Isolation and structure elucidation of several tri- and sesquiterpenes from Commiphora myrrha (Nees) Engl.

Commiphora myrrha (Nees) Engl. (Burseraceae) is a spinous tree that is endemic to Somalia, Kenia and Äthiopia. The plant is known to produce a gum resin, called myrrh, which is traditionally used for the treatment of a variety of diseases e.g. pain, arthritis and inflammations [1],[2],[3]. For a further evaluation of the antiphlogistic potential of myrrh, an ethanolic extract of the drug was subjected to a bioassay guided fractionation, using an ICAM-1 in vitro model. During the isolation process liquid-liquid-partition-, silica gel flash-, centrifugal partition- and preparative high-pressure-liquid-chromatography were used to gain a variety of pure compounds. The chemical investigation yielded several triterpenes of the cycloartane-type with diverse hydroxylation patterns in the A-ring, as well as sesquiterpenes and sesquiterpenlactones of the guajane-, eudesmane-, germacrane- and elemane-type. The structure elucidation was done by 1D and 2D spectroscopy and confirmed by MS experiments. Some of the substances were found for the first time in the entire genus of Commiphora and represent the next step to complement the chemical characterization of this plant product. These compounds might also show an important contribution to the anti-inflammatory effect of myrrh.

• References

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• 3 Shen T, Li GH, Wang XN, Lou HX. The genus Commiphora: a review of its traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology. J Ethnopharmacol 2012; 142 (02) : 319-30