Myrrh in this case, is resin made from dried tree sap of Commiphora molmol, which is the genus Commiphora, belonging to the family Burseraceae, native to Somalia, Arabian Peninsula and Ethiopia. The herb has been used in traditional medicine to relieve pain and treat bruises, rheumatoid arthritis, tumors in the uterus, hemorrhoid, cataract, amenorrhea , bone and muscle ache, angina pectoris, etc.
Health Benefits
1. Anti-inflammatory and wound healing activities
In the investigation of Myrrh (Commiphora molmol) effects on anti-inflammatory and wound healing activities found that 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, according to "Effect of myrrh (Commiphora molmol) on leukocyte levels before and during healing from gastric ulcer or skin injury" by Haffor AS.(1)
2. Anti-coccidial effect
In the investigation of the effect of oleo-gum-resin of Commiphora monlmol Engler (Family: Burceraceae) known as Myrrh and the commercial extract known as Mirazid as a treatment against hepatic coccidiosis, found that histopathological examination of liver showed remarkable improvement in all histopathological parameters in G5 and G8 compared with the infected untreated G2. These included an almost complete healing of the hemorrhagic tissue and partial healing of the endothelial lining and hepatocytes encircling the central vein, the hepatocytes laminate regained their original radial shape and disappearance of fat vacuoles from the tissue and remarkable reduction in lymphocytes infiltration, decreased hyperplasia of the epithelial cells with significant decreasing of the parasite stage numbers, according to "Anti-coccidial effect of Commiphora molmol in the domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus domesticus L.)" by Baghdadi HB, Al-Mathal EM.(2)
3. Liver cancer
In the assessment of the potential chemopreventive effects of myrrh (Commiphora molmol) vs. turmeric (Curcuma longa) in hepatocarcinogenic rats found that Both turmeric and myrrh induced significant biochemical and histological changes in non-treated rats. In conclusion, DENA significantly changes the biological enzymatic activities in serum and the integrity of hepatic tissues. Phytochemicals with potential hepatoprotective effects must be applied cautiously owing to their potential hepatotoxicity, according to "Potential chemoprevention of diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in rats: Myrrh (Commiphora molmol) vs. turmeric (Curcuma longa)" by El-Shahat M, El-Abd S, Alkafafy M, El-Khatib G.(3)
4. Antioxidants and immune effects
In the assessment of the possible role of Commiphora molmol emulsion (CME) in protecting against lead (PbAc)-induced hepatotoxicity, oxidative stress and immunotoxicity in rabbits found that 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, according to "Oxidative stress and immunotoxic effects of lead and their amelioration with myrrh (Commiphora molmol) emulsion" by Ashry KM, El-Sayed YS, Khamiss RM, El-Ashmawy IM.(4)
5. Vaginal trichomoniasis
In the determination of treatment of patients with metronidazole refractory vaginal trichomoniasis of patient who are still resistant to the combined treatment were given Commiphora molmol (Myrrh) as two capsules for six to eight successive days on an empty stomach two hours before breakfast, found that natural plant extract purified from (Roman) was in-vitro investigated for its efficacy against T. vaginalis on fresh Diamond media. The anti-trichomoniasis vaginalis activity of both P. granatum (in-vitro) and C. molmol (in-vivo) extracts gave promising results, according to "Efficacy of two plant extracts against vaginal trichomoniasis" by El-Sherbini GT, El Gozamy BR, Abdel-Hady NM, Morsy TA.(5)
6. Hepatotoxic, genotoxic and carcinogenic effects
In the determination of the natural myrrh extract Mirazid and its potential carcinogenicity and genotoxicity found that on comparing both drugs, praziquantel induced a significant hepatotoxic, genotoxic and carcinogenic effects. It was concluded that, Praziquantel is considered to be a hepatotoxic, genotoxic and carcinogenic drug. On the other hand, Mirazid seemed to be a safe and promising antiparasitic drug, free from hepatotoxic, genotoxic and carcinogenic effects, according to "Comparative study of the hepatotoxic, genotoxic and carcinogenic effects of praziquantel distocide & the natural myrrh extract Mirazid on adult male albino rats" by Omar A, Elmesallamy Gel-S, Eassa S.(6)
7. Antibacterial and antifungal properties
In the observation of the extracted, purified and characterized 8 sesquiterpene fractions from Commyphora molmol found that a mixture of furanodiene-6-one and methoxyfuranoguaia-9-ene-8-one, which showed antibacterial and antifungal activity against standard pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans, with minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 0.18 to 2.8 micrograms/ml, according to "Local anaesthetic, antibacterial and antifungal properties of sesquiterpenes from myrrh" by Dolara P, Corte B, Ghelardini C, Pugliese AM, Cerbai E, Menichetti S, Lo Nostro A.(7)
8. Anti diabetes
In the investigation of a blood glucose lowering extract of a mixture of five plants in use by Kuwaiti diabetics found that only the extracts of myrrh and aloe gums effectively increased glucose tolerance in both normal and diabetic rats, according to "Studies on the activity of individual plants of an antidiabetic plant mixture" by Al-Awadi FM, Gumaa KA.(8)
9. Etc.
Side effects
1. Do not use the herb in children or if you are pregnant or breast feeding without approval from the related field specialist.
2. Myrrh may cause irritation of the eyes and mucous membranes, if it is contacted.
3. Overdoses may cause gastrointestinal discomfort.
4. Etc.
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Sources
(1) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19995243
(2) http://www.mendeley.com/research/anticoccidial-effect-commiphora-molmol-domestic-rabbit-oryctolagus-cuniculus-domesticus-l/
(3) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21871653
(4) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19818824
(5) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19530609
(6) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15881015
(7) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10865454
(8) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3618079
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