Isolation and Biological Activities of Neomyrrhaol and Other Terpenes from the Resin of Commiphora myrrha

Abstract

A new cycloartane-type triterpene named cycloartane-1α,2α,3β,25-tetraol (neomyrrhaol) (1), along with four known terpenes, sandaracopimaric acid (2), abietic acid (3), 2-methoxy-5-acetoxyfruranogermacr-1(10)-en-6-one (4), and dehydroabietic acid (5) have been isolated from the resin of Commiphora myrrha. Their structures were elucidated by means of 1D, 2 D NMR and HR-mass spectroscopy. Compounds 2 – 5 are known compounds but not previously isolated from the resin of C. myrrha. Compounds 4 and 5 exhibited significant aromatase inhibiting activity with IC₅₀ values at 0.2 μM and 0.3 μM, respectively. As shown in the MTT assay, 2, 3, 4, and 5 had inhibitory effects on HUVEC growth with IC₅₀ values of 0.122 μM (2), 0.125 μM (3), 0.069 μM (5). Compounds 1 – 5 did not inhibit contraction of the isolated uterine and did not protect HUVEC from damage induced by H₂O₂ at the tested concentration.

Key words

Commiphora myrrha - Burseraceae - resin - terpenes - aromatase inhibitory activity - effects on HUVEC growth

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