The Role of Myrrh Metabolites in Cancer, Inflammation, and Wound Healing: Prospects for a Multi-Targeted Drug Therapy

Cleome arabica L mitigates bisphenol A-induced ovarian dysfunction and inflammation in Wistar rats: biochemical, histopathological, pharmacokinetic, and in silico studies

The present study evaluated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of Cleome arabica (CA) fruit extract against bisphenol A (BPA)-induced ovarian injury in female Wistar rats. The antioxidant activity was estimated by the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and superoxide radical (NBT) content. For the in vivo analyses, 24 animals were divided into the following 4 groups: the control group; the BPA group (50 mg/kg BW BPA for 30 days); the BPA  + CA group (50 mg/kg BW BPA and 50 mg/kg BW CA); and the CA group (50 mg/kg BW CA). The in vitro results demonstrated that CA exhibited strong antioxidant activity and scavenged O2•- radicals. . Pharmacokinetic properties were also explored, reflecting the physiological dynamics of the five active molecules (quercetin, catechin, kaempferol, rosmarinic acid, and naringenin). The in vivo findings revealed a significant increase in body weight associated with a significant increase in plasma C-reactive protein (CRP), proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α), and testosterone levels (p < 0.01). In addition, ovarian histological disruption was observed. However, co-administration of CA extract significantly improved ovarian histological integrity and attenuated inflammatory and androgenic disturbances. Moreover, in silico investigations showed that CA compounds interacted more strongly with the active sites of IL-1β, IL-6, or TNF-α. The best binding energy was observed between catechin (five H-bonds) and IL-1β and IL-6, at -6.0 and -6.1 kcal/mol, respectively, and between rosmarinic acid (four H-bonds) and TNF-α, at -6.4 kcal/mol. The present study supports the use of Cleome arabica in the treatment of infertility for female polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients.

Myrrh Oleo-Gum Resin as a Functional Additive in Pectin and κ-Carrageenan Composite Films for Food Packaging

Myrrh oleo-gum-resin (MOGR) is a natural substance that has a rich history of medicinal use due to its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties. The present study reports on the fabrication and assessment of pectin and K-carrageenan composite films infused with varying proportions (0.3%, 0.5%, and 0.7%) of MOGR. Morphological analysis of the film samples was conducted using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). The results indicated that the introduction of MOGR led to a notable increase in surface roughness. The SEM micrographs of the films showed that the MOGR addition had an important effect on the microstructure of the film. The surface hydrophobicity of the MOGR-loaded films increased, as confirmed by the rise in the contact angle. Moreover, there was an increase in the thickness (0.062 ± 0.004-0.095 ± 0.006 mm) and opacity (1.24 ± 0.07-9.41 ± 0.24) of the films with the addition of MOGR; however, tensile strength (7.30 ± 0.50-4.92 ± 0.34 MPa), elongation at break (32.41% ± 1.0%-29.70% ± 0.24%), and barrier properties decreased. Additionally, a rise in MOGR concentration corresponded to a rise in overall color difference ΔE (0.77 ± 0.03-5.09 ± 0.49) of the films. Notably, the incorporation of MOGR led to an increase in the antioxidant activity of the composite films, indicating potential applications in functional packaging materials.

Exploring the Mechanism of Myrrh in the Treatment of Breast Cancer Based on Network Pharmacology and Cell Experiments

This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of action of myrrh in breast cancer (BC) treatment and identify its effective constituents. Data on the compounds and targets of myrrh were collected from the TCMSP, PubChem, and Swiss Target Prediction databases. BC-related targets were obtained from the Genecard database. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis, gene ontology (GO) enrichment, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis were conducted on the intersecting targets of the disease and drug. The key targets of myrrh in BC treatment were identified based on the PPI network. The active constituents of myrrh were determined through reverse-screening using the top 20 KEGG pathways. Macromolecular docking studies, molecular dynamic (MD) simulations, and cell assays were utilized to validate the active constituents and critical targets. Network pharmacology indicated that VEGFA, TP53, ESR1, EGFR, and AKT1 are key targets of myrrh. Pelargonidin chloride, Quercetin, and Naringenin were identified as the active constituents of myrrh. Macromolecular docking showed that Quercetin and Naringenin have strong docking capabilities with ESR1. The results of MD simulation experiments align with those of molecular docking experiments. Cell and western blot assays demonstrated that Quercetin and Naringenin could inhibit MCF-7 cells and significantly reduce the expression of ESR1 protein. The findings reveal the active constituents, key targets, and molecular mechanisms of myrrh in BC treatment, providing scientific evidence that supports the role of myrrh in BC therapy. Furthermore, the results suggest that network pharmacology predictions require experimental validation for reliability.

