Wound Healing Potential of Commiphora gileadensis Stems Essential Oil and Chloroform Extract

Essential oils (EOs) prepared from the fresh and dried stems of Commiphora gileadensis were compared qualitatively and quantitatively. Although the components were closely similar, the amount of oil decreased from 2.23 to 1.77% upon drying. Both samples showed equal potencies in the antimicrobial testing. The chloroform extract (CE) of the fresh stems with reported antimicrobial activity was compared with the EO sample of the fresh stems for wound healing potential. For the wound healing assay, 11 mm-diameter full-thickness skin excision wounds were made on the backs of four groups of rats (n = 6). The negative control group I was treated with the cream base. Group II was treated with 2% Fucidin cream, which served as a reference, and groups III and IV were treated with 1% EO- and 3% CE-containing creams, respectively. Treatments were applied topically one time daily. The wound healing potential was evaluated by recording the wound contraction percentages, epithelialization period, and histopathological changes of wounds. The topical application of CE significantly promoted the healing of wounds in rats. The effectiveness was demonstrated through the speed of wound contraction and the shortening of the epithelialization period in an animal treated with CE cream when compared to the NC group. Histopathological studies of the CE cream-treated group also expressed the effectiveness of CE in improving the wound healing process. These findings suggested that CE cream can enhance the process of wound healing in rats.

Phytochemical Composition of Commiphora Oleogum Resins and Their Cytotoxicity against Skin Cancer Cells

Oleogum resins of the genus Commiphora have been used in traditional medicines for centuries. More than 200 Commiphora species exhibit highly variable phytochemical compositions. A novel highly selective, sensitive, accurate HPLC-MS/MS method was developed and validated to quantify five characteristic phytosteroids and furanosesquiterpenoids, namely (E)-guggulsterone, (Z)-guggulsterone, curzerenone, furanoeudesma-1,3-diene, and myrrhone. The resulting contents and additionally GC analysis were used to classify and differentiate Commiphora oleogum resins of the species C. myrrha, C. erythraea, C. mukul, C. holtziana, C. confusa, and C. kua, as well as unspecified resins. Interestingly, a Commiphora sample from Ogaden, Ethiopia, comprised 446 ng/mg guggulsterones presumed to be unique to C. mukul from the Indian subcontinent. However, Commiphora from Ogaden differed considerably from C. mukul in respect to guggulsterones isomer’s ratio. Moreover, the cytotoxicity of Commiphora extracts, essential oils, botanical drugs containing Commiphora, and pure compounds against the epidermoid carcinoma A431, malignant melanoma RPMI-7951 and SK-MEL-28 cells was investigated in vitro. Thereby, especially C. mukul extract and C. myrrha essential oil exhibited high cytotoxicity against skin cancer cells with IC₅₀ of 2.9–10.9 µg/mL, but were less toxic to normal keratinocytes. In summary, Commiphora oleogum resins and its phytochemicals warrant further investigation aiming at chemotaxonomical classification as well as application in skin cancer treatment.