Volume 27, Issue 4 (December 2023)                   Physiol Pharmacol 2023, 27(4): 435-444 | Back to browse issues page

XML Print

Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
Kavousi A, Nikkhah E, Tayarani-Najaran Z, Javadi B. Wound Healing Effects of Frankincense and Myrrha on Adult Human Dermal Fibroblasts (HDFa). Physiol Pharmacol 2023; 27 (4) : 9
URL: http://ppj.phypha.ir/article-1-1905-en.html
Wound Healing Effects of Frankincense and Myrrha on Adult Human Dermal Fibroblasts (HDFa)
Atefeh Kavousi , Elham Nikkhah , Zahra Tayarani-Najaran , Behjat Javadi
Abstract:   (1894 Views)

Introduction: Oleogum resins extracted from Boswellia sacra (Frankincense) and Commiphora myrrha (Myrrha) have been traditionally used to facilitate wound healing and address skin injuries. Moreover, they have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial effects. Therefore, we hypothesized that their combination can be effective in wound healing. In this study, we evaluated the effects of methanol extracts from two oleogum resins, Boswellia sacra (Frankincense) and Commiphora myrrha (Myrrha), as well as their combination on cell migration promotion and wound healing in human dermal fibroblast cells (HDFa).
Methods: The methanol extracts of B. sacra (BS) and C. myrrha (CM) and their combination were tested to determine their optimum cytoprotective concentrations using the AlamarBlue assay. The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was also evaluated using a DCFDA detector. To assess cell migration promotion and wound healing properties of the extracts, a scratch wound closure assay was performed in HDFa cells and the images were analyzed using ImageJ software. Western blot analysis was employed to detect the activation of fibroblast migration associated protein extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK).
Results: Using the viability assay, the optimum non-cytotoxic concentrations of the extracts (10 and 20 µg/ml) were chosen to evaluate their wound healing effects on HDFa cells. BS, CM and BC at 10 and 20 µg/ml significantly reduced H2 O2 -induced ROS levels compared to the control. In the scratch assay, BS and BC, both at 10 µg/ml, could significantly reduce the average wound width compared to the control. Western blot analysis showed that CM significantly increased the pERK/ERK ratio compared to the control.
Conclusion: These findings suggest the beneficial effects of both frankincense and myrrh, as well as their combination, in improving proliferation, migration, and thecwound healing process in HDFa.

Article number: 9
Keywords: Frankincense, Myrrh, Wound Healing, Persian Medicine, Western blotting
Full-Text [PDF 1052 kb]   (465 Downloads)    
Type of Manuscript: Experimental research article | Subject: Others
References
1. Almeida-da-Silva CLC, Sivakumar N, Asadi H, et al. Effects of Frankincense Compounds on Infection, Inflammation, and Oral Health. Molecules 2022; 27: 4174. [DOI:10.3390/molecules27134174]
2. Alvarez-Suarez JM, Giampieri F, Cordero M, et al. Activation of AMPK/Nrf2 signalling by Manuka honey protects human dermal fibroblasts against oxidative damage by improving antioxidant response and mitochondrial function promoting wound healing. J Funct Foods 2016; 25: 38-49. [DOI:10.1016/j.jff.2016.05.008]
3. Basil D, Kadhim H, Jasim G and Latif Q. Antibacterial activity of commiphora molmol extracts on some bacterial species in iraq. SAJP 2016: 406-12.
4. Budovsky A, Yarmolinsky L and Ben-Shabat S. Effect of medicinal plants on wound healing. Wound Repair Regen 2015; 23: 171-183. [DOI:10.1111/wrr.12274]
5. Cañedo-Dorantes L and Cañedo-Ayala M. Skin acute wound healing: a comprehensive review. Int J Inflam 2019; 2019. [DOI:10.1155/2019/3706315]
6. Crow D. Frankincense and Myrrh: The botany, culture, and therapeutic uses of the world’s two most important resins.
7. Di Stefano V, Schillaci D, Cusimano MG, Rishan M and Rashan L. In vitro antimicrobial activity of frankincense oils from Boswellia sacra grown in different locations of the Dhofar region (Oman). Antibiotics 2020; 9: 195. [DOI:10.3390/antibiotics9040195]
8. Fahimi S, Hajimehdipoor H, Abdollahi M and Mortazavi SA. Burn healing plants in Iranian traditional medicine. Res j pharmacogn 2015; 2: 53-68.