Chemometrics-based Chemical Analysis of Myrrh and Its Vinegar-processed Products by UPLC-MS/MS

Myrrh is widely used in clinical practice but accompanied by obvious toxicity. According to traditional Chinese medicines theory, processing with vinegar can effectively reduce its toxicity. However, the detoxification processing technology of Myrrh and the corresponding mechanism have been unclear. The objective of this study is to systematically analyze the variation in chemical composition of raw Myrrh and its processed products using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS coupled with chemometrics. A total of 75 compounds including 56 sesquiterpenoids, 2 diterpenoids, 15 triterpenoids and 2 other types were identified. Raw Myrrh and its processed products were divided into two major groups, and 14 chemical markers were selected out by principal component analysis and partial least square discriminant analysis. Additionally, the exact content of 5 representative chemical markers was determined to be significantly reduced after vinegar-processing by UPLC-QQQ-MS/MS. Moreover, multivariate statistical analysis and the quantitative results comprehensively indicated that the optimized processing method was processing at a ratio of 200 : 5 (Myrrh:vinegar). This research provides not only a reliable foundation for the study of Myrrh, but also a scientific reference for clinical use of this herb.

The Multifaceted Roles of Myrrha in the Treatment of Breast Cancer: Potential Therapeutic Targets and Promises

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer is a critical threat to human health, and effective targeted agents showing lower systemic toxicity are still lacking. Therefore, exploring new potent therapeutic candidates with a broader safety margin is warranted. Alternative medicine, which has historically been used in traditional Chinese medicine, has played an increasingly prominent role in this area of research. This study introduces Commiphora myrrha (or myrrh) as a potential therapeutic candidate for treating breast cancer patients. Myrrh bioactive extracts have been used traditionally for decades to treat numerous medical disorders, including cancers, specifically breast cancer. Nonetheless, myrrh's precise rudimentary mechanisms of action in regulating genes involved in breast cancer evolution and progression remain elusive.

PURPOSE

Herein, we use a network pharmacology platform to identify the potential genes targeted by myrrh-active molecules in breast cancer.

METHOD

The identified targets' expression profiles were determined at the mRNA and protein levels using The Breast Cancer Gene-Expression Miner v5.0 (bcGen-ExMiner v5.0) and The Human Protein Atlas datasets, respectively. A gene signature composed of the specifically designated genes was constructed, and its association with different breast cancer molecular subtypes was investigated through the Gene expression-based Outcome for Breast Cancer (GOBO) online tool. The protein mapping relationship between potential myrrh targets and their partner proteins during breast cancer development was screened and constructed through the STRING and ShinyGO databases. In addition, the Kaplan-Meier plots (KM-plot) prognostic tool was applied to assess the survival rate associated with the expression of the current gene signature in different human cancers, including breast cancer.

RESULTS

Combining the results of network pharmacology with other bioinformatics databases suggests that myrrh's active components exert anti-cancer effects by regulating genes involved in breast cancer pathogenesis, particularly PTGS2, EGFR, ESR2, MMP2, and JUN. An individual evaluation of the expression profiles of these genes at both mRNA and protein levels reveals that a high expression profile of each gene is associated with breast cancer advancement. Moreover, the GOBO analysis shows an elevated expression profile of the PTGS2/ESR2/EGFR/JUN/MMP2 genes' signature in the most aggressive breast cancer subtype (Basal) in breast tumor samples and breast cancer cell lines. Furthermore, the STRING protein interaction network and the KEGG analyses indicate that myrrh exerts therapeutic effects on breast cancer by regulating several biological processes such as cell proliferation, cell migration, apoptosis, and various signaling pathways, including TNF, PI3K-Akt, NF-κB, and MAPK. Consistently, breast cancer patients with high expression of this genes' signature display poor survival outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study is the first attempt to explore the biological involvement of myrrh-targeted genes during breast cancer development. Therefore, suppressing the effects of the intended genes' signature using myrrh extracts would provide encouraging results in blocking breast cancer tumorigenesis. Thus, our findings provide conclusive evidence and deepen the current understanding of the molecular role of myrrh in the treatment of breast cancer, further supporting its clinical application.

Essential Oils of Some Potential Medicinal Plants and their Wound Healing Activities

The wound has been recognised as a deep cut or tearing of the epidermis, which is also referred to as trauma and harm to the body tissues. Healing of wounds requires a coordinated series of cellular processes, including cell attraction, proliferation, differentiation, and angiogenesis. These processes involve interactions between various cells, such as macrophages, endothelial cells, keratinocytes, fibroblasts, growth hormones, and proteases. The outcome of wounds can be fatal if not treated properly, resulting in chronic wounds, chronic pain, and even death. Wound healing is replacing missing tissue with tissue repairs and regeneration. Some local variables are the presence of tissue maceration, foreign objects, biofilm, hypoxia, ischemia, and wound infection. Sustained growth factor delivery, siRNA delivery, micro-RNA targeting, and stem cell therapy are all emerging possible therapeutic approaches for wound healing. Traditional approaches, such as Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani medicines, are also being used for treatment. The therapeutic application of nanoformulations in wound infections has shown various beneficial effects. Several herbal medicines, especially essential oils have shown potential wound healing activities, such as lavender, tea tree, sesame, olive, etc. Various nanoparticles and their nanoformulations have been explored in wound healing therapy. The present review article highlights several aspects of essential oils for wound healing activity through a novel drug delivery system. Further, some patents on wound healing through herbal medicine have been listed.

