Basierend auf jahrzehntelanger Erfahrung wird Myrrhinil-Intest®, eine Kombination aus Myrrhepulver (Commiphora molmol E.), Kaffeekohlepulver (Coffea arabica L.) und Kamillenblütentrockenextrakt (Matricaria chamomilla L.), zur Therapie verschiedener gastrointestinaler Erkrankungen genutzt. Aufgrundlage zunehmender klinischer Evidenz wurde das traditionelle pflanzliche Arzneimittel 2018 in die S3-Leitlinie zur Behandlung von Colitis ulcerosa aufgenommen [1].
Myrrh is the oleo-gum resin of mainly Commiphora molmol and as a powdered substance, one compound in the traditional medicinal product Myrrhinil-Intest®, which has been used for the treatment of unspecific, inflammatory intestinal disorders. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antispasmodic effect of myrrh under healthy and inflamed conditions, and to evaluate a calcium-antagonistic effect as a possible mode of action. Therefore, an ethanolic myrrh extract was tested for its effects on muscle tone and acetylcholine-induced contractions in untreated and inflamed rat ileum/jejunum preparations. Inflammation was experimentally induced by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (10 mM, 30 min). Additionally, the effect of the calcium channel agonist Bay K8644 in the presence of varying myrrh extract concentrations was examined. Myrrh extract (0.99 mg/mL) suppressed the acetylcholine-induced contraction down to 25.8 % in untreated and 15.2 % in inflamed preparations. Myrrh extract (0.15; 0.25 and 0.35 mg/mL) induced a concentration-dependent rightward shift of the Bay K8644 concentration-response curve in untreated and inflamed preparations with a significant EC50 shift. Schild analysis resulted in a pA2 value of 0.93 for untreated preparations. Increasing myrrh extract concentrations induced a concentration-dependent decrease of the agonistic maximum effect in untreated and inflamed preparations down to 15.8 % and 25.8 %, respectively, for the highest concentration leading to a pD2 value of 0.58. Myrrh extract reduced intestinal muscle tone and acetylcholine-induced contraction of untreated and inflamed ileum/jejunum preparations based on dual calcium antagonism characterized by a right shift of the agonistic dose-response curve and a depression of the maximum effect. The resulting reduction of intestinal motility and spasmolytic effects provide a rationale for the symptom treatment of intestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome.
Flavonoide sind weit verbreitete Pflanzeninhaltsstoffe mit einer Vielzahl unterschiedlicher pharmakologischer Effekte. Sie wirken antioxidativ, antiinflammatorisch, antikarzinogen, immunstimulierend und vasodilatierend. In-vivo- und In-vitro-Studien bestätigten, dass die Flavonole Kämpferol und Quercetin durch die intestinale Mikroflora zu korrespondierenden Hydroxyphenylessigsäurederivaten metabolisiert werden. Es ist weiterhin bekannt, dass sie nach peroraler Gabe anxiolytische Wirkung im Elevated Plus Maze zeigen. Ziel dieser Studie war es, die Hypothese zu prüfen, dass Flavonoide Prodrugs sind, welche durch die mikrobielle Darmflora in ihre aktive Form umgewandelt werden müssen.
Entada africana Guill. et Perr, a plant of the Fabaceae family, has been reported to exhibit potential analgesic efficacy in the management of inflammatory-related conditions in traditional medicine in the Republic of Benin [1] [2]. However, there is still a lack of knowledge about the constituents of the plant's leaves. The objective of the present study was to assess the anti-inflammatory effect of a hydroalcoholic leaf extract of E. africana and its fractions and to identify its active compounds. Fractions were obtained by chromatography on Sephadex® LH-20 using a step gradient from ethanol, methanol/water, and methanol to acetone. Subsequently, fractions were screened for their phenolic profile using thin-layer chromatography and UHPLC-DAD. Then, in vitro anti-inflammatory assays were carried out with fractions FC3, FC4, FC7, FC8, and FC22 using a TNFα-stimulated human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT) as a skin inflammation model. FC7 and FC22 significantly decreased the release of IL8 with IC50 91.74 µg/ml and IC50 63.47 µg/ml, respectively. In addition, fractions FC3 (IC50 54.13 µg/mL), FC4 (IC50 87.55 µg/ml), and FC22 (IC50 72.91 µg/ml) had a significant influence on IL6 release. Out of these fractions, ten phenolic compounds were isolated by MPLC on RP-18 and preparative HPLC. Structures were elucidated by HRESI-MS and NMR. The results obtained, support the anti-inflammatory effect of E. africana and its application in traditional Beninese medicine. These compounds will then be analyzed for their in vitro activity to identify compounds responsible for the pharmacological effect.
There are approximately 7000 useful plants that could play a vital role in food security, health care and income improvement for the 1.2 billion people living in sub-Saharan Africa. PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa) is a unique project under which the available information on these useful African plants is collected, validated and made available in books and an interactive database. A systematic database search was performed in the Prota database to analyze the indigenous knowledge about herbs in Benin. The Boolean operators were utilized to link the search-terms and the entry field 'countries' was used to limit the search geographically. The results where then evaluated referring to species and families. 724 plant species were listed for medicinal usage in Benin. The dominant plant families were: Fabacaceae (138), Euphorbiaceae (114), Rubiaceae (66), Combretaceae (70) and Asteraceae (70). Species found most often were: Acacia (15), Ficus (14), Euphorbia (9) and Crotalaria (9). An analysis of diseases mainly treated with the plants indexed in the database was difficult and did not lead to clear results because many plants are used for various indications and in some cases the indication is unclear. Especially in Benin there was developed list of medicinal plants for the treatment of malaria including instruction for application. An herbal pharmacopeia providing an official list of medicinal plants for other indications is still lacking. Only few Beninese plants applied as herbs have been studied in in vitro experiments or in clinical trials. The use is based on traditional experiences. Further research referring to safety and efficacy as well as the identification of the active components within the herbs is necessary.
