Lac resin is a natural resinous secretion produced by the lac insect. The resin is secreted onto host trees, gathered, crushed, sieved, washed, and purified into food-grade shellac. It is used in a variety of industries, including food, fruit coating, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, confectioneries, printing inks, plastics, paints, and varnishes. Lac resin is also used in folk medicine as a hepatoprotective and anti-obesity drug. The resin chiefly contains esters of aleuritic, jalaric, shellolic, and butolic acid.