Diversity of color and chemical properties of the resins of Indonesian Styrax spp.

Abstract. Ridwansyah, Sunarti TC, Syamsu K, Fahma F, Julianti E, Lovely B. 2025. Diversity of color and chemical properties of the resins of Indonesian Styrax spp. Asian J For 9: 372-380. Styrax is a native Indonesian plant that grows in northern Sumatra and produces resin, locally known as kemenyan, as a valuable non-timber forest product widely used in perfumery, cosmetics, and traditional medicine. The present study aimed to analyze the color, chemical, and phytochemical profiles of resin from three Indonesian Styrax species, namely S. sumatrana, S. benzoin var. hiliferum, and S. benzoin. Color was assessed by the CIE Lab system, while chemical properties, including cinnamic and benzoic acids, were measured using ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometry. Phytochemical screening and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were performed to identify bioactive constituents and functional groups. The results revealed that S. sumatrana has the highest cinnamic acid content (32.65%) and the lowest benzoic acid level (16.08%), along with superior color parameters (L, a*, b*), qualifying it as Grade A under the Indonesian National Standard (SNI 7940:2013). FTIR spectra also indicated higher concentrations of phenolic compounds and terpenoids in S. sumatrana than in other species. The toba resin showed the most complex and abundant aromatic and resinous group spectrum, followed by bulu. Durame showed abundant carbonyl compounds and fewer aromatic structures, suggesting compositional differences between them. These findings highlight the superior quality of S. sumatrana resin, which contains a higher level of cinnamic acid and a brighter color than S. benzoin.