€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****AGENTS AND ACTIONS***** Tariq M Ageel AM Al-Yahya MA Mossa JS Al-Said MS Parmar NS Anti-inflammatory activity of Commiphora molmol. In: Agents Actions (1986 Jan) 17(3-4):381-2 ISSN: 0065-4299 The petroleum ether extract of the oleo-gum resin of Commiphora molmol, at a dose of 500 mg/kg body weight, produced significant inhibition of carrageenan induced inflammation and cotton pellet granuloma. The extract also showed significant antipyretic activity in mice. Further studies on the fractionation of phytoconstituents and their mechanism of action are in progress. Registry Numbers: 9000-07-1 (Carrageenan) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CHINESE MEDICINE***** al-Harbi MM Qureshi S Ahmed MM Rafatullah S Shah AH Effect of Commiphora molmol (oleo-gum-resin) on the cytological and biochemical changes induced by cyclophosphamide in mice. In: Am J Chin Med (1994) 22(1):77-82 ISSN: 0192-415X The anticlastogenic and biochemical potentials of Commiphora molmol were studied in Swiss albino mice treated with cyclophosphamide (CP). The C.molmol treatment (125-500 mg/kg) showed no mutagenicity. It caused a highly significant and dose-dependent mitodepressant effect in the femoral cells and reduction of RNA levels in hepatic cells as compared with the control. CP treatment showed significant increase in the frequency of micronuclei, cytotoxicity and reduction in the contents of nucleic acids and proteins. Pretreatment with C. molmol could neither alter the biochemical and cytological effects of CP nor show any additive effect of both treatments. Registry Numbers: 50-18-0 (Cyclophosphamide) 63231-63-0 (RNA) 9007-49-2 (DNA) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****ARZNEIMITTEL-FORSCHUNG***** Sharma JN Sharma JN Comparison of the anti-inflammatory activity of Commiphora mukul (an indigenous drug) with those of phenylbutazone and ibuprofen in experimental arthritis induced by mycobacterial adjuvant. In: Arzneimittelforschung (1977 Jul) 27(7):1455-7 ISSN: 0004-4172 In the present investigation a method of induction of experimental arthritis in animals was modified to provide a better model replica of human arthritis. Inflammatory syndrome, resembling rheumatoid arthritis in man, was induced in the right hock joint of albino rabbits by intra-articular injection of the killed mycobacterial adjuvant in liquid paraffin. Development of this arthritic syndrome was studied from a period of five months with and without drugs. Anti- inflammatory agents such as phenylbutazone, ibuprofen and fraction "A" of gum-guggual from Commiphora mukkul were administered orally at a daily dose of 100, 100 and 500 mg/kg, respectively, for a period of five months. All three drugs decreased the thickness of the joint swelling during the course of drug treatment. These results indicate the beneficial role of phenylbutazone, ibuprofen and fraction "A" of gum-guggul in experimental arthritis. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****BIOCHEMISTRY AND EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY***** Dixit VP Joshi S Sinha R Bharvava SK Varma M Hypolipidemic activity of guggal resin (Commiphora mukul) and garlic (Alium sativum linn.) in dogs (Canis familiaris) and monkeys (Presbytis entellus entellus Dufresne). In: Biochem Exp Biol (1980) 16(4):421-4 1. The identification of cholesterol as a constituent in the genesis of coronary artery disease in man and experimental animals are well documented. 2. The hypolipidemic effects of Commiphora mukul (guggulu) and Alium sativum (Garlic powder) were screened in dog and Presbytis monkeys. 3. Progressive decrease in the mean values of cholesterol, triglycerides and phospholipids were conspicuous for forty eight hours following the administration of guggulu/garlic powder. 4. 25 mg/kg body weight garlic powder was more effective in lowering the serum cholesterol and triglycerides as compared with that of guggulu. 