Commiphora myrrha, C. molmol  没 药   Mò yào  Myrrh   Family: Burseraceae
Myrrh, is the aromatic resin of a number of small, thorny tree species of the genus Commiphora, which is an essential oil termed an oleoresin. Myrrh resin is a natural gum. It has been used throughout history as a perfume, incense and medicine. It can also be ingested by mixing it with wine.
It is harvested from trees by cutting through the bark and into the sapwood, resulting in the tree bleeding a resin. Myrrh gum, like frankincense, is such a resin. When people harvest myrrh, they wound the trees repeatedly to bleed them of the gum. Myrrh gum is waxy, and coagulates quickly. After the harvest, the gum becomes hard and glossy. The gum is yellowish, and may be either clear or opaque. It darkens deeply as it ages, and white streaks emerge.[2]
Nature: neutral    FLAVOR: Bitter     CHANNELS: Heart, Liver, Spleen
FUNCTIONS
GROUP: Herbs that Regulate Blood and remove stasis
1. Regulate Blood.
2. Reduces swelling and localised pain.[1]
INDICATIONS
1. Traumatic injuries and pain, carbuncles, abscesses and sores, pains in the chest and abdomen region, rheumatism, amenorrhea and dysmenorrhea.[1]
COMBINATIONS
PREPARATIONS: Decoction  2-6 g.[1]
    
ORIGIN: The tree is native to the Arabian peninsula (Oman, Yemen) and to Africa (Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, Northeast Kenya).
References
Inner Path can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Constituents.
Research.
Myrrh is antimicrobial in vitro.[1] Extracts stimulate phagocytosis in mice inoculated with E coli.[6] Guggul is hypolipidaemic and hypocholesteraemic in humans and in animals;[2,3] it increases catecholamine biosynthesis and activity in cholesterol fed rabbits,[3] inhibits platelet aggregation,[7] has antiinflammatory effects in rats,[4] and appears to activate the thyroid gland in rats and chickens.[5]
References
[1] Encyclopedia of Comon Natural Ingredients used in Food Drugs and Cosmetics, Albert Y. Leung. Pub. John Wiley & Sons Inc. (1980) NY
[2] Malhotra, S. C. and Ahuja, M. M. S. (1971) Ind. J. Med. Res. 59 (10), 1621
[3] Srivastava, M. et al. (1984) J. Biosci. 6 (3), 277
[4] Arora, R. B. et al. (1972) Ind. J. Med. Res. 60 (6), 929
[5] Tripathi, S. N. et al. (1975) Ind. J. Exp. Biol. 13 (1), 15
[6] Delaveau, P. et al. (1980) Planta Med. 40, 49
[7] Mester, L. et al. (1979) Plant Med.37 (4), 367

Commiphora myrrh: a phytochemical and pharmacological update pdf

Commiphora molmol in human welfare (review article)
Ebtsam M Al-Mathal
Abstract
The origins of myrrh and frankincense are traced to the Arabian Peninsula. According to Herodotus (5th century BC): "Arabia is the only country which produces frankincense, myrrh, cassia and cinnamon ... the trees bearing the frankincense are guarded by winged serpents of small size and various colors." Diodorus Siculus writes, in the second half of the first century BC, that "all of Arabia exudes a most delicate fragrance; even the seamen passing by Arabia can smell the strong fragrance that gives health and vigor." He also mentioned gold mines so pure that no smelting was necessary. The Magi, carrying myrrh, frankincense, and gold, came from the East: Arabia. The frankincense trade route, with transport by donkeys and later by camel caravans, reached Jerusalem and Egypt from the Dhofar region of what is today Oman, through Yemen, turning north to follow the Red Sea coast. It is likely that the same or similar species of the resin-bearing plants grew across the Red Sea in the area that is now Somalia and Ethiopia, while the collection of the gum resins was initiated in Arabia. Myrrh contributed much in the human welfare. This review selected some but not all of the value application of myrrh (Commiphora molmol).
