Pupoljci topole

The trees

Poplar is a fast-growing tree native to Europe. The black poplar mostly grows in low-lying areas and in moist soil. It is cultivated mainly for its wood, which is used in crate manufacturing. The buds are also used for medicinal purposes. Populus is a genus of over 60 species of deciduous flowering plants in the family Salicaceae, native to temperate, subarctic and montane regions of Eurasia, North America and North Africa, and to the tropical highlands of East Africa.

Balsam poplar and balm-of-Gilead

The balsam poplar, Populus balsamifera, is the northernmost North American hardwood. Its resinous sap comes from its buds, and bees sometimes use it as a hive disinfectant. The balm-of-Gilead, Populus × jackii, is a hybrid between the balsam poplar and the eastern cottonwood. The tree is named after the unrelated biblical Balm of Gilead, a Commiphora resin.

Composition

Balm-of-Gilead is expected to contain salicin in its bark, as other poplars do. The bud resin of Populus × euramericana cv. 'Neva' shares five predominant flavonoids with 17 propolis samples: 5-methoxy pinobanksin, pinobanksin, pinocembrin, pinobanksin-3-acetate and chrysin. The bud resin of Populus simonii × P. nigra shares four predominant flavonoids with 22 propolis samples: pinobanksin, pinocembrin, pinobanksin-3-acetate and chrysin.

Poplar-type propolis

Poplar-type propolis is common in temperate regions, including Europe, North America and western Asia. Poplar-type propolis is one of the most widespread propolis types.

Other uses

In traditional herbal treatment, balm-of-Gilead has been regarded as antiseptic, expectorant and tonic, among other properties. Sticky spring buds of the balsam poplar are used in medicinal salves and other herbal preparations in both Indigenous North American and European herbal traditions. The buds of balm-of-Gilead can be cut up for pot-pourri or used in herbal medicine. The function recorded for the Populus nigra extract among cosmetic ingredients is skin conditioning.

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Related: Amberwood · Andiroba · Bakhoor · Balsamic Notes · Benzoin Resinoid · Benzyl Benzoate · Benzyl Salicylate · Birch Tar