5. A comparative hypolipidemic action of the two compounds is discussed. Registry Numbers: 57-88-5 (Cholesterol) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****CARDIOVASCULAR DRUGS AND THERAPY***** Singh RB Niaz MA Ghosh S Hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects of Commiphora mukul as an adjunct to dietary therapy in patients with hypercholesterolemia. In: Cardiovasc Drugs Ther (1994 Aug) 8(4):659-64 ISSN: 0920-3206 The effects of the administration of 50 mg of guggulipid or placebo capsules twice daily for 24 weeks were compared as adjuncts to a fruit- and vegetable-enriched prudent diet in the management of 61 patients with hypercholesterolemia (31 in the guggulipid group and 30 in the placebo group) in a randomized, double-blind fashion. Guggulipid decreased the total cholesterol level by 11.7%, the low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) by 12.5%, triglycerides by 12.0%, and the total cholesterol/high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol ratio by 11.1% from the postdiet levels, whereas the levels were unchanged in the placebo group. The HDL cholesterol level showed no changes in the two groups. The lipid peroxides, indicating oxidative stress, declined 33.3% in the guggulipid group without any decrease in the placebo group. The compliance of patients was greater than 96%. The combined effect of diet and guggulipid at 36 weeks was as great as the reported lipid-lowering effect of modern drugs. After a washout period of another 12 weeks, changes in blood lipoproteins were reversed in the guggulipid group without such changes in the placebo group. Side effects of guggulipid were headache, mild nausea, eructation, and hiccup in a few patients. Registry Numbers: 57-88-5 (Cholesterol) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****CHEMOTHERAPY***** al-Harbi MM Qureshi S Raza M Ahmed MM Giangreco AB Shah AH Anticarcinogenic effect of Commiphora molmol on solid tumors induced by Ehrlich carcinoma cells in mice. In: Chemotherapy (1994 Sep-Oct) 40(5):337-47 ISSN: 0009-3157 The anticarcinogenic potential of Commiphora molmol (oleoresin) was studied in Ehrlich-solid-tumor-bearing mice. The antitumor activity of C. molmol was evaluated from the total count and viability of Ehrlich solid tumor cells and their nucleic acid, protein, malondialdehyde and glutathione levels at the end of 25 and 50 days of treatment. Furthermore, observations of animal survival rate and measurements of the tumor and body weight were made. The Ehrlich solid tumors were also evaluated for histopathological changes. Treatment with C. molmol (250 and 500 mg/kg/day) was found to be cytotoxic in Ehrlich solid tumors cells. The antitumor potential of C. molmol was comparable to the standard cytotoxic drug cyclophosphamide. This effect of C. molmol was less pronounced after 50 days of treatment. The present study confirmed the cytotoxic and anticarcinogenic potential of C. molmol. Further studies are warranted to explore its mode of action and safety for medicinal use in cancer therapy. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****CIBA FOUNDATION SYMPOSIUM***** Jain SK Ethnobotany and research on medicinal plants in India. In: Ciba Found Symp (1994) 185:153-64; discussion 164-8 ISSN: 0300-5208 Vast ethnobotanical knowledge exists in India from ancient time. Since the 1950s the study of ethnobotany has intensified; 10 books and 300 papers have been published. Our work over four decades, both in the field and literary studies, has resulted in a dictionary of Indian folk-medicine and ethnobotany that includes 2532 plants. India has about 45,000 plant species; medicinal properties have been assigned to several thousand. About 2000 figure frequently in the literature; indigenous systems commonly employ 500. Despite early (4500-1500 BC) origins and a long history of usage, in the last two centuries Ayurveda has received little official support and hence less attention from good medical practitioners and researchers. Much work is now being done on the botany, pharmacognosy, chemistry, pharmacology and biotechnology of herbal drugs. The value of ethnomedicine has been realized; work is being done on psychoactive plants, household remedies and plants sold by street drug vendors. Statistical methods are being used to assess the credibility of claims. Some recent work in drug development relates to species of Commiphora (used as a hypolipidaemic agent), Picrorhiza (which is hepatoprotective), Bacopa (used as a brain tonic), Curcuma (antiinflammatory) and Asclepias (cardiotonic). A scrutiny of folk claims found 203 plants for evaluation. Less well known ethnomedicines have been identified that are used to treat intestinal, joint, liver and skin diseases. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS***** Fourie TG Snyckers FO A pentacyclic triterpene with anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity from the roots of Commiphora merkeri. In: J Nat Prod (1989 Sep-Oct) 52(5):1129-31 ISSN: 0163-3864 A new pentacyclic triterpene [1] with anti-inflammatory activity was isolated from the roots of Commiphora merkeri. The structure was established on the basis of spectral data and conversion to its triacetate. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****JOURNAL OF POSTGRADUATE MEDICINE***** Lata S Saxena KK Bhasin V Saxena RS Kumar A Srivastava VK Beneficial effects of Allium sativum, Allium cepa and Commiphora mukul on experimental hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis--a comparative evaluation. In: J Postgrad Med (1991 Jul) 37(3):132-5 ISSN: 0022-3859 Oral administration of petroleum ether extract of Allium sativum, Allium cepa and ethylacetate extract of Commiphora mukul in albino rats significantly prevented rise in serum cholesterol and serum triglyceride level, caused by atherogenic diet. All the three agents were also found to confer significant protection against atherogenic diet induced atherosclerosis. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****PLANTA MEDICA***** Claeson P Andersson R Samuelsson G T-cadinol: a pharmacologically active constituent of scented myrrh: introductory pharmacological characterization and high field 1H- and 13C-NMR data. In: Planta Med (1991 Aug) 57(4):352-6 ISSN: 0032-0943 Fractionation of an ethyl acetate extract of scented myrrh (resin of Commiphora guidottii Chiov., Burseraceae), using the guinea pig ileum test to monitor pharmacological activity, resulted in isolation of the sesquiterpene (+)-T-cadinol. High field NMR spectroscopy yielded new detailed 1H- and 13C-NMR data for the compound. T-cadinol was shown to have a concentration-dependent smooth muscle relaxing effect on the isolated guinea pig ileum and a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on cholera toxin-induced intestinal hypersecretion in mice. Registry Numbers: 5937-11-1 (T-cadinol) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ Duwiejua M Zeitlin IJ Waterman PG Chapman J Mhango GJ Provan GJ Anti-inflammatory activity of resins from some species of the plant family Burseraceae. In: Planta Med (1993 Feb) 59(1):12-6 ISSN: 0032-0943 The anti-inflammatory activities of extracts from the resins of four species of the plant family Burseraceae, Boswellia dalzielli, Boswellia carteri (gum olibanum), Commiphora mukul, and Commiphora incisa, were studied. The aqueous extracts of the resins of B. dalzielli, C. incisa, and C. mukul significantly inhibited both the maximal edema response and the total edema response during 6 h of carrageenan-induced rat paw edema. The octanordammarane triterpenes, mansumbinone and mansumbinoic acid, isolated from the resin of C. incisa, were separated and tested. Administered prophylactically, mansumbinone proved to be more than 20 times less potent than indomethacin and prednisolone in inhibiting carrageenan-induced rat paw edema. However, the molar potency of mansumbinoic acid was within one order of magnitude of those of indomethacin and prednisolone. The anti-inflammatory action of the acid on the carrageenan-induced edema was dose-related between 1.3 x 10(-5) and 2.5 x 10(-4) mol kg-1 when given before the inflammatory stimulus. The acid was able to reverse an established carrageenan-induced inflammatory response when administered 2 h after induction. Daily administration of mansumbinoic acid at a single dose level (1.5 x 10(-4) mol kg-1) significantly reduced joint swelling in adjuvant arthritis in rats. The results indicated that this compound is worthy of further investigation as an anti-inflammatory drug. Registry Numbers: 102848-61-3 (mansumbinone) 102848-63-5 (mansumbinoic acid) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€