Review J Egypt Soc Parasitol . 2007 Aug;37(2):449-68. PMID: 17985580 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Bactericidal activity of Myrrh extracts and two dosage forms against standard bacterial strains and multidrug-resistant clinical isolates with GC/MS profiling
Noha Khalil,corresponding author, Sahar Fikry, and Osama Salama
Abstract
Myrrh is the resinous exudate obtained by the incision in Commiphora molmol trees (Family Burseraceae). The bactericidal activity of its hexane extract was compared to its essential oil (MEO) using viable count technique against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Ps. aeruginosa). MEO exhibited a better activity with > 99.999% killing of both tested strains after 2 h contact time. MEO was tested using the same technique against four multidrug resistant isolates: S. aureus (MRSA, sputum), Escherichia coli (E. coli, urine), Ps. aeruginosa (wound) and Klebsiella pneumonia (K. pneumonia, sputum). Highest bactericidal activity was observed against Ps. aeruginosa while lowest was against K. pneumonia (99.59 and 54.04% killing, respectively after 2 h contact time). A cream and mouthwash were formulated using 5% v/v MEO. The cream showed a better activity against Ps. aeruginosa than S. aureus (95.11 and 86.76% killing, respectively after 2 h contact time). The in vitro treatment of ca 107 CFU/ml S. aureus cells suspended in 10% saliva with the mouthwash produced ca 46% killing within the first 15 min reaching ca 99.999% after 30 min. Cytotoxic studies of both the essential oil and hexane extract on human liver cancer (Hep G2), human breast cancer (MCF-7) and colon cancer cell lines (HCT-116) revealed a promising in vitro activity. Highest activity was recorded for the essential oil on MCF-7 with IC50 10.93 ± 0.32 µg/ml. GC/MS analysis allowed the identification of 17 and 9 compounds representing 92.01 and 99.99% of the hexane extract and essential oil, respectively. Furano-eudesma-1,3-diene (15.99%) and 2-acetoxy-furano-diene (26.82%) were the major identified compounds in the hexane extract and essential oil, respectively. These results indicate that Myrrh essential oil is a promising antibacterial and cytotoxic agent that can be formulated in suitable dosage forms.
AMB Express. 2020; 10: 21. Published online 2020 Jan 28. doi: 10.1186/s13568-020-0958-3
PMCID: PMC6987268 PMID: 31993779 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Myrrh attenuates oxidative and inflammatory processes in acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis
Amal Jamil Fatani, Fatima Salih Alrojayee, Mihir Yogeshkumar Parmar, Hatem Mustafa Abuohashish, Mohammed Mahboobuddin Ahmed, and Salim Salih Al-Rejaie
Abstract
The pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC) has been associated with a weakened antioxidant capacity and increased inflammatory processes. Myrrh is traditionally used for the treatment of inflammatory diseases due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of myrrh on an experimental rat model of UC. UC was induced in rats using acetic acid (AA) after pre-treatment with myrrh (125, 250 or 500 mg/kg/day) or mesalazine (MES; 300 mg/kg/day) for 7 days. The levels of various inflammatory cytokines, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and nitric oxide (NO) in the rat colon tissues were assessed. In addition, the colonic levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and non-protein sulfhydryl groups (NP-SH), as well as the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), were estimated. Furthermore, total protein (TP) contents and the levels of DNA and RNA were measured, and histopathological changes in colonic tissues were analyzed. The results indicated that the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, PGE2, NO and TBARS were markedly increased. By contrast, the levels of interleukin-10, NP-SH, TP and nucleic acids, and the enzymatic activities of SOD and CAT were significantly decreased in the AA model group. In addition, pretreatment with myrrh and MES was able to attenuate the impaired oxidative stress response and upregulation of inflammatory biomarkers. Furthermore, the enzymatic activities of SOD and CAT were near to normal in the myrrh and MES pretreated groups. The ability of myrrh to protect against UC was further confirmed by histopathological analysis, and the high dose of myrrh exerted an effect comparable to MES. In conclusion, the results of the present study suggested that myrrh has potent therapeutic value in the amelioration of experimental colitis in laboratory animals by downregulating the expression of proinflammatory mediators and improving endogenous antioxidative activities.
Exp Ther Med. 2016 Aug; 12(2): 730–738.