Water extract of frankincense and myrrh inhibits liver cancer progression and epithelial‑mesenchymal transition through Wnt/β‑catenin signaling

Wnt/β-catenin signaling is associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT), which serves an important role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) invasion and metastasis. Frankincense and myrrh (FM) are antitumor agents commonly used in clinical practice. The present study aimed to investigate the effect and mechanism of water extract of FM on the progression of liver cancer cells. FM was applied to study its effects on HCC cell proliferation. Cell migration and invasion were evaluated by wound healing and Transwell assays. In addition, western blot was used to study the protein levels associated with EMT and Wnt/β-catenin signaling. The nuclear translocation of β-catenin was detected by immunofluorescence assay. A non-toxic dose of FM significantly inhibited invasion and metastasis of liver cancer cells. Furthermore, FM promoted expression of EMT marker E-cadherin, while decreasing expression of vimentin and N-cadherin. Finally, the protein and the nuclear staining levels of Disheveled 2 and β-catenin were both suppressed by water extract of FM. The water extract of FM inhibited the migration and invasion of liver cancer cells and inhibited EMT by suppressing activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Natural Products for the Prevention, Treatment and Progression of Breast Cancer

In this review, we summarize the most used natural products as useful adjuvants in BC by clarifying how these products may play a critical role in the prevention, treatment and progression of this disease. BC is the leading cancer, in terms of incidence, that affects women. The epidemiology and pathophysiology of BC were widely reported. Inflammation and cancer are known to influence each other in several tumors. In the case of BC, the inflammatory component precedes the development of the neoplasm through a slowly increasing and prolonged inflammation that also favors its growth. BC therapy involves a multidisciplinary approach comprising surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. There are numerous observations that showed that the effects of some natural substances, which, in integration with the classic protocols, can be used not only for prevention or integration in order to prevent recurrences and induce a state of chemoquiescence but also as chemo- and radiosensitizers during classic therapy.

Myrrh Essential Oil Mitigates Renal Ischemia/Reperfusion-Induced Injury

BACKGROUND

Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced renal injury is a common reason for kidney injury in clinical settings; therefore, continuous investigation of novel nephroprotective agents is crucial. Myrrh, the oleoresin exudates generated by the genus Commiphora, display numerous pharmacological actions. This study tried to assess the preventive effects of myrrh essential oil against I/R-induced renal damage.

METHODS

Rats were randomized into five groups. In the sham group, the animals were subjected to bilateral renal artery separation with no occlusion. In the sham + myrrh group; the rats were administered myrrh essential oil and then treated similarly to the sham group. Renal I/R group: the animals were challenged with renal I/R. In the myrrh + renal I/R groups, rats were administered 50 or 100 mg/kg of myrrh essential oil orally for three weeks before being confronted with I/R.

RESULTS

Serum levels of renal function tests and renal injury biomarkers, including NGAL, KIM-1, and CysC, were amplified in the renal I/R group. Animals that experienced renal I/R exhibited elevated lipid peroxidation (MDA); declined SOD, CAT, and GPx activity; declined GSH content; augmented TLR4/NFκB gene expression; and subsequent enhancement of inflammatory mediators (TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-1β, and IL-6). Myrrh reduced renal function tests and injury biomarkers and amended renal histological alterations. Pretreatment with myrrh reduced MDA, elevated the antioxidant enzymes' activities and GSH content, and reduced the TLR4 and NFκB gene expression, leading to subsequent inflammation and apoptosis alleviation.

CONCLUSIONS

The outcomes of the present investigation established the protective effect of myrrh essential oil against renal I/R via pointing out the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic effects of myrrh.