The herbal medicinal product Myrrhinil-Intest®, a combination of myrrh, chamomile flower extract and coffee charcoal is used for the treatment of gastrointestinal complaints. Clinical data suggest its use for the maintenance therapy of inflammatory bowel disease [1]. In vitro studies revealed, that chemokine signaling of human macrophages is influenced by the plant extracts as part of an anti-inflammatory strategy. However, the occurrence of synergistic effects remains unexplored.
The traditional herbal medicinal product Myrrhinil-Intest®, a combination of myrrh, chamomile flower and coffee charcoal is used for the relief of gastrointestinal complaints. Clinical studies suggest its use in the maintenance therapy of inflammatory bowel disease [1]. However, the pharmacological mechanisms underlying the clinical effects are not yet fully understood. The present study aims to elucidate immunopharmacological activities of myrrh, chamomile flower and coffee charcoal by studying their influence on gene expression and protein release of activated human macrophages. The effect of ethanolic myrrh (MY), chamomile flower (KA) and coffee charcoal extract (CC) on gene and protein expression of activated human monocyte-derived macrophages was investigated by microarray gene expression analysis and assessment of the release of pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators (TNFα, chemokine CXCL13 and IL10) using an ELISA test system.
Myrrh tree (mainly Commiphora molmol Engl., Burseraceae), originating from Eastern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula belongs to the oldest known plants used for medical and cultural applications. Known for its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, its air-dried resinous gum was applied for medical purposes since ancient times.
Entada africana, a West African plant of the Fabaceae family, has been widely used in ethnomedicine for treating various conditions like malaria, hepatitis, wound healing, arthritis, rheumatism and gastrointestinal and respiratory disorders [1]. Additionally to its numerous properties, a potential analgesic effect has been observed with five other plants, in a gel formulation for the treatment of pain-related diseases based on a traditional recipe from the northern region of Benin [2]. Despite its high relevance, information on the active compounds responsible for its various activities is still limited. This study aimed to document the knowledge of the local traditional healers on medicinal plants like E. africana used for the treatment of bone fractures and their usage in the regions of Atakora and Donga in Benin using a validated survey and to elucidate the phenolic components of its leaf extract by HPLC-DAD and LC-ESI-MS. The ethnomedicinal study led to the record of 34 species belonging to 23 families, used for the treatment of fractures and sprains. Among them is E. africana traditionally called „Wondorou” in the ethnic group „Bariba”. The leaves of E. africana are used as an infusion for the process of massage, while the powdered bark of the roots is used in the wound of the fracture during the treatment. Both parts can be used fresh or dried. The phytochemical investigation of leaves extracts resulted in the isolation and structure elucidation of three known phenolic compounds, identified as gallic acid, namely 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid, naringenin and isoquercetin known as quercetin-3-O-glucoside additionally to naringenin-7-O- glucoside previously identified. E. africana represents a relevant plant, which needs to be thoroughly investigated considering its rich phenolic profile. Further studies need to be performed for testing its active compounds for their anti-inflammatory activity to confirm its ethnomedicinal use in the traditional medicine of Benin.
Medicinal plants are frequently used in African countries due to their importance in the treatment of various conditions. In the northern Republic of Benin, traditional healers are recognized as specialists in the treatment of fractures, wounds, and sprains. The present study was conducted to document the practices (diagnosis and materials) and traditional knowledge accumulated by healers in this region on their area of specialty. In addition, literature-based research was performed to support the usage of the most cited plants. Sixty traditional healers identified as “reference persons” from Atakora and Donga departments in the northern Republic of Benin, who specialized in the treatment of fractures, wounds, and sprains, were interviewed in their communities through a semi-structured questionnaire. Information about the practice, age of the healers, medicinal plants used in this treatment, methods of preparation, and administration were collected. Samples of the plant species were also collected, identified, and stored in the national herbarium at the University of Abomey-Calavi, the Republic of Benin. The study enabled the identification of thirty-four (34) species belonging to twenty-three (23) families. Ochna rhizomatosa and Ochna schweinfurthiana (21%) were the most quoted plants among the species, followed by Chasmanthera dependens (12.1%), Piliostigma thonningii (11.3%), and Combretum sericeum (8.1%). These plants were reported to strengthen bones, reduce inflammation, relieve pain, and promote healing in the northern part of the Republic of Benin. Besides their ability to treat fractures, wounds, and sprains, they are also used for multiple purposes in the West African subregions. According to the available literature, some of the plants will need to be investigated for their phytoconstituents and pharmacological activity to validate their ethnobotanical uses. These results confirm the need for documenting traditional knowledge since it represents an opportunity for exploring plant species with potentially good pharmacological effects, which have been barely investigated. Plants identified may constitute a significant source of bioactive compounds in the treatment of various ailments such as skin inflammation and musculoskeletal disorders. They can be further explored to justify their use in traditional Beninese medicine.
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