Published online 2016 May 26. doi: 10.3892/etm.2016.3398
PMCID: PMC4950638 PMID: 27446268 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
 
Antibiotic in myrrh from Commiphora molmol preferentially kills nongrowing bacteria
Mrinal K Bhattacharjee*, and Tahrir Alenezi
Abstract
Aim:
To demonstrate that myrrh oil preferentially kills nongrowing bacteria and causes no resistance development.
Method:
Growth inhibition was determined on regular plates or plates without nutrients, which were later overlaid with soft agar containing nutrients to continue growth. Killing experiments were done in broth and in buffer without nutrients.
Results:
Bacterial cells were inhibited preferentially in the absence of nutrients or when growth was halted by a bacteriostatic antibiotic. After five passages in myrrh oil, surviving colonies showed no resistance to the antibiotic.
Future Sci OA. 2020 Apr; 6(4): FSO458.
Published online 2020 Feb 20. doi: 10.2144/fsoa-2019-0121
PMCID: PMC7117549 PMID: 32257371 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Oxidative stress and immunotoxic effects of lead and their amelioration with myrrh (Commiphora molmol) emulsion
Khaled M Ashry, Yasser S El-Sayed, Rania M Khamiss, Ibrahim M El-Ashmawy
Abstract
The possible role of Commiphora molmol emulsion (CME) in protecting against lead (PbAc)-induced hepatotoxicity, oxidative stress and immunotoxicity in rabbits was assessed. Six groups of animals were used: groups I (control) and II (PbAc) were not supplemented with CME. Groups III (CME50) and IV (CME50+PbAc) were administered with CME in a dose rate of 50mg/kg bwt, while groups V (CME100) and VI (CME100+PbAc) were received 100mg CME/kg bwt daily p.o for successive 14 weeks. Groups II, IV and VI were given 80 mg PbAc/kg bwt/day orally for 6 weeks starting from the 9th week. At the 12th week, animals were subjected to immunization by a single dose of sheep RBCs. The PbAc-group showed 220% increase in hepatic malondialdehyde levels, while glutathione, glutathione s-transferase and glutathione peroxidase levels decreased. Lead-acetate induced hypoproteinemia and hypoalbuminemia, and increased aminotransferases activity. It reduced the values of lymphocyte transformation test, phagocytic activity, phagocytic index and antibody titer against sheep SRBCs. Interestingly, pretreatment with CME attenuated these adverse effects in a dose-dependent protection. CME, therefore, is a potent antioxidant, and can protect against PbAc-induced hepatic oxidative damage and immunotoxicity by reducing lipid peroxidation and enhancing the antioxidant and immune defense mechanisms.
Food Chem Toxicol . 2010 Jan;48(1):236-41. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2009.10.006. Epub 2009 Oct 8. PMID: 19818824 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2009.10.006 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of myrrh (Commiphora molmol) on leukocyte levels before and during healing from gastric ulcer or skin injury
Al-Said A Haffor
Abstract
Myrrh (Commiphora molmol) has been widely used as an anti-inflammatory and wound healing commercial product. As white blood cell (WBC)/leukocyte counts have been used as an indicator by clinicians to monitor progress of healing in patients, the purpose of this study was to examine effects of myrrh supplementation on blood WBC numbers before an injury and during healing. Male rats (7-8-wk-of-age) were randomly assigned to four groups. Group 1 (SIM) served as "skin injury treated + myrrh treatment (500 mg/kg/day)," Group 2 (SI) as "skin injury alone", Group 3 (GUM) as "gastric ulcer treated + myrrh treatment", and Group 4 (GU) as gastric ulcer only. Myrrh treatments (via drinking water) began 4 wk before induction of injury and continued for a 2 wk period post-injury. Baseline values for each WBC type were recorded before start of the myrrh treatments. Counts were performed again on Day 1 of the 5th wk (1-2 hr before injury) and post-injury on Days 4 and 7 of the 5th wk, and a final time on Day 4 of the 6th wk. Results showed that levels of all WBC types were significantly (P < 0.05) elevated before either injury in myrrh-treated rats (Groups 1 and 3) as compared with levels in rats in Groups 2 and 4. At all timepoints, there were neither significant differences between the values seen with rats in Groups 1 and 3, nor between those in Groups 2 and 4. Treatment with myrrh also induced an initial increase in WBC levels that persisted through the post-injury healing period. Levels of most cell types only increased in the Group 2 and 4 rats once the injury was induced, but then declined over the healing period. Since myrrh enhanced WBC levels before injury, we conclude that myrrh likely contains substances that could induce an apparent antigen-driven response. As the myrrh also helped maintain elevated WBC levels throughout the healing period, this implied it was also able to induce maturation/differentiation/activation of both myeloid and lymphoid cell types during the effector phase of the immune responses involved in wound healing.
