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BACKGROUND: “Ruxiang-Moyao” is a common combination of traditional Chinese medicine in the clinical treatment of knee osteoarthritis. However, the pharmacological mechanism is not yet clear. OBJECTIVE: Using network pharmacology technology to explore the therapeutic target of “Ruxiang-Moyao” as a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine for clinical treatment of arthromyodynia in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis and the relevant mechanism. METHODS: The chemical constituents of “Ruxiang-Moyao” were collected by TCMSP pharmacology database and analysis platform, and the possible bioactive constituents of frankincense and myrrh were screened according to the biological oral availability ≥ 30% and class drug properties ≥ 0.18. The possible targets of each active constituent were screened out using the protein database (Uniprot). GeneCards, OMIM, TTD and DrugBank databases were consulted to mine knee osteoarthritis-associated gene targets. The disease-drug protein target genes were obtained after the intersection of the above-mentioned screening data. The STRING database calculation and analysis algorithm was used to screen out important key genes to build a protein-protein interaction network, and the key target genes were uploaded to the PPI network graph. Cytoscape software was used to map the drug-target and disease-target visualization network, and DAVID online tool was further used for gene ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Gnomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Eight bioactive constituents of frankincense and 45 bioactive constituents of myrrh were obtained. At the same time, 412 target proteins of “Ruxiang-Moyao,” 1889 genes related to knee osteoarthritis and 105 co-targets of drugs and diseases were detected. The protein-protein interaction network found that AKT1, TP53, IL6, TNF, JUN, and MAPK1 might be the key targets of “Ruxiang-Moyao” in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. The GO enrichment analysis identified 66 GO items, which are involved in cell response to hypoxia, negative regulation of epithelial cell proliferation, immune response, insulin-stimulated cell response, and positive regulation of fibroblast proliferation. The enrichment analysis of KEGG pathway identified 95 related signaling pathways, which are involved in inflammation, cell apoptosis and cell senescence. David enrichment analysis showed that the key target of “Ruxiang-Moyao” intervention for knee osteoarthritis was mainly related to several biological processes such as inflammatory response, cell apoptosis and immune system. Overall, “Ruxiang-Moyao” has the characteristics of multi-pathway and multi-target action in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis, and mainly has anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. The key targets of its action and the involved biological process and signaling pathway have been preliminarily revealed, providing a new idea for the clinical prescription treatment of knee osteoarthritis in the future.
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OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the efficacy of frankincense and myrrha in the treatment of acute interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS).@*METHODS@#The effects of frankincense and myrrha on the proliferation and migration of primary human urothelial cells (HUCs) were assessed in vitro. In the animal study, 48 virgin female rats were randomized into 4 groups (12 in each group): (1) control group (saline-injected control); (2) cyclophosphamide (CYP) group (intraperitoneal injected 150 mg/kg CYP); (3) CYP + pentosan polysulfate sodium group (orally received 50 mg/kg pentosan polysulfate sodium); and (4) CYP + frankincense and myrrha group [orally received frankincense (200 mg/kg) and myrrha (200 mg/kg)]. Rats orally received pentosan polysulfate sodium or frankincense and myrrha on day 1, 2, and 3. The experiments were performed on day 4. Pain and cystometry assessment behavior test were performed. Voiding interval values were assessed in rats under anesthesia. Finally, immunohistochemistry and Western blot were used to confirm the location and level, respectively, of cell junction-associated protein zonula occludens-2 (ZO-2) expression.@*RESULTS@#Low dose frankincense and myrrha increased cell proliferation and migration in HUCs compared with control (P<0.05). Rats with acute IC/PBS rats exhibited lower voiding interval values, pain tolerance, and ZO-2 expression (P<0.05). Voiding interval values and pain tolerance were higher in the frankincense and myrrha group than CYP group (P<0.05). ZO-2 expression in the bladder was increased in the CYP + pentosan polysulfate and frankincense + myrrha groups compared with the CYP-induced acute IC/PBS group (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#frankincense and myrrha modulate urothelial wound healing, which ameliorates typical features of acute IC/PBS in rats.
