PMID: 

Iran J Pharm Res. 2014 ;13(3):1003-9. PMID: 25276202

Abstract Title: 

A Randomized Clinical Trial Study: Anti-Oxidant, Anti-hyperglycemic and Anti-Hyperlipidemic Effects of Olibanum Gum in Type 2 Diabetic Patients.

Abstract: 

Diabetes is a common metabolic disease in the world that has many adverse effects. Olibanum gum resin (from trees of the genus Boswellia) has traditionally been used in the treatment of various diseases such as diabetes. The aim of this study was the comparison of Olibanum gum resin effect with placebo on the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Inclusion criteria was diabetic patients with fasting blood sugar (FBS) =140-200 mg/dL. This study has been designed as double-blined clinical trial on 71 patients with type 2 diabetes and the patients randomly were divided to interventional and placebo groups. The patients on standard anti-diabetic therapy (metformin) treated with Olibanum gum resin (400 mg caps) and placebo tow times per day for 12 weeks, respectively. At the end of the twelfth week, the FBS, HbA1c, Insulin, total Cholesterol (Chol), LDL, Triglyceride (TG), HDL and other parameters were measured. The Olibanum gum resin lowered the FBS, HbA1c, Insulin, Chol, LDL and TG levels significantly (p

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PMID: 

Cell Biochem Funct. 2019 Nov 5. Epub 2019 Nov 5. PMID: 31691320

Abstract Title: 

Myricetin ameliorates high glucose-induced endothelial dysfunction in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Abstract: 

Endothelial dysfunction is recognized as the initial detectable stage of cardiovascular disease, a serious complication of diabetes. In this study, we evaluated effects of myricetin on high glucose (HG)-elicited oxidative damage in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The cells were pre-incubated with myricetin and then treated with HG to induce apoptosis. The effect of myricetin on viability was investigated by MTT assay. The levels of lipid peroxidation (LPO) were determined by thiobarbituric acid (TBA) method. The protein expression of Bax, Bcl-2 and caspase-3 was measured by western blot analysis. Moreover, the effect of myricetin on total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and total thiol molecules was also determined. Our results showed that myricetin was able to markedly restore the viability of endothelial cells under oxidative stress. Myricetin reduced HG-caused increase in LPO levels. Also, TAC and total thiol molecules were notably elevated by myricetin. Incubation with myricetin decreased the protein expression levels of Bax, whereas it increased the expression levels of the Bcl-2, compared with HG treatment alone. Furthermore, myricetin significantly decreased cleaved caspase-3 protein expression. It is concluded that myricetin may protect HUVECs from oxidative stress induced by HG via increasing cell TAC and reducing Bax/Bcl-2 protein ratio, and caspase-3 expression.

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PMID: 

Oncol Lett. 2019 Dec ;18(6):6614-6620. Epub 2019 Oct 18. PMID: 31788118

Abstract Title: 

Myricetin inhibits migration and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma MHCC97H cell line by inhibiting the EMT process.

Abstract: 

The recurrence and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are a major concern in current research. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is the leading cause underlying the high mobility and invasiveness of tumor cells. Myricetin is a natural flavonol with various pharmacological activities. The effects of myricetin on the migration and invasion of HCC MHCC97H cells were evaluated in the present study. Wound healing, Transwell migration and invasion assays were used to examine cell migration and invasion. Western blot analysis and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) were used to examine the expression of epithelial (E)-cadherin, neural (N)-cadherin and vimentin. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of myricetin on the migration and invasion of HCC MHCC97H cells. It was indicated that myricetin decreased the viability of MHCC97H cells in a concentration and time-dependent manner, and inhibited MHCC97H cells migration and invasion. As the concentration of myricetin increased, filopodia and lamellipodia in cells weakened and cells were arranged more closely. RT-qPCR and western blotting revealed that myricetin upregulated E-cadherin expression and downregulated N-cadherin. Collectively, the results of the present study demonstrate that myricetin may inhibit the migration and invasion of HCC MHCC97H cells by inhibiting the EMT process.

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PMID: 

J Oleo Sci. 2017 Aug 1 ;66(8):805-814. Epub 2017 Apr 4. PMID: 28381769

Abstract Title: 

A Review of Anti-inflammatory Terpenoids from the Incense Gum Resins Frankincense and Myrrh.

