Abstract: Pimaric-type resin acid is a kind of resin acids, which contains a methyl and an ethylene at its C_-13 position. Pimaric-type resin acid possesses a lot of biological activities, such as anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, pesticidal, cholesterol-lowering and anti-cancer activities. Pimaric-type resin acids occur widely in oleoresin of pinus plants, especially in rosin produced from different kinds of pine oleoresin. They also occur in other plants such as thuja, juniperus, etc. The resource and distribution of the pimaric-type resin acids is investigated in this paper in order to be utilized appropriately and efficiently, and then to explore and develop a suitable process to separate and purify this kind of resin acids, that may possess a bright developing tendency and applying prospect.

Key words: pimaric-type resin acid, oleoresin, rosin, resource and distribution