Minor Components with Smooth Muscle Relaxing Properties from Scented Myrrh (Commiphora guidotti)

Abstract

All sesquiterpenes present in a sample of scented myrrh were isolated and characterised. Seven compounds, with cadinane, guaiane, oplopane, and eudesmane skeletons, were obtained, of which two are new and two are reported from a natural source for the first time. The major component, T-cadinol, has previously been shown to possess smooth muscle-relaxing properties, and the major purpose of the investigation was to compare the effects of the minor and more polar sesquiterpenes with that of T-cadinol in the rat aorta. Like T-cadinol, the minor sesquiterpenes are more efficient in reducing K⁺-induced contractions than those induced by the α-adrenoceptor agonist phenylephrine, however, they were all less potent than T-cadinol.

key words

Scented myrrh - Commiphora guidotti - Burseraceae - sesquiterpenes - T-cadinol - smooth muscle relaxant