Convolvulus scammonia

Details Top

Internal ID UUID64405bd0ba70f555571167
Scientific name Convolvulus scammonia
Authority L.
First published in Sp. Pl. : 153 (1753)

Ethnobotanical Use Top

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General Uses Top

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Common products:
Scammony resin, a natural gum obtained from the milky latex of Convolvulus scammonia roots, is the primary commercial product of the species. The latex is collected, coagulated and dried to produce a brittle, amber‑colored resin that is subsequently milled into a fine powder or flakes for industrial use.

Industrial and craft applications:
The resin is employed as a resin component in spirit‑based varnishes and lacquers, where its rapid solubility in ethanol yields clear, durable films on wood and metal surfaces. It serves as a binding agent in natural adhesives for paper, leather and wood, providing tack and cohesion without requiring synthetic polymers. Historically the resin has been used as a sizing agent in paper production, improving ink hold‑out and preventing bleed‑through. In traditional ink‑making manuals it is listed as a binding and film‑forming ingredient in iron‑gall and carbon‑based inks, contributing to stable pigment suspension and water‑fastness. The material also functions as a fixative in incense formulations, where its low volatility and resinous character help to retain aromatic compounds.

Fragrance and cosmetics:
Scammony resin is utilized as a fixative in perfumery blends, extending the longevity of volatile fragrance components on the skin. Its aromatic profile, described as resinous‑sweet with faint spice notes, is incorporated into incense mixtures where it provides both scent and binding properties. Although the plant is not cultivated for essential‑oil extraction, the resin itself is an accepted cosmetic ingredient for its film‑forming qualities in leave‑on products such as nail varnishes and hair‑styling preparations.

Properties relevant to use:
The resin is composed mainly of triterpenoid acids (e.g., scammonic acid), phenolic compounds, and mucilaginous polysaccharides. It is soluble in ethanol, methanol and other organic solvents, forming clear solutions that dry to a glossy, slightly elastic film. Its softening temperature falls within the range typical of natural resins (approximately 90–115 °C), conferring thermal stability to varnish matrices. The presence of polar functional groups imparts good adhesion to porous substrates and enables the resin to act as an effective binder in inks and adhesives.

Standards and regulation:
No dedicated ISO, EN or ASTM standard exists for scammony resin. In the European Union it is regulated under the REACH framework as a natural chemical substance and under the Cosmetic Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 for fragrance ingredients. In the United States it is listed as a processing aid in the FDA Inventory of Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) substances; it is not approved for direct consumption.

Sustainability and sourcing:
The species is harvested from wild populations across the Mediterranean basin, primarily in Greece, Turkey and parts of North Africa. Demand for the resin has led to localized over‑harvesting, prompting regional flora authorities to recommend limiting extraction to no more than 5 % of the total standing biomass per year. Cultivation trials are limited; low seed viability and slow growth rates currently restrict commercial planting, leaving the supply largely dependent on wild collection.

Synonyms Top

Scientific name Authority First published in
Calystegia scammonia Pritz. Icon. Bot. Index 2: 58 (1855)
Convolvulus elongatus Salisb. Prodr. Stirp. Chap. Allerton : 123 (1796)

Common names Top

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Language Common/alternative name
English scammony
Spanish escamonia
Arabic سقمونيا
Arabic محموده
Arabic محمودة
Azerbaijani oxyarpaq sarmaşıq
Catalan glòria de matí
German skammonium
German orientalische purgierwinde
Persian گیاه سمقونیا
Persian سمقونیا
French diagrède
French scammonée
French scammonee
io skamoneo
Russian Вьюнок смолоносный
Turkish mahmude otu

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

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Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

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Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

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Forms (abbr. f.) Top

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Germination/Propagation Top

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Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
  • Asia-temperate
    • Western Asia
      • East Aegean Islands
      • Iraq
      • Lebanon-Syria
      • Palestine
      • Sinai
      • Turkey

Links to other databases Top

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Database ID/link to page
World Flora Online wfo-0001298534
UNII RI13X61R6E
USDA Plants COSC10
KEW urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:266929-1
Open Tree Of Life 3870489
Observations.org 142746
NCBI Taxonomy 1428931
IPNI 266929-1
iNaturalist 494311
GBIF 2928397
Freebase /m/04ygnx
EPPO CONSC
Elurikkus 336346
USDA GRIN 11319
Wikipedia Convolvulus_scammonia
CMAUP NPO10164

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.