Abstract: 

Frankincense and myrrh have been used as incense in religious and cultural ceremonies since the beginning of written history. Their common medicinal properties are used in the treatment for inflammatory conditions, some cancerous diseases, and wound healing. In the course of our characterization of the anti-inflammatory constituents from frankincense and myrrh, several terpenoid constituents were found to inhibit nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide-activated mouse peritoneal macrophages. Here we review the structure of those terpenoid constituents from the gum resins of frankincense and myrrh and evaluate their anti-inflammatory effects by their nitric oxide production inhibitory activity.

PMID: 

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2016 ;2016:3617216. Epub 2016 Apr 10. PMID: 27143985

Abstract Title: 

Effect of Frankincense Extract on Nerve Recovery in the Rat Sciatic Nerve Damage Model.

Abstract: 

This study investigated the effect of frankincense extract on peripheral nerve regeneration in a crush injury rat model. Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: control and frankincense extract low-, medium-, and high-dose groups. At days 7, 14, 21, and 28 following the surgery, nerve regeneration and functional recovery were evaluated using the sciatic functional index (SFI), expression of GAP-43, and the proliferation of Schwann cells (SCs) in vivo and in vitro. At day 7, the SFI in the frankincense extract high-dose group was significantly improved compared with the control group. After day 14, SFI was significantly improved in the medium- and high-dose groups. There was no significant difference in GAP-43 expression among the groups at day 7. However, after day 14, expression of GAP-43 in the high-dose group was higher than that in the control group. Histological evaluation showed that the injured nerve of frankincense extract high-dose group recovered better than the other groups 28 days after surgery. Further, S100 immunohistochemical staining, MTT colorimetry, and flow cytometry assays all showed that frankincense extract could promote the proliferation of SCs. In conclusion, frankincense extract is able to promote sciatic nerve regeneration and improve the function of a crushed sciatic nerve. This study provides a new direction for the repair of peripheral nerve injury.

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PMID: 

Avicenna J Phytomed. 2016 Jul-Aug;6(4):468-75. PMID: 27516988

Abstract Title: 

Therapeutic effect of frankincense in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract: 

OBJECTIVE: Frankincense improves memory in different models of learning. However, its influence on models of Alzheimer's disease (AD) has not been studied widely. In the present study, the therapeutic effect of frankincense was evaluated in a model of AD induced by i.c.v administration of streptozotocin.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Under stereotaxic surgery, two guide cannulas were implanted in the lateral ventricles of adult male Wistar rats weighing 230-270 g. One group received streptozotocin (1.5 mg/kg/2μl/side) bilaterally on the first and third day of surgery. Another group received artificial cerebro-spinal fluid. Fourteen days after surgery, learning was evaluated using the passive avoidance paradigm. Four other groups of animals received frankincense (50 mg/kg) or its solvent after establishment of AD for 21 or 42 consecutive days, and then, memory retrieval was assessed.RESULTS: Streptozotocin increased the number of stimulations required for induction of short-term memory and decreased step-through latency on the test day, significantly (p

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PMID: 

Front Pharmacol. 2019 ;10:1325. Epub 2019 Nov 19. PMID: 31798447

Abstract Title: 

The Impact of Ayahuasca on Suicidality: Results From a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Abstract: 

Suicide is a major public health problem. Given increasing suicide rates and limitations surrounding current interventions, there is an urgent need for innovative interventions for suicidality. Although ayahuasca has been shown to target mental health concerns associated with suicidality (i.e., depression and hopelessness), research has not yet explored the impact of ayahuasca on suicidality. Therefore, we conducted secondary analyses of a randomized placebo-controlled trial in which individuals with treatment-resistant depression were administered one dose of ayahuasca (= 14) or placebo (= 15). Suicidality was assessed by a trained psychiatrist at baseline, as well as 1 day, 2 days, and 7 days after the intervention. A fixed-effects linear mixed model, as well as between and within-groups Cohen'seffect sizes were used to examine changes in suicidality. Controlling for baseline suicidality, we found a significant effect for time (

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PMID: 

Molecules. 2019 Nov 26 ;24(23). Epub 2019 Nov 26. PMID: 31779245

Abstract Title: 

Antimicrobial Activity of Chamomile Essential Oil: Effect of Different Formulations.

Abstract: 

Essential oils (EOs) are highly lipophilic, which makes the measurement of their biological action difficult in an aqueous environment. We formulated a Pickering nanoemulsion of chamomile EO (C). Surface-modified Stöber silica nanoparticles (20 nm) were prepared and used as a stabilizing agent of CThe antimicrobial activity of Cwas compared with that of emulsion stabilized with Tween 80 (C) and ethanolic solution (C). The antimicrobial effects were assessed by their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum effective (MEC) concentrations. Besides growth inhibition (CFU/mL), the metabolic activity and viability of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria as well asspecies, in addition to the generation of oxygen free radical species (ROS), were studied. We followed the killing activity of Cand analyzed the efficiency of the EO delivery for examined formulations by using unilamellar liposomes as a cellular model. Cshowed significantly higher antibacterial and antifungal activities than Cand C. Chamomile EOs generated superoxide anion and peroxide related oxidative stress which might be the major mode of action of Ch essential oil. We could also demonstrate that Cwas the most effective in donation of the active EO components when compared with Cand C. Our data suggest that Cformulation is useful in the fight against microbial infections.

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PMID: 

Neural Plast. 2017 ;2017:3710821. Epub 2017 Jun 27. PMID: 28740739

Abstract Title: 

A Combined Water Extract of Frankincense and Myrrh Alleviates Neuropathic Pain in Mice via Modulation of TRPV1.

Abstract: 

Frankincense and myrrh are widely used in clinics as a pair of herbs to obtain a synergistic effect for relieving pain. To illuminate the analgesia mechanism of frankincense and myrrh, we assessed its effect in a neuropathic pain mouse model. Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) plays a crucial role in neuropathic pain and influences the plasticity of neuronal connectivity. We hypothesized that the water extraction of frankincense and myrrh (WFM) exerted its analgesia effect by modulating the neuronal function of TRPV1. In our study, WFM was verified by UHPLC-TQ/MS assay. In vivo study showed that nociceptive response in mouse by heat and capsaicin induced were relieved by WFM treatment. Furthermore, thermal hypersensitivity and mechanical allodynia were also alleviated by WFM treatment in a chronic constriction injury (CCI) mouse model. CCI resulted in increased TRPV1 expression at both the mRNA and protein levels in predominantly small-to-medium neurons. However, after WFM treatment, TRPV1 expression was reverted in real-time PCR, Western blot, and immunofluorescence experiments. Calcium response to capsaicin was also decreased in cultured DRG neurons from CCI model mouse after WFM treatment. In conclusion, WFM alleviated CCI-induced mechanical allodynia and thermal hypersensitivity via modulating TRPV1.

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PMID: 

Molecules. 2019 Mar 26 ;24(6). Epub 2019 Mar 26. PMID: 30917586

Abstract Title: 

Evaluation of Anti-Inflammatory Activities of a Triterpeneβ-Elemonic Acid in Frankincense In Vivo and In Vitro.

Abstract: 

The purpose of this research was to extract and separate the compounds from frankincense, and then evaluate their anti-inflammatory effects. The isolated compound was a representative tetracyclic triterpenes of glycine structure according to¹H-NMR andC-NMR spectra, which isβ-elemonic acid (β-EA). We determined the content of six different localities of frankincense; the average content of β-EA was 41.96 mg/g. The toxic effects of β-EA administration (400, 200, 100 mg/kg) for four weeks in Kunming (KM) mice were observed. Compared with the control group, the body weight of mice, the visceral coefficients and serum indicators in the β-EA groups showed no systematic variations. The anti-inflammatory effects of β-EA were evaluated in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells, xylene-induced induced ear inflammation in mice, carrageenin-induced paw edema in mice, and cotton pellet induced granuloma formation in rats. β-EA inhibited overproduction of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1), soluble TNF receptor 1 (sTNF R1), Eotaxin-2, Interleukin 10 (IL-10) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (GCSF) in the RAW264.7 cells. Intragastric administration with β-EA (300, 200, and 100 mg/kg in mice, and 210, 140, and 70 mg/kg in rats) all produced distinct anti-inflammatory effects in vivo in a dose-dependent manner. Following treatment with β-EA (300 mg/kg, i.g.), the NO level in mice ears and PGE2 in mice paws both decreased (0.01). In conclusion, our study indicates thatβ-EA could be a potential anti-inflammatory agent for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

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