2. Musk
• Scientific Name: Moschus moschiferus L.
• Common Name: Deer musk, Musk
Musk is a class of aromatic substances commonly
used as base notes in perfumery. They
include glandular secretions from animals such
as the musk deer, numerous plants emitting
similar fragrances, and artificial substances with
similar odors. Musk was a name originally given
to a substance with a strong odor obtained from
a gland of the musk deer.
3. • The musk deer belongs to the
family Moschidae and lives
in Nepal, Tibet, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan,
China, Siberia and Mongolia.
4. • The musk deer (M. moschiferus) is a small, solitary
animal that attains a stature of only 0.5 m. It is native
to mountainous regions of Asia, including Tibet, and
throughout 17 provinces in China
• Musk is an odiferous secretion derived from the musk
gland under the abdomen near the pubis of the male
musk deer. The glands weigh up to 30 g and contain
about half their weight in musk.
• There are two methods of obtaining musk. In the first
method, the trapped deer is killed in late winter or
early spring and the gland is removed. Alternately,
musk is collected from deer raised in captivity. The
musk is removed from the gland of immobilized
animals by use of a special spoon.
5. • The musk is collected once or twice a year.
• The dried whole gland (known as the pod) or the dried
glandular secretions inside (musk grains) are employed
in commerce as a perfume.
• Although traditionally derived from deer that had
been killed for the express purpose of musk collection,
the material today is largely obtained from deer
specifically raised for musk production.
• This material should not be confused with musk-root
(Ferula sumbul Hook, Family: Apiaceae), which is
sometimes used as a substitute for musk in the
perfume industry.
6. History
• The use of musk dates back more than 1,300
years when it was used by rulers of early Chinese
dynasties.
• Consequently, it has a broad historical tradition in
Chinese herbal medicine and has been used for
potentiation of β-adrenergic activity,
cardiovascular stimulation, and as an anti-
inflammatory.
• Today, it is used as a component of fragrances
and as a fixative in perfumes
7. Musk like substance in Plants
• Some plants such as Angelica
archangelica or Abelmoschus moschatus produce
musky-smelling macrocyclic lactone compounds.
These compounds are widely used in perfumery as
substitutes for animal musk or to alter the smell of
a mixture of other musks.
• The plant sources include the musk flower
(Mimulus moschatus) of western North America,
the muskwood (Olearia argophylla) of Australia,
and the musk seeds (Abelmoschus moschatus)
from India.
8. Chemistry
• The fresh musk secretion is a dark brown viscous semi-solid
that turns to brownish-yellow or purple-red granules when
dried.
• When distilled, musk yields the principles muscone,
muskone (0.3% to 2%), and normuscone. Muscone or 3-
methylcyclopentadecanone, is the key flavor component of
musk.
• Two androstane alkaloids were isolated from the musk of
deer, Other compounds present in musk include steroids,
paraffins, triglycerides, waxes, mucopyridine, and other
nitrogenous substances, and fatty acids.
• Cyclopentadecanone is a synthetic compound that differs
from muscone only in the absence of a methyl group.
9. Pharmacological Potential
• Musk is reported to have anti-inflammatory
and antihistaminic activity in animal models.
• Anti-inflammatory in arthritis.
• It inhibit and delay platelet aggregation.
• Musk has been shown to have a beneficial
effect in patients suffering from angina.
• Musk may have spasmolytic, CNS-depressant,
stimulant, and antibacterial activity.