Scientific Literature Top

Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
Title Authors Publication Released IDs
Exploring Plants with Flowers: From Therapeutic Nutritional Benefits to Innovative Sustainable Uses Coyago-Cruz E, Moya M, Méndez G, Villacís M, Rojas-Silva P, Corell M, Mapelli-Brahm P, Vicario IM, Meléndez-Martínez AJ Foods 08-Nov-2023
PMCID:PMC10671036
doi:10.3390/foods12224066
PMID:38002124
Mass Defect Filtering-Oriented Identification of Resin Glycosides from Root of Convolvulus scammonia Based on Quadrupole-Orbitrap Mass Spectrometer Yin Q, Abdulla R, Kahar G, Aisa HA, Li C, Xin X Molecules 06-Jun-2022
PMCID:PMC9182046
doi:10.3390/molecules27113638
PMID:35684574
Ca’ Granda, Hortus simplicium: Restoring an Ancient Medicinal Garden of XV–XIX Century in Milan (Italy) Bottoni M, Milani F, Galimberti PM, Vignati L, Romanini PL, Lavezzo L, Martinetti L, Giuliani C, Fico G Molecules 17-Nov-2021
PMCID:PMC8620247
doi:10.3390/molecules26226933
PMID:34834025
Phylobioactive hotspots in plant resources used to treat Chagas disease Salm A, Krishnan SR, Collu M, Danton O, Hamburger M, Leonti M, Almanza G, Gertsch J iScience 15-Mar-2021
PMCID:PMC8040286
doi:10.1016/j.isci.2021.102310
PMID:33870129
Medicinal plants as a fight against murine blood-stage malaria Dkhil MA, Al-Quraishy S, Al-Shaebi EM, Abdel-Gaber R, Thagfan FA, Qasem MA Saudi J Biol Sci 19-Dec-2020
PMCID:PMC7938113
doi:10.1016/j.sjbs.2020.12.014
PMID:33732056
Synthesis of ZnO-NPs Using a Convolvulus arvensis Leaf Extract and Proving Its Efficiency as an Inhibitor of Carbon Steel Corrosion Al-Senani GM Materials (Basel) 17-Feb-2020
PMCID:PMC7079658
doi:10.3390/ma13040890
PMID:32079220
Consequences of Opioid Abuse and their Treatments in Persian Medicine: A Review Study Kamali M, Tajadini H, Mehrabani M, Moghadari M Addict Health 01-Jan-2020
PMCID:PMC7291898
doi:10.22122/ahj.v12i1.250
PMID:32582415
Treatment of liver and spleen illnesses by herbs: Recommendations of Avicenna’s heritage "Canon of Medicine" Ghobadi Pour M, Mirazi N, Seif A Avicenna J Phytomed 01-Mar-2019
PMCID:PMC6448543
PMID:30984575
New candidates for treatment and management of carpal tunnel syndrome based on the Persian Canon of Medicine Setayesh M, Zargaran A, Sadeghifar AR, Salehi M, Rezaeizadeh H Integr Med Res 20-Feb-2018
PMCID:PMC6026351
doi:10.1016/j.imr.2018.02.003
PMID:29984174
Resin glycosides from Convolvulaceae plants Ono M J Nat Med 26-Jul-2017
PMCID:PMC6763574
doi:10.1007/s11418-017-1114-5
PMID:28748432
Historical root of precision medicine: an ancient concept concordant with the modern pharmacotherapy Moeini R, Memariani Z, Pasalar P, Gorji N Daru 04-Apr-2017
PMCID:PMC5379719
doi:10.1186/s40199-017-0173-1
PMID:28372571
Review of Medicinal Remedies on Hand Eczema Based on Iranian Traditional Medicine: A Narrative Review Article MANSOURI P, KHADEMI A, PAHLEVAN D, MEMARIANI Z, ALIASL J, SHIRBEIGII L Iran J Public Health 01-Aug-2016
PMCID:PMC5139979
PMID:27928524
Avicenna’s contribution to mechanisms of cardiovascular drugs Javadi B, Emami SA Iran J Basic Med Sci 01-Aug-2015
PMCID:PMC4633453
PMID:26557959
Avicenna's Canon of Medicine: a review of analgesics and anti-inflammatory substances Mahdizadeh S, Khaleghi Ghadiri M, Gorji A Avicenna J Phytomed 01-May-2015
PMCID:PMC4469963
PMID:26101752
Antiplasmodial Activity and Cytotoxicity of Plants Used in Traditional Medicine of Iran for the Treatment of Fever Esmaeili S, Ghiaee A, Naghibi F, Mosaddegh M Iran J Pharm Res 01-Jan-2015
PMCID:PMC4499432
PMID:26185511