9. Faraji A, Aghdaki M, Hessami K, et al. Episiotomy wound healing by Commiphora myrrha (Nees) Engl. and Boswellia carteri Birdw. in primiparous women: a randomized controlled trial. J Ethnopharmacol 2021; 264: 113396. [DOI:10.1016/j.jep.2020.113396]
10. Fraternale D, Sosa S, Ricci D, et al. Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antifungal furanosesquiterpenoids isolated from commiphora erythraea (Ehrenb.) Engl resin Fitoterapia 2011; 82: 654-61. [DOI:10.1016/j.fitote.2011.02.002]
11. Fujiwara T, Kanazawa S, Ichibori R, et al. L-arginine stimulates fibroblast proliferation through the GPRC6A-ERK1/2 and PI3K/Akt pathway. PLOS ONE 2014; 9: e92168. [DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0092168]
12. Gottrup F, Ågren MS and Karlsmark T. Models for use in wound healing research: A survey focusing on in vitro and in vivo adult soft tissue. Wound Repair Regen 2000; 8: 83-96. [DOI:10.1046/j.1524-475x.2000.00083.x]
13. Guo B, Dong R, Liang Y and Li M. Haemostatic materials for wound healing applications. Nature Reviews Chemistry 2021; 5: 773-791. [DOI:10.1038/s41570-021-00323-z]
14. Hamidpour R, Hamidpour S, Hamidpour M and Shahlari M. Frankincense ( rǔ xiāng; boswellia species): from the selection of traditional applications to the novel phytotherapy for the prevention and treatment of serious diseases. J Tradit Complement Med 2013; 3: 221-226. [DOI:10.4103/2225-4110.119723]
15. Han X, Rodriguez D and Parker TL. Biological activities of frankincense essential oil in human dermal fibroblasts. Biochimie open 2017; 4: 31-35. [DOI:10.1016/j.biopen.2017.01.003]
16. Hasson S, Al-Balushi M, Sallam T, et al. In vitro antibacterial activity of three medicinal plants-Boswellia (Luban) species. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed 2011; 1: S178-S182. [DOI:10.1016/S2221-1691(11)60151-2]
17. Ho T-J, Jiang S-J, Lin G-H, et al. The in vitro and in vivo wound healing properties of the chinese herbal medicine «Jinchuang Ointment». Evid Based Complement Altern Med 2016; 2016: 1654056. [DOI:10.1155/2016/1654056]
18. Jahandideh M, Hajimehdipoor H, Mortazavi SA, Dehpour A and Hassanzadeh G. Evaluation of the wound healing activity of a traditional compound herbal product using rat excision wound model. Iran J Pharm Res 2017; 16: 153.
19. Jonkman JEN, Cathcart JA, Xu F, et al. An introduction to the wound healing assay using live-cell microscopy. Cell Adh Migr 2014; 8: 440-51. [DOI:10.4161/cam.36224]
20. Jorjani SE. (1976 ) Zakhireh Kharazmshahi (Treasure of Kharazmshahi)Saeedi Sirjani A.A., editor. Photo print of the manuscript dated 1206 A.D Tehran: The lranian Culture Foundation.vol3. 462.
