Myrrh — a biblical resin for gums, throat, and wounds?

Aim of the study: Chronic low back pain is a common problem that impairs the activities of daily life. Massage therapy is one of the non-pharmacological treatment modalities in chronic low back pain. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of aromatherapy massage on pain and disability in patients with chronic low back pain.

Results: In the study results, the decrease in Visual Analogue Scale (p < 0.001), Aberdeen Low Back Pain Scale (p < 0.001), and Roland-Morris Disability Scale (p < 0.001) scores in the aromatherapy group was statistically greater than in the other two groups. The results suggest that aromatherapy massage with frankincense and myrrh essential oils can be integrated into medical treatment to relieve pain and reduce the impact of chronic low back pain on a person's daily life. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04494165.

Aim of the study: Back pain is one of the most common problems experienced by patients after a cardiac electrophysiological study procedure. In addition, limitation of movement after the procedure negatively affects patients’ comfort and satisfaction. This study aimed to determine the effect of back massage with frankincense and myrrh oil on back pain severity and comfort in patients scheduled to undergo a cardiac electrophysiological study.

Results: There was no statistically significant difference in post-procedure VAS values between the groups. Except for sociocultural comfort, there were significant differences between the groups in GCQ total scores and subscales at the first and last follow-ups. Back massage with frankincense and myrrh oil increased overall comfort, physical comfort, and psychospiritual comfort. Further research with a rigorous design is needed to determine its effect on pain.

Aim of the study: Gastric ulceration is a multifactorial disease defined as a defect in the gastric wall that extends through the muscularis mucosae into the deeper layers of the wall. The most common cause of gastric ulceration is alcohol consumption.

Results: Myrrh significantly improved the ulcer index, histomorphology, and periodic acid–Schiff (PAS) findings impaired by ethanol. In addition, myrrh improved the antioxidant potential of the gastric mucosa by increasing nuclear factor related to erythroid 2 (Nrf2), total glutathione (GSH), reduced GSH, and oxidized glutathione (GSSG), while significantly reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. By reducing oxidative stress in the stomach, myrrh helps the gastric mucosa counteract ethanol-induced inflammation and apoptosis, leading to improved gastric cell proliferation and healing. Interestingly, myrrh extract showed better protective and healing effects against gastric ulceration than myrrh oil.

Aim of the study: To evaluate the effects of Mirazid(®) and myrrh volatile oil on adult Fasciola gigantica (F. gigantica) under laboratory conditions.

Results: Observations of the effectiveness of Mirazid(®) oleoresin extract and myrrh volatile oil indicated that both products showed dose-dependent anthelmintic activity. The anterior half of the fluke was consistently more severely affected than the posterior half. The surface changes caused by Mirazid(®) oleoresin extract were less severe than those seen after exposure to either myrrh volatile oil or TCBZ-SO. Flukes swelled after these treatments, but the swelling and blebbing were much greater with myrrh volatile oil; patches of tegument shedding were observed in the apical cone and the posterior mid-body region of the flukes. This was not observed after treatment with Mirazid(®) oleoresin extract. The greater disruption seen in specimens exposed to myrrh volatile oil than in those exposed to Mirazid(®) oleoresin extract may suggest that the anthelmintic activity of Mirazid(®) oleoresin extract is due to its volatile oil content.

Aim of the study: This experimental study assessed the in vitro ability of myrrh oil to inhibit the propagation of Babesia bovis, B. divergens, B.

Results: bigemina and B. bovis, and there was a significant improvement in in vitro growth inhibition when myrrh oil was combined with DA, PYR, and luteolin. At the same time, mice treated with a combination of myrrh oil/DA showed greater inhibition of emitted fluorescence signals than the group given 25 mg/kg of diminazene aceturate at 10 and 12 days post-infection. In conclusion, this study recommends myrrh oil for treating animal piroplasmosis, especially in combination with low doses of DA.

Aim of the study: Trichinella spiralis infection is a food-borne zoonotic disease caused by nematodes that live in tissues and poses a significant public health concern. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of different treatments, including silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), myrrh biosynthesized AgNPs (“AgNPs synthesized using plant-based green technologies”), myrrh extract, and myrrh essential oil, as alternative treatments against T.

Results: Histopathological examination of the tissues revealed compelling evidence of the effectiveness of AgNPs, particularly when prepared with myrrh. During the intestinal phase of T. spiralis, varying levels of nanoparticle deposits were detected in the liver, brain, lung, and intestine. During the muscular phase, the highest amount of AgNP deposits was detected in the liver, followed by the brain and lung.

Aim of the study: While contemporary pharmaceuticals play a critical role in managing oral infections, there remain persistent concerns regarding their chemical composition and potential adverse effects. This apprehension has led to an increased focus on exploring natural alternatives, particularly herbal substances, for their potential therapeutic benefits in oral health.

Results: Candida grew abundantly on the control media but showed a reduction in colony-forming units when treated with myrrh oil. E. coli, Klebsiella, and Staphylococcus aureus showed reduced growth and suppressed colony formation when exposed to myrrh oil. These findings indicate that myrrh oil can prevent the growth of oral bacteria, making it a promising natural antibacterial agent for managing oral health. Further research is needed to examine the safety, ideal dosage, and clinical feasibility of this treatment.

Aim of the study: Limited scientific studies suggest that myrrh (Commiphora molmol) has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities. This study determined myrrh oil (MO) cytotoxicity to human gingival fibroblasts and epithelial cells and its effect, measured by ELISA, on interleukin (IL)-1beta-stimulated IL-6 and IL-8 production.

Results: At 24 h, ≥0.0025% MO caused maximal cytotoxicity; ≤0.001% MO caused 10–70% cytotoxicity. With longer exposure times, epithelial cells were more susceptible to the cytotoxic effects of MO. There was little or no detectable IL-1beta-stimulated production of IL-6 or IL-8 by cells exposed to ≥0.0025% MO, probably reflecting loss of viability. At subtoxic MO levels (0.00001–0.001%), there was a significant reduction in IL-1beta-stimulated IL-6 and IL-8 production by fibroblasts, but not by epithelial cells.

Aim of the study: Anecdotal and scientific evidence suggest that myrrh oil (MO) has anti-inflammatory properties. Subtoxic MO levels decrease interleukin (IL)-1beta-stimulated production of the inflammatory cytokine IL-6 by human gingival fibroblasts, but not epithelial cells.

Results: PGE(2) was measured in cell supernatants by ELISA after preincubation with MO and exposure to IL-1beta. MO inhibited IL-1beta-stimulated PGE(2) production by fibroblasts (p=0.001), but not by epithelial cells. The data suggest that gingival epithelial cells and fibroblasts may differ in the magnitude of NF-kappaB activation after IL-1beta stimulation, and that MO inhibition of IL-1beta-stimulated IL-6 production in fibroblasts is due in part to inhibition of PGE(2), but not NF-kappaB activation. (Supported by NIDCR DE-0725.).