Phytochemical Profile Top

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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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Name PubChem ID Canonical SMILES MW Found in Proof
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids
Beta-Amyrin 73145 Click to see CC1(CCC2(CCC3(C(=CCC4C3(CCC5C4(CCC(C5(C)C)O)C)C)C2C1)C)C)C 426.70 unknown via CMAUP database
Beta-Amyrin Acetate 92156 Click to see 468.80 unknown via CMAUP database
Betulinic Acid 64971 Click to see 456.70 unknown via CMAUP database
Lupeol 259846 Click to see CC(=C)C1CCC2(C1C3CCC4C5(CCC(C(C5CCC4(C3(CC2)C)C)(C)C)O)C)C 426.70 unknown via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Saccharolipids
(11S)-11-[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3-[(2S,3R,4S,5R,6S)-3,4-dihydroxy-6-methyl-5-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-4,5-dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-4,5-dihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxyhexadecanoic acid 14704611 Click to see 873.00 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(91)85287-A
[(1S,3R,4S,5S,6R,8S,10R,11S,12S,13R,15R,17S,29R,30S,31S,33R)-30-[(2S,3R,4R,5S,6R)-3,4-dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-5-[(E)-2-methylbut-2-enoyl]oxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-4,5,11,12-tetrahydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-13,31-dimethyl-27-oxo-17-pentyl-2,7,9,14,16,28,32-heptaoxatetracyclo[27.3.1.03,8.010,15]tritriacontan-33-yl] (2S)-2-methylbutanoate 162964681 Click to see 1037.20 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)83626-A
[30-[3,4-Dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-5-(2-methylbut-2-enoyloxy)oxan-2-yl]oxy-4,5,11,12-tetrahydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-13,31-dimethyl-27-oxo-17-pentyl-2,7,9,14,16,28,32-heptaoxatetracyclo[27.3.1.03,8.010,15]tritriacontan-33-yl] 2-methylbutanoate 3083405 Click to see CCCCCC1CCCCCCCCCC(=O)OC2C(C(OC(C2OC(=O)C(C)CC)OC3C(C(C(OC3OC4C(C(C(OC4O1)C)O)O)CO)O)O)C)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)CO)OC(=O)C(=CC)C)O)O 1037.20 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)83626-A
11-[3-[3-[3,4-Dihydroxy-6-methyl-5-(3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl)oxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-4,5-dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-4,5-dihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxyhexadecanoic acid 14704609 Click to see 873.00 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(91)85287-A
Scammonin viii 6450151 Click to see CCCCCC1CCCCCCCCCC(=O)OC2C(C(OC(C2OC(=O)C(C)CC)OC3C(C(C(OC3OC4C(C(C(OC4O1)C)O)O)CO)O)O)C)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)CO)OC(=O)C(=CC)C)O)O 1037.20 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)83626-A
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Sphingolipids / Ceramides / Phytoceramides
Benjaminamide 56662789 Click to see CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC(C(=O)NC(CO)C(C(CCCCCCCC=CCCCCC)O)O)O 682.10 unknown via CMAUP database
> Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Oligosaccharides
[(1S,3R,4S,5R,6R,8S,10R,11S,12R,13R,15R,17S,29R,30S,31S,33R)-4,5,11,12-tetraacetyloxy-6-(acetyloxymethyl)-13,31-dimethyl-27-oxo-17-pentyl-30-[(2S,3R,4S,5R,6R)-3,4,5-triacetyloxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxy-2,7,9,14,16,28,32-heptaoxatetracyclo[27.3.1.03,8.010,15]tritriacontan-33-yl] (E)-2-methylbut-2-enoate 163006290 Click to see CCCCCC1CCCCCCCCCC(=O)OC2C(C(OC(C2OC(=O)C(=CC)C)OC3C(C(C(OC3OC4C(C(C(OC4O1)C)OC(=O)C)OC(=O)C)COC(=O)C)OC(=O)C)OC(=O)C)C)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)C)OC(=O)C)OC(=O)C)OC(=O)C 1273.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(91)85287-A
[(1S,3R,4S,5S,6R,8S,10R,11S,12R,13R,15R,17S,29R,30S,31S,33R)-30-[(2S,3R,4R,5S,6R)-3,4-dihydroxy-6-methyl-5-[(E)-2-methylbut-2-enoyl]oxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-4,5,11,12-tetrahydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-13,31-dimethyl-27-oxo-17-pentyl-2,7,9,14,16,28,32-heptaoxatetracyclo[27.3.1.03,8.010,15]tritriacontan-33-yl] (2S)-2-methylbutanoate 163039359 Click to see 1021.20 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)83626-A
[(1S,3R,4S,5S,6R,8S,10R,11S,12S,13R,15R,17S,29R,30S,31S,33R)-4,5,11,12-tetrahydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-13,31-dimethyl-27-oxo-17-pentyl-30-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxy-2,7,9,14,16,28,32-heptaoxatetracyclo[27.3.1.03,8.010,15]tritriacontan-33-yl] 2-methylpropanoate 163046580 Click to see CCCCCC1CCCCCCCCCC(=O)OC2C(C(OC(C2OC(=O)C(C)C)OC3C(C(C(OC3OC4C(C(C(OC4O1)C)O)O)CO)O)O)C)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)C)O)O)O 925.10 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(91)85287-A
[(2R,3S,4R,5R,6S)-4,5-dihydroxy-2-methyl-6-[[(1S,3R,4S,5S,6R,8S,10R,11S,12S,13R,15R,17S,29R,30S,31S,33R)-4,5,11,12-tetrahydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-13,31-dimethyl-33-(2-methylpropanoyloxy)-27-oxo-17-pentyl-2,7,9,14,16,28,32-heptaoxatetracyclo[27.3.1.03,8.010,15]tritriacontan-30-yl]oxy]oxan-3-yl] (E)-2-methylbut-2-enoate 162891946 Click to see 1007.20 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(91)85287-A
[(2R,3S,4R,5R,6S)-4,5-dihydroxy-2-methyl-6-[[(1S,3R,4S,5S,6R,8S,10R,11S,12S,13R,15R,17S,29R,30S,31S,33R)-4,5,11,12-tetrahydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-13,31-dimethyl-33-[(E)-2-methylbut-2-enoyl]oxy-27-oxo-17-pentyl-2,7,9,14,16,28,32-heptaoxatetracyclo[27.3.1.03,8.010,15]tritriacontan-30-yl]oxy]oxan-3-yl] (E)-2-methylbut-2-enoate 162929751 Click to see CCCCCC1CCCCCCCCCC(=O)OC2C(C(OC(C2OC(=O)C(=CC)C)OC3C(C(C(OC3OC4C(C(C(OC4O1)C)O)O)CO)O)O)C)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)C)OC(=O)C(=CC)C)O)O 1019.20 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(91)85287-A
[30-[3,4-Dihydroxy-6-methyl-5-(2-methylbut-2-enoyloxy)oxan-2-yl]oxy-4,5,11,12-tetrahydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-13,31-dimethyl-27-oxo-17-pentyl-2,7,9,14,16,28,32-heptaoxatetracyclo[27.3.1.03,8.010,15]tritriacontan-33-yl] 2-methylbutanoate 195689 Click to see 1021.20 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)83626-A
https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(90)85277-M
[4,5-Dihydroxy-2-methyl-6-[[4,5,11,12-tetrahydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-13,31-dimethyl-33-(2-methylbut-2-enoyloxy)-27-oxo-17-pentyl-2,7,9,14,16,28,32-heptaoxatetracyclo[27.3.1.03,8.010,15]tritriacontan-30-yl]oxy]oxan-3-yl] 2-methylbut-2-enoate 162929750 Click to see 1019.20 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(91)85287-A
[4,5-Dihydroxy-2-methyl-6-[[4,5,11,12-tetrahydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-13,31-dimethyl-33-(2-methylpropanoyloxy)-27-oxo-17-pentyl-2,7,9,14,16,28,32-heptaoxatetracyclo[27.3.1.03,8.010,15]tritriacontan-30-yl]oxy]oxan-3-yl] 2-methylbut-2-enoate 162891945 Click to see 1007.20 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(91)85287-A
[4,5,11,12-Tetraacetyloxy-6-(acetyloxymethyl)-13,31-dimethyl-27-oxo-17-pentyl-30-(3,4,5-triacetyloxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl)oxy-2,7,9,14,16,28,32-heptaoxatetracyclo[27.3.1.03,8.010,15]tritriacontan-33-yl] 2-methylbut-2-enoate 163006289 Click to see CCCCCC1CCCCCCCCCC(=O)OC2C(C(OC(C2OC(=O)C(=CC)C)OC3C(C(C(OC3OC4C(C(C(OC4O1)C)OC(=O)C)OC(=O)C)COC(=O)C)OC(=O)C)OC(=O)C)C)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)C)OC(=O)C)OC(=O)C)OC(=O)C 1273.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(91)85287-A
[4,5,11,12-Tetrahydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-13,31-dimethyl-27-oxo-17-pentyl-30-(3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl)oxy-2,7,9,14,16,28,32-heptaoxatetracyclo[27.3.1.03,8.010,15]tritriacontan-33-yl] 2-methylbutanoate 195688 Click to see 939.10 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(90)85277-M
[4,5,11,12-Tetrahydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-13,31-dimethyl-27-oxo-17-pentyl-30-(3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl)oxy-2,7,9,14,16,28,32-heptaoxatetracyclo[27.3.1.03,8.010,15]tritriacontan-33-yl] 2-methylpropanoate 14890556 Click to see 925.10 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(91)85287-A
https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)83626-A
Hexadecanoic acid, 11-((O-6-deoxy-4-O-((2E)-2-methyl-1-oxo-2-buten-1-yl)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1->4)-O-6-deoxy-2-O-((2S)-2-methyl-1-oxobutyl)-alpha-L-mannopyranosyl-(1->2)-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1->2)-6-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy)-, intramol. 1,3'''-ester, (11S)- 44593484 Click to see 1021.20 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(90)85277-M
Scammonin Ii 14704606 Click to see 939.10 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(90)85277-M
Scammonin VII 6444009 Click to see 1021.20 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(90)85277-M
https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)83626-A
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Coumarin glycosides
6-methoxy-7-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-3,4-dihydrochromen-2-one 11953803 Click to see COC1=C(C=C2C(=C1)CCC(=O)O2)OC3C(C(C(C(O3)CO)O)O)O 356.32 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Hydroxycoumarins / 7-hydroxycoumarins
Scopoletin 5280460 Click to see 192.17 unknown via CMAUP database

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