Frankincense and myrrh reduce inflammation

Resins can help with diseases like multiple sclerosis or cancer

16/12/2014

According to tradition, among the three holy kings, frankincense was one of the gifts they brought to Bethlehem, along with myrrh and gold for the newborn baby Jesus. Since ancient times, the aromatic fragrance of incense resin has been part of many religious ceremonies and lends a special expression to many festivals in the church today. But that's not all, because as studies repeatedly show, frankincense can also bring great benefits in medicine: „The resin obtained from the stem of the frankincense tree contains anti-inflammatory substances, "said Prof. Dr. Oliver Werz of the Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, saying frankincense is of interest as a" remedy for, among other things, the treatment of diseases such as asthma, rheumatoid arthritis or atopic dermatitis ".

Proven in Ayurvedic medicine for millennia
At the word „incense“ many people think of the Magi, for whom the air-dried gum resin from the frankincense tree is as valuable as gold and therefore as „gift“ was just good enough for the baby Jesus. However, incense does not seem to have lost its value today; rather, research has repeatedly come to the conclusion that the resin has great potential to act as a natural remedy. In India's Ayurvedic medicine, on the other hand, the tree resin has been an integral part for millennia, being used in the treatment of wounds, ulcers and inflammatory diseases such as arthritis, gout or rheumatism.

Boswellic acids as anti-inflammatory agents in multiple sclerosis?
As recent studies show, frankincense may also be helpful in multiple sclerosis (MS), because the boswellic acids it contains act as a natural anti-inflammatory, but have far fewer side effects than synthetic drugs. MS is a hitherto incurable chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system, which attacks the medullary sheaths of the nerve fibers. As a result, a variety of symptoms occur, often including sensory and visual disturbances, muscle paralysis, chronic fatigue („fatigue“) or dizziness. MS is the most prevalent among inflammatory diseases of the nervous system, and is the second most common neurological disease after epilepsy. Accordingly, according to the German Multiple Sclerosis Society, Federal Association e.V. (DMSG) worldwide affects about 2.5 million people, alone in this country live about 130,000 MS patients.

SABA study examines influence of frankincense in MS
The neurologist Dr. med. Klarissa Hanja Stürner from the Hamburg University Hospital Eppendorf (UKE) as part of the so-called „SABA study“. As the „world“ There were 37 patients with relapsing-remitting MS receiving extract of frankincense resin over a period of eight months instead of cortisone or interferon. Apparently with great success, because the number of nerve damage has gone down by just under 60% in the previously evaluated 25 persons, also dropped the annual rate of new relapses from 0.94 to 0.32. The patients had the anti-inflammatory therapy in capsule form, according to Dr. Stürner „very good so far“ according to the UKE. Accordingly, would „Many of them [.] continue the treatment at their own request beyond the study period“ want.

Chinese researchers find 99 chemically defined substances in frankincense oil
„Frankincense and myrrh both have a variety of bioactive ingredients, with the health effects, the medicine is busy until our days, "said the allergist Peter Schnabel to the „world“. „Only recently, Chinese scientists found 99 chemically defined substances in a recent analysis of frankincense oils. Among them were also several substances in which an anti-cancer activity is suspected. "Researchers at the University of Leicester also showed for the first time in a study, the positive effect of incense in ovarian cancer, they used the ingredient AKBA (acetyl-11-keto-ß-boswellic acid) from the resin of the frankincense tree.

Ingredient AKBA effective in ovarian cancer
„We have shown that this ingredient of frankincense effectively kills ovarian cancer cells“, said Dr. Mark Evans from Leicester University. „Most surprisingly, the cells we tested and that were resistant to chemotherapy were more sensitive to this ingredient, suggesting that frankincense is indeed able to overcome drug resistance and improve survival in patients a late stage of ovarian cancer. "

Jena pharmacist investigates the mechanism of action of frankincense
However, natural resins could not only help with cancer, but studies could also have shown a positive effect on beichronic inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease, bronchial asthma and psoriasis. But how does this positive effect come about? Professor Oliver Werz from the University of Jena, who together with partners of the University of Saarbrücken and a start-up company investigated the mechanism of action of the incense, also addressed this question. Through their study, the researchers were able to show exactly where the boswellic acids intervene in the inflammatory process: „Boswellic acids interact with various proteins involved in inflammatory reactions. In particular, however, with an enzyme that is responsible for the synthesis of prostaglandin E2, "says the Jena pharmacist in a press release from Friedrich Schiller University. Prostaglandin E2 is one of the mediators of the immune response and therefore plays a central role in inflammatory processes, the development of fever and pain: „Boswellic acids inhibit this enzyme very potent and thus reduce the inflammatory response, "explains Professor Oliver Werz.

Boswellia serrata the best known species
Prof. Werz and his team came to further findings through their study, after they had compared the resin of various types of frankincense and analyzed in terms of anti-inflammatory effect. Thus, there are more than ten different types of frankincense in the world, with the North and Central India „Boswellia serrata“ the best known is. „However, as we have now seen, Boswellia papyrifera resin is more effective by a factor of ten, "said Prof. Werz, a species found primarily in northeastern Africa (Ethiopia, Somalia) and the Arabian Peninsula (Yemen, Oman).

Trees threatened with extinction
But whether frankincense could establish itself as a drug in the future depend, according to the experts of various factors. On the one hand, the clinical review is still out, moreover, the boswellic acids would occur exclusively in the resin of the frankincense tree and could therefore be difficult to produce synthetically. That would be the trees „the only resource for the promising drug“ - but which are threatened with extinction, so the message from the university on. „Without sustainable protection, not only are plant species threatened with extinction, but also promising active substances are lost to medicine, "emphasizes Prof. Werz. (Nr)

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