Guggulsterone from Commiphora mukul potentiates anti-glioblastoma efficacy of temozolomide in vitro and in vivo via down-regulating EGFR/PI3K/Akt signaling and NF-κB activation

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Myrrh is an aromatic oleo-gum resin extracted from the stem of Commiphora myrrha (Nees) Engl., and has the efficacies to promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis. Myrrh is mainly used for the treatment of chronic diseases including cancer. Guggulsterone, a major active steroid extracted from myrrh, has been found to inhibit cancer cell growth. Glioblastoma is the most common malignancy of central nervous system, and its prognosis remains very poor mainly due to chemotherapeutic resistance. The active status of EGFR/PI3K/Akt and NF-κB signaling in glioblastoma contributed to poor response for chemotherapy, and blocking this signaling with antagonists sensitized glioblastoma cells to chemotherapy.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The present study will investigate whether guggulsterone potentiates the anti-glioblastoma efficacy of temozolomide by down-regulating EGFR/PI3K/Akt signaling and NF-κB activation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cell viability and proliferation was determined by cell counting Kit-8 and colony formation assays. Cell apoptosis was evaluated by Annexin V/PI and hoechst 33342 staining assays. Molecular techniques such as western blotting and real-time quantitative PCR were used to demonstrate guggulsterone in vitro effect on EGFR/PI3K/Akt signaling and NF-κB activation. Finally, in vivo studies were performed in orthotopic mouse models of glioblastoma.

RESULTS

The results demonstrated that guggulsterone enhanced temozolomide-induced growth inhibition and apoptosis in human glioblastoma U251 and U87 cells. Furthermore, the synergistic anti-glioblastoma efficacy between guggulsterone and temozolomide was intimately associated with the inhibition of EGFR/PI3K/Akt signaling and NF-κB activation in U251 and U87 cells. Our in vivo results on orthotopic xenograft models similarly indicated that guggulsterone potentiated temozolomide-induced tumor growth inhibition through suppressing EGFR/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and NF-кB activity.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study suggested that guggulsterone potentiated anti-glioblastoma efficacy of temozolomide through down-regulating EGFR/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and NF-кB activation.

In silico Prediction of Malvaviscus arboreus Metabolites and Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles - Opportunities for Safer Anti-Bacterial and Anti-Cancer Precision Medicine

Introduction

Biogenic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) may be a feasible therapeutic option in the research and development towards selectively targeting specific cancers and microbial infections, lending a role in precision medicine. In-silico methods are a viable strategy to aid in drug discovery by identifying lead plant bioactive molecules for further wet lab and animal experiments.

Methods

Green synthesis of M-AgNPs was performed using the aqueous extract from the Malvaviscus arboreus leaves, characterized using UV spectroscopy, FTIR, TEM, DLS, and EDS. In addition, Ampicillin conjugated M-AgNPs were also synthesized. The cytotoxic potential of the M-AgNPs was evaluated using the MTT assay on MDA-MB 231, MCF10A, and HCT116 cancer cell lines. The antimicrobial effects were determined using the agar well diffusion assay on methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and S. mutans, E. coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Additionally, LC-MS was used to identify the phytometabolites, and in silico techniques were applied to determine the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic profiles of the identified metabolites.

Results

Spherical M-AgNPs were successfully biosynthesized with a mean diameter of 21.8 nm and were active on all tested bacteria. Conjugation with ampicillin increased the susceptibility of the bacteria. These antibacterial effects were most predominant in Staphylococcus aureus (p < 0.0001). M-AgNPs had potent cytotoxic activity against the colon cancer cell line (IC₅₀=29.5 μg/mL). In addition, four secondary metabolites were identified, Astragalin, 4-hydroxyphenyl acetic acid, Caffeic acid, and Vernolic acid. In silico studies identified Astragalin as the most active antibacterial and anti-cancer metabolite, binding strongly to the carbonic anhydrase IX enzyme with a comparatively higher number of residual interactions.

Discussion

Synthesis of green AgNPs presents a new opportunity in the field of precision medicine, the concept centered on the biochemical properties and biological effects of the functional groups present in the plant metabolites used for reduction and capping. M-AgNPs may be useful in treating colon carcinoma and MRSA infections. Astragalin appears to be the optimal and safe lead for further anti-cancer and anti-microbial drug development.

In Combo Studies for the Optimization of 5-Aminoanthranilic Acid Derivatives as Potential Multitarget Drugs for the Management of Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is a set of risk factors that consist of abdominal obesity, arterial hypertension, alterations in the lipid profile, and hyperglycemia. The current therapeutic strategy includes polypharmacy, using three or more drugs to control each syndrome component. However, this approach has drawbacks that could lead to therapeutic failure. Multitarget drugs are molecules with the ability to act on different targets simultaneously and are an attractive alternative for treating complex diseases such as metabolic syndrome. Previously, we identified a triamide derivative of 5-aminoanthranilic acid that exhibited hypoglycemic, hypolipemic, and antihypertensive activities simultaneously. In the present study, we report the synthesis and in combo evaluation of new derivatives of anthranilic acid, intending to identify the primary structural factors that improve the activity over metabolic syndrome-related parameters. We found that substitution on position 5, incorporation of 3,4-dimethoxyphenyl substituents, and having a free carboxylic acid group lead to the in vitro inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase, and simultaneously the diminution of the serum levels of glucose, triglycerides, and cholesterol in a diet-induced in vivo model.