J Immunotoxicol . 2010 Mar;7(1):68-75. doi: 10.3109/15476910903409835. PMID: 19995243 DOI: 10.3109/15476910903409835 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Myrrh induces the apoptosis and inhibits the proliferation and migration of gastric cancer cells through down-regulating cyclooxygenase-2 expression
Mengxue Sun,* Jie Hua,* Gaoshuang Liu, Peiyun Huang, Ningsheng Liu, and Xiaopu He
Abstract
Objective: The present study is designed to evaluate the anti-tumor effects of myrrh on human gastric cancer both in vitro and in vivo. Methods: The gastric cancer cell proliferation was determined by MTT assay. Apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry and Hoechst 33342 staining. Wound healing was performed to evaluate the effects of myrrh on the migration. COX-2, PCNA, Bcl-2, and Bax expressions were detected by Western blot analysis. A xenograft nude mice model of human gastric cancer was established to evaluate the anti-cancer effect of myrrh in vivo. Results: Myrrh significantly inhibited cellular proliferation, migration, and induced apoptosis in vitro as well as inhibited tumor growth in vivo. In addition, myrrh inhibited the expression of PCNA, COX-2, and Bcl-2 as well as increased Bax expression in gastric cancer cells. Conclusion: Myrrh may inhibit the proliferation and migration of gastric cancer cells, as well as induced their apoptosis by down-regulating the expression of COX-2.
Biosci Rep. 2020 May 29; 40(5): BSR20192372.
Published online 2020 May 20. doi: 10.1042/BSR20192372
PMCID: PMC7240199 PMID: 32364228 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-hyperlipidemic activities of Commiphora molmol extract (Myrrh)
Mostafa Abbas Shalaby and Ashraf Abd-Elkhalik Hammouda
Abstract
Aim:
The aim was to evaluate the analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-hyperlipidemic activities of Commiphora molmol extract (CME) and its effects on body weight and blood lipids.
Materials and Methods:
The analgesic effect was assessed using thermal (hot plate test) and chemical (writhing test) stimuli to induce central and peripheral pain in mice. The anti-inflammatory activity was determined using formalin-induced paw edema in rats. For anti-hyperlipidemic effect, 25 rats were randomly divided into five groups (n = 5). Group 1 was fed on basal diet (normal control), while the other four groups were fed on high-fat diet for 6 weeks to induce obesity and hyperlipidemia. Thereafter, Group 2 was kept obese hyperlipidemic, and Groups 3, 4 and 5 were orally given CME in doses of 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg for 6 weeks, respectively. Body weight gains of rats were calculated, and blood samples were collected for analysis of blood lipids.
Results:
CME produced a dose-dependent analgesic effect using both hot plate and writhing tests in mice. The hot plate method appeared to be more sensitive than writhing test. CME exhibited an anti-inflammatory activity as it decreased volume of paw edema induced by formalin in rats. The extract decreased body weight gain; normalized the high levels of blood lipids and decreased atherogenic index low-density lipoprotein/ high-density lipoprotein in obese hyperlipidemic rats.
Conclusion:
The results denote that C. molmol extract (myrrh) has significant analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-hyperlipidemic effects and reduces body weight gain and improves blood lipids profile. These results affirm the traditional use of C. molmol for the treatment of pain, inflammations, and hyperlipidemia.
J Intercult Ethnopharmacol. 2014 Apr-Jun; 3(2): 56–62.
Published online 2014 May 28. doi: 10.5455/jice.20140130015014
PMCID: PMC4576796
PMID: 26401348 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov