Sesquiterpenoids from the Resinous Exudates ofCommiphora opobalsamum (Burseraceae)

Medicinal plant resin natural products: structural diversity and biological activities

Covering: up to the mid of 2023Plants secrete defense resins rich in small-molecule natural products under abiotic and biotic stresses. This comprehensive review encompasses the literature published up to mid-2023 on medicinal plant resin natural products from six main contributor genera, featuring 275 citations that refer to 1115 structurally diverse compounds. The scope of this review extends to include essential information such as the racemic nature of metabolites found in different species of plant resins, source of resins, and revised structures. Additionally, we carefully analyze the reported biological activities of resins, organizing them based on the their structures. The findings offer important insights into the relationship between their structure and activity. Furthermore, this detailed examination can be valuable for researchers and scientists in the field of medicinal plant resin natural products and will promote continued exploration and progress in this area.

Undescribed sesquiterpenoids with NO production inhibitory activity from oleo-gum resin of Commiphora myrrha

Six undescribed cadinane sesquiterpenoids (1-6), two undescribed guaiane sesquiterpenoids (7-8), and an undescribed germacrane sesquiterpenoid (9) were isolated from the oleo-gum resin of Commiphora myrrha. Their structures were determined by the analysis of 1D/2D NMR and HRESIMS data, as well as quantum chemical ECD and NMR calculations. All the sesquiterpenoids were evaluated for their NO production inhibitory activity in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 mouse monocyte-macrophages. The results revealed that commiphone A (1) and commipholide D (7) exhibited significant inhibitory effect on NO generation with IC50 values of 18.6 ± 2.0 and 37.5 ± 1.5 μM, respectively. Furthermore, 1 and 7 dose-dependently inhibited the mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α induced by LPS in the RAW264.7 cells, indicating that 1 and 7 possess potent anti-inflammatory activity in vitro.

Sesquiterpenoids from the Resina Commiphora Promoting the Apoptotic Activity of PC-3 Prostate Cancer Cells

Four new germacrane-type sesquiterpenes commiphoranes M1-M4 (1-4) together with eighteen sesquiterpenes were isolated from the Resina Commiphora. The structures and relative configurations of new substances were determined by using spectroscopic methods. Biological activity investigation revealed that nine compounds including 7, 9, 14, 16, (+)-17, (-)-17, 18, 19, and 20 could induce the apoptosis of prostate cancer originated PC-3 cells, through classic apoptosis signaling pathway, even using flow cytometry showed that the compound (+)-17 caused apoptosis of PC-3 cells more than 40 %, suggesting their potential therapeutic application in the development of novel drugs against prostate cancer.

Terpenoids from Myrrh and Their Cytotoxic Activity against HeLa Cells

The oleo-gum resin of Commiphora myrrha (Nees) Engl. has a long history of medicinal use, although many of its constituents are still unknown. In the present investigation, 34 secondary metabolites were isolated from myrrh resin using different chromatographic techniques (silica flash chromatography, CPC, and preparative HPLC) and their structures were elucidated with NMR spectroscopy, HRESIMS, CD spectroscopy, and ECD calculations. Among the isolated substances are seven sesquiterpenes (1-7), one disesquiterpene (8), and two triterpenes (23, 24), which were hitherto unknown, and numerous substances are described here for the first time for C. myrrha or the genus Commiphora. Furthermore, the effects of selected terpenes on cervix cancer cells (HeLa) were studied in an MTT-based in vitro assay. Three triterpenes were observed to be the most toxic with moderate IC₅₀ values of 60.3 (29), 74.5 (33), and 78.9 µM (26). Due to the different activity of the structurally similar triterpenoids, the impact of different structural elements on the cytotoxic effect could be discussed and linked to the presence of a 1,2,3-trihydroxy substructure in the A ring. The influence on TNF-α dependent expression of the intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) in human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1) was also tested for 4-6, 9-11, 17, 18, 20, and 27 in vitro, but revealed less than 20% ICAM-1 reduction and, therefore, no significant anti-inflammatory activity.

Genetic Characterization of Some Saudi Arabia's Accessions from Commiphora gileadensis Using Physio-Biochemical Parameters, Molecular Markers, DNA Barcoding Analysis and Relative Gene Expression

Commiphora gileadensis L. is a medicinal plant, known as balsam, with pharmaceutical potential for its phytochemical activities and chemical constituents. Genetic diversity is a genetic tool used in medicinal plant evolution and conservation. Three accessions from C. gileadensis were collected from three localities in Saudi Arabia (Jeddah, Jizan and Riyadh). Genetic characterization was carried out using physio-biochemical parameters, molecular markers (inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) and start codon targeted (SCoT)), DNA barcoding (18 S rRNA and ITS rDNA regions), relative gene expressions (phenylalanine ammonia-lyase 1 (PAL1), defensin (PR-12)) and pathogenesis-related protein (AFPRT). The results of this study showed that C. gileadensis accession C3, collected from Riyadh, had the highest content from the physio-biochemical parameters perspective, with values of 92.54 mg/g and 77.13 mg/g for total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC), respectively. Furthermore, the highest content of antioxidant enzyme activity was present in accession C3 with values of 16.87, 60.87, 35.76 and 27.98 U mg-1 for superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) (mol/min/mg FW) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) (U mg-1 protein), respectively. The highest total number of bands and number of unique bands were 138 and 59, respectively, for the SCoT marker. The SCoT marker was the most efficient for the genetic diversity of C. gileadensis by producing the highest polymorphism (75.63%). DNA barcoding using 18 S and ITS showed the nearby Commiphora genus and clustered C. gileadensis accessions from Jeddah and Jizan in one clade and the C. gileadensis accession from Ryiadh in a separate cluster. Moreover, relative gene expression of the PAL1, defensin (PR-12) and AFPRT (PR1) genes was upregulated in the C. gileadensis accession from Ryiadh. In conclusion, ecological and environmental conditions in each locality affect the genomic expression and genetic diversity, which can help the evolution of important medicinal plants and improve breeding and conservation systems.

Lvsiyujins A–G, new sesquiterpenoids, from Curcuma phaeocaulis Valeton root tuber and their preliminary pharmacological property assessment based on ADME evaluation, molecular docking and in vitro experiments

Seven new sesquiterpenoids were isolated from the root tuber of C. phaeocaulis. A combination of calculations and experiments was used in structural analysis and biological activity exploration.

Spiromyrrhenes A–D: unprecedented diterpene–sesquiterpene heterodimers as intermolecular [4 + 2] cycloaddition products from Resina Commiphora that inhibit tumor stemness in esophageal cancer

The structures and stereochemistry of spiromyrrhenes A–D (1–4), isolated from Commiphora exudates, were elucidated using NMR and ECD methods.

Forgotten Perfumery Plants - Part I: Balm of Judea

Perfumes have always been products of great importance, mainly composed of natural, valuable and vegetal raw materials. Today, some of them have completely disappeared in perfumery, even though they are part of our cultural heritage and were commonly used in the past. Balm of Judea is one of the most noble, rare and fascinating ingredient long used in perfumery and medicine, that is missing today. After years of research, we collected a resin and an essential oil (steam distillation of fresh aerial parts) from Commiphora gileadensis (L.) C.Chr. native from Saudi Arabia and cultivated in Israel. The aims of this study were to i) identify the main reasons of the loss of the balm of Judea, ii) characterize the volatile composition of the resin and the essential oil and iii) evaluate their olfactory profile and assess their biological activity. Eighty-three compounds were identified in the resin, by a combination of GC-MS and GC/FID techniques, using direct injection and HS-SPME. α-Pinene (24.0 %), sabinene (43.8 %), β-pinene (6.3 %) and cymene (3.6 %) were the main identified compounds, giving an intense, terpenic and lemony smell to the resin. Anti-inflammatory, wound-healing and whitening activities were highlighted. Sabinene (22.7 %), terpinen-4-ol (18.7 %), α-pinene (14.4 %) and cymene (13.6 %) were identified as the main components of the essential oil, giving a spicy, woody and lemony fragrance. Anti-inflammatory and whitening activities were emphasized.

Species-specific molecular signature of Commiphora species of Saudi Arabia inferred from internal transcribed spacer sequences of nuclear ribosomal DNA

The deciduous habit and tendency to produce flowers prior to developing leaves, and a predominantly dioecious system of breeding in the genus Commiphora leads to difficulties in its taxonomic identification at species level. The characteristics of easy amplification by universal primer, shorter length and higher discrimination power at the species level makes the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence of nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) to a smart gene for generating species-specific phylogenetic inferences in most of the plants groups. The present study deals the ITS sequence of nrDNA based molecular genotyping of seven species of the genus Commiphora of Saudi Arabia. The molecular phylogenetic analysis of ITS sequences of nrDNA of Commiphora species distributed in Saudi Arabia reveals the the occurrence of C. madagascariens in Saudi Arabia.

Differential cytotoxic activity of the petroleum ether extract and its furanosesquiterpenoid constituents from Commiphora molmol resin

This study revealed a differential cytotoxic activity of the petroleum ether extract (IC₅₀ =5 μg/mL) of the resinous exudates of Commiphora molmol against two mouse cell lines KA31T and NIH3T3 (untransformed and transformed mouse fibroblasts, respectively). Four new compounds (1-4) and five known compounds (5-9) were isolated from the petroleum ether extract. The identity of these new compounds was determined as γ-elemane lactone (1), 5-αH,8-βH-eudesma-1,3,7(11)-trien-8,12-olide (2), 2-hydroxy-11,12-dihydrofuranodiene (3), and 2-hydroxyfuranodiene (4). 1 and 2 displayed the highest cytotoxic activity against NIH3T3 cells. 7 and 9 exhibited moderate cytotoxic activity against KA31T cells. Compounds 3-6 showed weak cytotoxic activities against both cell lines. These results may explain the high efficacy of the petroleum ether fraction in several myrrh-derived pharmaceutical preparations.

Molecular classification of the natural exudates of the rosids

Exudates of the rosid clade of the eudicots have been surveyed and characterized by carbon-13 and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Of 554 samples divided roughly equally between the subclades fabids and malvids, about two-fifths are resins, a third gums, one-ninth gum resins, one-twelfth kinos, and the remaining not affiliated with these four main molecular classes. Two small new molecular classes, respectively from the Clusiaceae (xanthics) and the Zygophyllaceae (guaiacs), are identified and described.

The genus Commiphora: a review of its traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The resinous exudates of the Commiphora species, known as 'myrrh', are used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of trauma, arthritis, fractures and diseases caused by blood stagnation. Myrrh has also been used in the Ayurvedic medical system because of its therapeutic effects against inflammatory diseases, coronary artery diseases, gynecological disease, obesity, etc.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

Based on a comprehensive review of traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological and toxicological data on the genus Commiphora, opportunities for the future research and development as well as the genus' therapeutic potential are analyzed.

METHODS

Information on the Commiphora species was collected via electronic search (using Pubmed, SciFinder, Scirus, Google Scholar and Web of Science) and a library search for articles published in peer-reviewed journals. Furthermore, information also was obtained from some local books on ethnopharmacology. This paper covers the literature, primarily pharmacological, from 2000 to the end of December 2011.

RESULTS

The resinous exudates from the bark of plants of the genus Commiphora are important indigenous medicines, and have a long medicinal application for arthritis, hyperlipidemia, pain, wounds, fractures, blood stagnation, in Ayurvedic medicine, traditional Chinese medicine and other indigenous medical systems. Phytochemical investigation of this genus has resulted in identification of more than 300 secondary metabolites. The isolated metabolites and crude extract have exhibited a wide of in vitro and in vivo pharmacological effects, including antiproliferative, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial. The bioactive steroids guggulsterones have attracted most attention for their potent hypolipidemic effect targeting farnesoid X receptor, as well as their potent inhibitory effects on tumor cells and anti-inflammatory efficiency.

CONCLUSIONS

The resins of Commiphora species have emerged as a good source of the traditional medicines for the treatment of inflammation, arthritis, obesity, microbial infection, wound, pain, fractures, tumor and gastrointestinal diseases. The resin of C. mukul in India and that of C. molmol in Egypt have been developed as anti-hyperlipidemia and antischistosomal agents. Pharmacological results have validated the use of this genus in the traditional medicines. Some bioassays are difficult to reproduce because the plant materials used have not been well identified, therefore analytical protocol and standardization of extracts should be established prior to biological evaluation. Stem, bark and leaf of this genus should receive more attention. Expansion of research materials would provide more opportunities for the discovery of new bioactive principles from the genus Commiphora.

Steroids from Commiphora mukul display antiproliferative effect against human prostate cancer PC3 cells via induction of apoptosis

Two new stigmastane-type steroids, stigmasta-5,22E-diene-3β,11α-diol (1) and stigmasta-5,22E-diene-3β,7α,11α-triol (2), together with eight known compounds, were isolated from the resinous exudates of Commiphora mukul. Their structures were established by extensive analysis of their HR-MS, 1D- and 2D-NMR (COSY, HMQC, HMBC and NOESY) spectra. The isolates were evaluated for their antiproliferative activities against four human cancer cell lines. Compound 2 demonstrated inhibitory effects with IC(50) values of 5.21, 9.04, 10.94 and 16.56 μM, respectively, against K562, MCF-7, PC3 and DU145 human cancer cell lines. Further study showed that 2 was able to enforce the PC3 cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase, and induce the apoptosis of PC3 cells by activation of Bax, caspases 3 and 9, and by inhibition of Bcl-2. It was also found that 1 inhibited proliferation of PC3 cells via G0/G1 phase arrest of the cell cycle.

Cycloartane-type triterpenoids and sesquiterpenoids from the resinous exudates of Commiphora opobalsamum

Cycloartane-type triterpenoids (1-3), seven sesquiterpenoids (7-13), and five previously reported secondary metabolites, including three cycloartane-type triterpenoids (4-6) and two sesquiterpenoids (14 and 15), were isolated from the resinous exudates of Commiphora opobalsamum. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis, including UV, IR, NMR, and MS, and comparison with literature data. The structures of 1, 3, and 7 were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The absolute configuration of 1 was interpreted by the incorporation of CHCl(3) (crystallization solvent) in the crystal and that of 10 was determined by the CD exciton chirality method. Compound 12 represents the first example of a 12-norcadinane-type sesquiterpenoid. Furthermore, compounds 1, 3, 7, and 10-14 were evaluated for cytotoxicity against HeLa and HepG2 cell lines.

Four sesquiterpenoids from Chloranthus multistachys

Four new sesquiterpenoids, chlomultins A-D (1-4), were isolated from the whole plant of Chloranthus multistachys. Their structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic analysis.