A Pilot Study on Bioactive Constituents and Analgesic Effects of MyrLiq®, a Commiphora myrrha Extract with a High Furanodiene Content

Abstract

The analgesic properties of myrrh (Commiphora myrrha) have been known since ancient times and depend on the presence of bioactive sesquiterpenes with furanodiene skeletons. MyrLiq is a C. myrrha extract with a standardized content of curzerene, furanoeudesma-1,3-diene, and lindestrene (12.31 ± 0.05 g kg^-1, 18.84 ± 0.02 g kg^-1, and 6.23 ± 0.01 g kg^-1, resp.) and a high total furanodiene content (40.86 ± 0.78 g kg^-1). A balanced sample of 95 female and 89 male volunteers (with ages ranging from 18 to older than 60 years) exhibiting different pain pathologies, including headache, fever-dependent pain, joint pain, muscle aches, lower back pain, and menstrual cramps, was divided into two groups. The experimental group received 1 capsule/day containing either 200 mg or 400 mg of MyrLiq (corresponding to 8 mg and 16 mg of bioactive furanodienes, resp.) for 20 days, and the placebo group was given the same number of capsules with no MyrLiq. A score was recorded for all volunteers based on their previous experience with prescribed analgesics. For the male volunteers, pain alleviation was obtained with 400 mg of MyrLiq/day for almost all pathologies, whereas, for female volunteers, alleviation of lower back pain and fever-dependent pain was observed with only 200 mg of MyrLiq/day. These results indicate that MyrLiq has significant analgesic properties.

Figure 1

Effects of MyrLiq on headache reduction in male and female volunteers. (a) shows the effects of the treatments and placebo on the different age groups independent of the MyrLiq concentration. (b) shows the effects of the two concentrations of MyrLiq (200 and 400 mg) with respect to the placebo (P) independent of age.

Figure 2

Effects of MyrLiq on fever-dependent pain reduction in male and female volunteers. (a) shows the effects of the treatments and placebo on different age groups independent of the MyrLiq concentration. Outliers are reported as open circles and far outliers (extreme values) as asterisks. (b) shows the effects of the two MyrLiq concentrations (200 and 400 mg) compared with the placebo (P) independent of age.

Figure 3

Effects of MyrLiq on joint pain reduction in male and female volunteers. (a) shows the effects of the treatments and placebo on different age groups independent of the MyrLiq concentration. Outliers are reported as open circles and far outliers (extreme values) as asterisks. (b) shows the effects of the two MyrLiq concentrations (200 and 400 mg) with respect to the placebo (P) independent of age.

Figure 4

Effects of MyrLiq on the reduction of muscle aches in male and female volunteers. (a) shows the effects of the treatments and placebo on different age groups independent of the MyrLiq concentration. Outliers are reported as open circles and far outliers (extreme values) as asterisks. (b) shows the effects of the two MyrLiq concentrations (200 and 400 mg) with respect to the placebo (P) independent of age.

Figure 5

Effects of MyrLiq on lower back pain reduction in male and female volunteers. (a) shows the effects of the treatments and placebo on different age groups independent of the MyrLiq concentration. (b) shows the effects of the two MyrLiq doses (200 and 400 mg) with respect to the placebo (P) independent of age.

Figure 6

Effects of MyrLiq on the reduction of menstrual cramps in female volunteers. (a) shows the effects of the treatments and placebo on different age groups independent of the MyrLiq concentration. (b) shows the effects of the two MyrLiq concentrations (200 and 400 mg) with respect to the placebo (P) independent of age.

Figure 7

Cluster analysis of the analgesic responses of male volunteers after the administration of placebo, 200 mg of MyrLiq, and 400 mg of MyrLiq. The cluster analysis was performed using the single-linkage method, and the Euclidean distances are indicated. PL = placebo.

Figure 8

Cluster analysis of the analgesic responses of female volunteers after the administration of placebo, 200 mg of MyrLiq, and 400 mg of MyrLiq. Cluster analysis was performed using the single-linkage method, and the Euclidean distances are indicated. PL = placebo.