Myrrh is, like Frankincense, derived from the sap of a tree; this time from trees of the genus Commiphora, particularly the species Commiphora abyssinica. As you can see from the picture, it is formidably well armed. When a cut is made through the bark and into the sapwood beneath, waxy gum oozes out that can be collected. Initially it is quite rubbery and pliable but it eventually hardens into a solid, yellowy resin. It is much prized as an ingredient in incense and the essential oil has many uses in alternative forms of medicine. It is also used in religious ceremonies from a wide variety of traditions; from Christianity through to paganism.
Wood is a mixture of cellulose and lignin fibres tightly interwoven. Watery sap runs up the outer sapwood section of the trunk in vessels called xylem and sugary sap runs down the trunk again in vessels called phloem. In the picture to the right, the lighter wood is the sapwood and the darker wood is called heartwood. The heartwood is essentially dead with new cells being laid down only on the outside of the trunk. The very outer layer of the wood contains the phloem which carries sugars made during photosynthesis down to the other cells of the tree. The xylem carries water and dissolved nutrients absorbed from the soil by the tree’s roots.
Myrrh seems to have some qualities that make it useful in western medicine. It has been shown to work effectively in toothpaste to combat gum disease and is an ingredient in certain mouthwashes. It has also been shown to promote white blood cell production in mice and provide other benefits in animal trials. Of course, myrrh is not a single compound and it may be that some particular component is the active ingredient. It is also quite probable that clinical trials in animals will not immediately produce an effective product for humans. Although the biochemistry of mice and humans is similar, it does not always follow that an effect seen in one becomes a useful medicine in the other.
Incense is burned to release a fragrant smoke. The fragrance comes from volatile molecules that diffuse through the air and trigger receptors in your nose. Diffusion is the random movement of particles from an area of high concentration to one of lower concentration. The further away you are from the burning incense the longer it will take for the fragrance to reach you and the less intense the smell will be.
Questions…
- What component of your diet is mainly composed of cellulose?
- Suggest a feature that a plant cell would have that an animal cell would not?
- What two raw materials are needed for photosynthesis?
- Suggest a mineral plants need to absorb from the soil. What is this mineral needed for?
- Myrrh may have analgesic effects. What does the word analgesic mean?
- What does the word volatile mean in the context of fragrance?
- Is myrrh an element, mixture or compound?
- Apart from supplying water and dissolved nutrients to the plant, what other function do roots perform?
1. The vegetable part of our diet.
2. Cell wall
3. Carbon dioxide and water
4. Phosphorous, it grows roots
5. No idea
6. The smell is quite fast to spread
7. Mixture
8. They hold the plant steadfast in the ground so it can’t be moved by rampaging wildebeest of the genus Summerfieldus schoolboyus
Another interesting post!
Q1 – that’s a bit vague. Potatoes are vegetables. Do you know what the scientific words are for the components of your diet?
Q2 – excellent
Q3 – well done
Q4 – phosphorous is needed for photosynthesis and respiration
Q5 – I didn’t think you would! But you are presumably sitting at a computer with a search engine not far away…
Q6 – Yes – it means that the fragrance molecules are easily converted into a gas
Q7 – indeed
Q8 – splendid!
1. Plants and vegetables.
2. Cell wall.
3. Carbon dioxide and water.
4. Potassium because lack of it will cause the plant to stop growing.
5. Acting to relieve pain. (I googled this)
6. The molecules diffuse through the air.
7. Mixture.
8. They support the plant.
Thanks for another brilliant themed post!
Q1 – a little vague. Rice is a plant but without the husk contains little cellulose. There are more scientific terms for the different food groups you need in your diet e.g. carbohydrate, protein etc…
Q2 – well done
Q3 – yes
Q4 – potassium is important. Plant fertiliser is often labelled NPK to indicate that it contains nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. It is nitrogen that is the really important one out of the three.
Q5 – excellent! Google away – it’s not cheating!
Q6 – yes – they easily go from solid/liquid particles to gaseous particles
Q7 – splendid
Q8 – great