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OBJECTIVE： To establish a UHPLC method for determination of the contents of 11-keto-β-boswellic acid(KAB) and 11-keto-β-acetyl-boswellic acid(AKBA)in Frankincense and explore the suitability and accuracy of substitute reference substance method with DRS origin software for qualitative and quantitative determination of chromatographic peaks. METHODS ：The samples were separated by UHPLC for determination of AKBA and KBA. AKBA was used as a reference to investigate the accuracy of KBA identification using DRS origin software on 19 different C18 columns. The RSDs of relative correction factors were calculated for different detection wavelengths and instruments.The relative correction factor method and the external standard method were selected for quantification and the differences were compared. RESULTS: The established method met the requirements of methodology and the average recovery was 100.21%(n=6) with RSD of 2.47%. The DRS origin software can be used to accurately determine the chromatographic peaks. The correct factor of AKBA vs. KBA was 0.936 and it was consistent under different conditions. There were no significant differences between the content calculated by the relative correction factor method and by the external standard method. CONCLUSION： This method is intelligent, feasible, reliable and economical, and can be used for the determination of frankincense content.
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Objective To study the effect of processing time on the content of five active ingredients in vine-gar frankincense.Methods Acetic acid,3－acetyl－β－lactic acid,3－acetyl－α－lactic acid,11－carbonyl－β－lactic acid 5 kinds of active ingredients in vinegar frankincense were determined.Results The results showed that four kinds of lactic acid (α－boswellic acid,β－boswellic acid,3－acetyl－β－lactic acid and 3－acetyl－α－lactic acid)showed an increasing trend (from 16.88mg/g to 23.05mg/g,40.35mg/g to 61.05mg/g,11.02mg/g to 18.17mg/g,19.78mg/g to 25.08mg/g),11－carbonyl－β－lactic acid showed a decreasing trend (6.98mg/g to 5.86mg/g),with the increasing of processing time (5,10,15,20 and 30min).Conclusion 30 min was the best time to prepare the balsamic vinegar frankincense.
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This paper focused on factors which affected on different color of northern and southern region vinegar-processed frankincense.Meanwhile,contents of six main boswellic acids were also determined to elaborate the influence of heat in chemical components.Vinegar-processed frankincense from northern and southern region was collected.And different temperature and time were used in the processing of frankincense to receive the vinegar-processed frankincense samples.The color difference meter was utilized combining with the PCA statistic analysis method.The Zorbax ExtendC18 chromatographic column (4.6 mm × 50 mm,1.8 μm) was used with acetonitrile-0.1％ phosphoric acid as the mobile phase and gradient elution.The velocity of flow was 1 mL· min-1.The detection wavelength was 210 nm and 250 nm.The column temperature was 30℃.The results showed that the color of northern region processed frankincense was yellow or pale brown.And the southern region processed frankincense was pale brown or dark brown.It showed the difference on processed degree.The L* value of the northern processed frankincense was 75.327 to 80.746 and the L* value of southern processed was 44.321 to 49.527.The a* value of the northern processed frankincense was 5.378 to 6.502 and the a* value of southern processed was 9.423 to 9.978.There was no significant difference on b*.There were certain differences on L* and a* among vinegar-processed frankincense with the same surface color.The color parameter results of self-made vinegar-processed frankincense indicated that along with changes of processing temperature and time,the color,L* and a* change.Even frankincense processed for 30 min with mild fire,it will not achieve the color parameter value of the southern region vinegar-processed frankincense.However,after 11 min processing with medium fire,the color can be achieved.The content determination results showed that four contents,including α-boswellic acid,β-boswellic acid,3-acetyl-α-boswellic acid and 3-acetyl-β-boswellic acid were increased.Contents of 11-carbonyl-3-boswellic acid and 3-acetyl-11-carbonyl-β-boswellic were decreased after being processed.The range of increasing or decreasing by medium fire was higher than mild fire.At the same temperature,as the increasing of processing time,the content has an increasing or decreasing tendency.It was concluded that temperature was the main factor influencing the color of vinegar-processed frankincense from northern and southern regions.Different processing degrees also make influence on the contents of chemical compounds.The color parameter value can be used to evaluate the color of processed frankincense.
