hours. The authors concluded that the risks associated with the treated bottles in the operating room were minimal.