21. Kokkiripati PK, Bhakshu LM, Marri S, et al. Gum resin of Boswellia serrata inhibited human monocytic (THP-1) cell activation and platelet aggregation. J Ethnopharmacol 2011; 137: 893-901. [DOI:10.1016/j.jep.2011.07.004]
22. Lee S, Kim MS, Jung S-J, et al. ERK activating peptide, AES16-2M promotes wound healing through accelerating migration of keratinocytes. Sci Rep 2018; 8: 1-10. [DOI:10.1038/s41598-018-32851-y]
23. Liang CC, Park AY and Guan JL. In vitro scratch assay: a convenient and inexpensive method for analysis of cell migration in vitro. Nat Protoc 2007; 2: 329-33. [DOI:10.1038/nprot.2007.30]
24. Maver T, Maver U, Stana Kleinschek K, Smrke DM and Kreft S. A review of herbal medicines in wound healing. Int J Dermatol 2015; 54: 740-751. [DOI:10.1111/ijd.12766]
25. Muniandy K, Gothai S, Tan WS, et al. In vitro wound healing potential of stem extract of alternanthera sessilis. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2018; 2018: 3142073. [DOI:10.1155/2018/3142073]
26. Pereira RF and Bartolo PJ. Traditional therapies for skin wound healing. Advances in wound care 2016; 5: 208-229. [DOI:10.1089/wound.2013.0506]
27. Prakash B, Mishra PK, Kedia A and Dubey N. Antifungal, antiaflatoxin and antioxidant potential of chemically characterized Boswellia carterii Birdw essential oil and its in vivo practical applicability in preservation of Piper nigrum L. fruits. Food Sci Technol 2014; 56: 240-247. [DOI:10.1016/j.lwt.2013.12.023]
28. Raeiszadeh M, Esmaeili-Tarzi M, Bahrampour-Juybari K, et al. Evaluation the effect of Myrtus communis L. extract on several underlying mechanisms involved in wound healing: An in vitro study. S Afr J Bot 2018; 118: 144-150. [DOI:10.1016/j.sajb.2018.07.006]
29. Ranzato E, Patrone M, Pedrazzi M and Burlando B. Hmgb1 promotes wound healing of 3T3 mouse fibroblasts via rage-dependent ERK1/2 activation. Cell Biochem Biophys 2010; 57: 9-17. [DOI:10.1007/s12013-010-9077-0]
30. Rashan L, White A, Haulet M, et al. Chemical composition, antibacterial activity, and antibiotic potentiation of boswellia sacra flueck. oleoresin extracts from the dhofar region of oman. Evid Based Complement Altern Med 2021; 2021. [DOI:10.1155/2021/9918935]
31. Shalaby M and Hammouda A. Analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antihyperlipidemic activities of commiphora molmol extract (Myrrh). J Intercult Ethnopharmacol 2014; 3: 1. [DOI:10.5455/jice.20131130022009]
32. Su S, Duan J, Chen T, et al. Frankincense and myrrh suppress inflammation via regulation of the metabolic profiling and the MAPK signaling pathway. Sci Rep 2015a; 5: 13668. [DOI:10.1038/srep13668]
33. Su S, Duan J, Chen T, et al. Frankincense and myrrh suppress inflammation via regulation of the metabolic profiling and the MAPK signaling pathway. Sci Rep 2015b; 5: 1-15. [DOI:10.1038/srep13668]
34. Su S, Hua Y, Wang Y, et al. Evaluation of the anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of individual and combined extracts from Commiphora myrrha, and Boswellia carterii. J Ethnopharmacol 2012; 139: 649-56. [DOI:10.1016/j.jep.2011.12.013]
35. Syarina PNA, Karthivashan G, Abas F, Arulselvan P and Fakurazi S. Wound healing potential of Spirulina platensis extracts on human dermal fibroblast cells. EXCLI journal 2015; 14: 385.
36. Vaziri M, Dehkordi AH and Ebrahimi N. The effects of Boswellia (Frankincense) gel and hydrocolloid dressing on healing of second-and third-degree pressure ulcers among hospitalized patients. J Herb Med 2021: 100461. [DOI:10.1016/j.hermed.2021.100461]
37. Yang S, Zhou B, Xu W, et al. Nrf2-and Bach1 may play a role in the modulation of ultraviolet A-induced oxidative stress by Acetyl-11-Keto-β-Boswellic acid in skin keratinocytes. Skin Pharmacol Physiol 2017; 30: 13-23. [DOI:10.1159/000452744]
Rights and permissions
Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.