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The aim of this paper was to explore the effects of Frankincense and Myrrh essential oil on transdermal absorption in vitro of Chuanxiong, and to investigate the possible penetration mechanism of their essential oil from the perspective of skin blood perfusion changes. Transdermal tests were performed in vitro with excised mice skin by improved Franz diffusion cells. The cumulative penetration amounts of ferulic acid in Chuanxiong were determined by HPLC to investigate the effects of Frankincense and Myrrh essential oil on transdermal permeation properties of Chuanxiong. Simultaneously, the skin blood flows were determined by laser flow doppler. The results showed that the cumulative penetration amount of ferulic acid in Chuanxiong was (8.13±0.76) μg•cm⁻² in 24 h, and was (48.91±4.87), (57.80±2.86), (63.34±4.56), (54.17±4.40), (62.52±7.79) μg•cm⁻² respectively in Azone group, Frankincense essential oil group, Myrrh essential oil, frankincense and myrrh singly extracted essential oil mixture group, and frankincense and myrrh mixed extraction essential oil group. The enhancement ratios of each essential oil groups were 7.68, 8.26, 7.26, 8.28, which were slightly greater than 6.55 in Azone group. In addition, as compared with the conditions before treatment, there were significant differences and obvious increasing trend in blood flow of rats in Frankincense essential oil group, Myrrh essential oil group, frankincense and myrrh singly extracted essential oil mixture group, and frankincense and myrrh mixed extraction essential oil group when were dosed at 10, 20, 30, 10 min respectively, indicating that the skin blood flows were increased under the effects of Frankincense and Myrrh essential oil to a certain extent. Thus, Frankincense and Myrrh essential oil had certain effect on promoting permeability of Chuanxiong both before and after drug combination, and may promote the elimination of drugs from epidermis to dermal capillaries through increase of skin blood flow, thus enhancing the transdermal permeation amounts of drugs.
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Objective:To establish a quality standard for vinegar frankincense in Liuwei Jingkang capsules. Methods: TLC was used for the identification of vinegar frankincense. HPLC was used for the content determination of acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid (AKBA), which was the main active component in vinegar frankincense. A SHIMADZU Shim-pack VP-ODS(250 mm × 4. 6 mm,5μm) column was used. The mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile and water containing 0. 01 mol·L-1 hydrochloric acid (78 ∶22) at a flow rate of 1. 5 ml·min-1 . The column temperature was 30℃. The detection wavelength was 252 nm, and the injection volume was 10 μl. Results:The TLC method could identify the characteristic fluorescence of vinegar frankincense was without interference from the blank. There was a good linear relationship of AKBA within the concentration range of 0. 036 5-0. 730 8 mg·ml-1(r=0. 999 7). The average recovery was 98. 24% (RSD=0. 83%, n=9). Conclusion:The established method is accurate, highly sensitive and well re-producible, which can be used for the quality control of Liuwei Jingkang capsules.
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The aim of this paper was to explore the effects of Frankincense and Myrrh essential oil on transdermal absorption, and investigate the mechanism of permeation on the microstructure and molecular structure of stratum corneum. Through the determination of stratum corneum/medium partition coefficient of ferulicacid in Chuanxiong influenced by Frankincense and Myrrh essential oil, the effects of volatile oil of frankincense and Myrrh on the the microscopic and molecular structure of stratum corneum were explored by observation of skin stratum corneum structure under scanning electron microscopy, and investigation of frankincense and myrrh essential oil effects on the molecular structure of keratin and lipids in stratum corneum under Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The results showed that the oil could enhance the distribution of ferulic acid in the stratum corneum and medium, and to a certain extent damaged the imbricate structure of stratum corneum which was originally regularly, neatly, and closely arranged; some epidermal scales turned upward, with local peeling phenomenon. In addition, frankincense and myrrh essential oil caused the relative displacement of CH2 stretching vibration peak of stratum corneum lipids and amide stretching vibration peak of stratum corneum keratin, indicating that frankincense and myrrh essential oil may change the conformation of lipid and keratin in the stratum corneum, increase the bilayer liquidity of the stratum corneum lipid, and change the orderly and compact structure to increase the skin permeability and reduce the effect of barrier function. It can be concluded that Frankincense and Myrrh essential oil can promote the permeation effect by increasing the distribution of drugs in the stratum corneum and changing the structure of the stratum corneum.
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Frankincense, the gum resin from the plants in Boswellia Roxb. ex Colebr. or the other plants belonging to Burseraceae, has a long history as a medicine in China. The investigations on the pharmacological effects of the resin have demonstrated its anti-inflammatory, antisepsis, antitumor effects, etc. This article classifies and summarizes the preparation methods, pharmacological effects, action mechanisms, and metabolic process in vivo or in vitro of boswellic acids compounds, and providing the reference for the further development and utilization of boswellic acids and medicinal plants in Boswellia Roxb. ex Colebr.
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Objective: To investigate the anti-cancer effect of frankincense derived heavy oil obtained by Soxhlet extraction method on breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231), and to study its chemical profile using gas chromatography mass spectrometry analysis. Methods: Hexane was used to extract heavy oil from frankincense resin. Chemical profiling of heavy oil was done using Perkin Elmer Clarus GC system with mass spectrometer. MDA-MB-231 cells were treated with different dilutions (1:1. 000, 1:1. 500, 1:1. 750, 1:2. 000, 1:2. 250, 1:2. 500, 1:2. 750, 1:3. 000, 1:3. 250) of heavy oil for 24 h. The cells were observed by using light microscopy. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Results: Gas chromatography mass spectrometry chemical profiling of frankincense derived heavy oil revealed the presence of terpenes such as α-pinene (61.56%), α-amyrin (20.6%), β-amyrin (8.1%), β-phellandrene (1.47%) and camphene (1.04%). Heavy terpene cocktail induced significant MDA-MB-231 cell death at each concentration tested. Noticeably, very low concentration of Soxhlet derived heavy terpenes elicits considerable cytotoxicity on MDA-MB-231 cells compared to hydro distillated essential oil derived from frankincense resin. Conclusions: Extracting anti-cancer active principle cocktail by simple Soxhlet method is cost effective and less time consuming. Our in vitro anti-cancer data forms the rationale for us to test heavy terpene complex in breast cancer xenograft model in vivo. Furthermore, fractionation and developing frankincense heavy terpene based breast cancer drug is the major goal of our laboratory.
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Objective:To investigate the anti-cancer effect of frankincense derived heavy oil obtained by Soxhlet extraction method on breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231), and to study its chemical profile using gas chromatography mass spectrometry analysis. Methods: Hexane was used to extract heavy oil from frankincense resin. Chemical profiling of heavy oil was done using Perkin Elmer Clarus GC system with mass spectrometer.MDA-MB-231 cells were treated with different dilutions (1:1 000, 1:1 500, 1:1 750, 1:2 000, 1:2 250, 1:2 500, 1:2 750, 1:3 000, 1:3 250) of heavy oil for 24 h. The cells were observed by using light microscopy. Cell viability was measured byMTT assay. Results: Gas chromatography mass spectrometry chemical profiling of frankincense derived heavy oil revealed the presence of terpenes such asα-pinene (61.56%),α-amyrin (20.6%),β-amyrin (8.1%),β-phellandrene (1.47%) and camphene (1.04%). Heavy terpene cocktail induced significantMDA-MB-231 cell death at each concentration tested. Noticeably, very low concentration of Soxhlet derived heavy terpenes elicits considerable cytotoxicityon MDA-MB-231cells compared to hydro distillated essential oil derived from frankincense resin. Conclusions: Extracting anti-cancer active principle cocktail by simple Soxhlet method is cost effective and less time consuming. Ourin vitro anti-cancer data forms the rationale for us to test heavy terpene complex in breast cancer xenograft modelin vivo. Furthermore, fractionation and developing frankincense heavy terpene based breast cancer drug is the major goal of our laboratory.
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OBJECTIVE: To propose and establish a novel holistic strategy of identification and quality evaluation of frankincense by chromatographic fingerprint analysis. METHODS: The strategy contained five steps. The first step was multi-species sample collection. The second was to establish fingerprint identification and assay under the same chromatographic conditions. The third was components identification by means of reference substances and LC-MS. The fourth was multivariate analysis for identification and classification of certified products and adulterants. The fifth was to evaluate TCMs using similarity threshold and content range criteria. RESULTS: Twenty-six chromatographic peaks were separated and fourteen were identified. Furthermore, HCA heatmap analysis, principal component analysis, partial least squares discrimination, self-organizing map clustering, and support vector machine were used for pattern recognition. The common patterns for three species of frankincenses were established. The content ranges for KBA and AKBA were also calculated. CONCLUSION: The method is specific and can be used to accurately identify and systematically evaluate medicinal frankincense.
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Objective: To investigate the analgesic effect of Boswellia sacra (B. sacra), which could support the Omani traditional uses of frankincense for muscle, stomach, and arthritis pain. Methods: The crude extract, the essential oils and various sub-fractions of the crude methanol extract (each 300 mg/kg of the body weight of the animal) obtained from the resin of B. sacra were administered orally, and were evaluated for their analgesic activities by using two well known models of pain in mice, viz. acetic acid induced writhing test and formalin induced pain test in mice. Results: Of 13 samples, almost all of them were effective at an orally administered dose of 300 mg/kg of the body weight. The acetic acid induced writhes were inhibited in all the three phases with comparable values to the standard drug aspirin (300 mg/kg of body weight) with inhibition of 67.6% in phase I, 66.8% in phase II, and 37.9% in phase III. At the same time, all the tested samples were found effective in both the early and the late phases of formalin test. In formalin test, most of the tested samples showed more inhibitory effects as compared to the standard drug aspirin (300 mg/kg of body weight), which showed 36.2% and 29.6% inhibition in early and late phases respectively. Among the tested samples, the most significant inhibition was produced by Shabi frankincense oil (57.5% in early phase, and 55.6% in late phase). Interestingly, the extracts showed comparable percentage of inhibition to the oil and found in the following order: 60% chloroform. /n-hexane sub-fraction (55.3% in early phase, and 66.7% in late phase), and 70% chloroform. /n-hexane sub-fraction (59.6% in early phase, and 63.0% in late phase). Conclusions: The present study provided the scientific justification about the analgesic properties of the essential oils, extract, and various sub-fractions obtained from the resin of B. sacra, thus validating its use in traditional folk medicines and other products; and hence supporting the development in the analgesic properties of bioactive natural substances.
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One of the leading causes of death worldwide is cardiovascular disease, hence searching for a cure is an important endeavor. The totally safe, edible, and inexpensive Boswellia plant exudate, known as olibanum or frankincense, is considered to possess diverse medicinal values in traditional medicine and from recent biological studies. Investigating the cardioprotective and antioxidant activities of olibanum from a Boswellia species, family Bursearaceae, namely Boswellia carteri Birdw. was the aim of this study. Cardioprotective activity was evaluated using a model of myocardial infarction induced by isoprenaline (ISO), while antioxidant activity was tested adopting nitric oxide scavenging (NOS) and azino-bis-3-ethyl benzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) assays. The results revealed a mild cardioprotective effect and weak antioxidant activity.
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Animals , Humans , Male , Rats , Antioxidants , Boswellia , Chemistry , Frankincense , Myocardial Infarction , Drug Therapy , Pathology , Myocardium , Pathology , Rats, WistarABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the analgesic effect of Boswellia sacra (B. sacra), which could support the Omani traditional uses of frankincense for muscle, stomach, and arthritis pain.@*METHODS@#The crude extract, the essential oils and various sub-fractions of the crude methanol extract (each 300 mg/kg of the body weight of the animal) obtained from the resin of B. sacra were administered orally, and were evaluated for their analgesic activities by using two well known models of pain in mice, viz. acetic acid induced writhing test and formalin induced pain test in mice.@*RESULTS@#Of 13 samples, almost all of them were effective at an orally administered dose of 300 mg/kg of the body weight. The acetic acid induced writhes were inhibited in all the three phases with comparable values to the standard drug aspirin (300 mg/kg of body weight) with inhibition of 67.6% in phase I, 66.8% in phase II, and 37.9% in phase III. At the same time, all the tested samples were found effective in both the early and the late phases of formalin test. In formalin test, most of the tested samples showed more inhibitory effects as compared to the standard drug aspirin (300 mg/kg of body weight), which showed 36.2% and 29.6% inhibition in early and late phases respectively. Among the tested samples, the most significant inhibition was produced by Shabi frankincense oil (57.5% in early phase, and 55.6% in late phase). Interestingly, the extracts showed comparable percentage of inhibition to the oil and found in the following order: 60% chloroform/n-hexane sub-fraction (55.3% in early phase, and 66.7% in late phase), and 70% chloroform/n-hexane sub-fraction (59.6% in early phase, and 63.0% in late phase).@*CONCLUSIONS@#The present study provided the scientific justification about the analgesic properties of the essential oils, extract, and various sub-fractions obtained from the resin of B. sacra, thus validating its use in traditional folk medicines and other products; and hence supporting the development in the analgesic properties of bioactive natural substances.
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Acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid (AKBA) is one of the triterpenes in the gum resin of the Boswellia serrata and Boswellia carterii,also known as Salai guggal or Indian frankincense.There has been growing interst in anti-tumor activity of AKBA.This review will summarize the latest advances of AKBA on anti-tumor activity for the better understanding of this compound and its further applications.
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OBJECTIVE:To prepare powder of promoting blood circulation to arrest pain and to establish its quality con?trol method.METHODS:Qualitative identification of panax pseudo-ginseng,frankincense and dragon blood in the powder of promoting blood circulation to arrest pain was performed by TLC method.The content of dracorhodin in the dragon blood was determined by TLC Scanning Method.RESULTS:Good linear relationship was achieved when the sample size of dracorhodin perchlorate remained within the scope of0.6?g～3.2?g(r=0.9999).The average recovery rate was98.22%(RSD=1.53%).CONCLUSION:This preparation method is feasible,and the quality control method is simple,accurate and reproducible.