Post on 11-Jun-2018
ingredients & products Nutrafoods (2017) 16:N47-57DOI 10.17470/NF-017-3003-2
47www.ceceditore.com
MyrLiq®
From Commiphora myrrha, a natural painkiller with analgesic activity
Biosfered
A significant proportion of the world’s population experi-
ences pain, which causes reduced quality of life and is fre-
quently treated with analgesics. In addition to pain associat-
ed with particular illnesses or injury, hyperalgesia (increased
sensitivity to pain) and allodynia (pain felt following normal-
ly non-painful stimulation) are often reported [1]. There are
several types of pain: nociceptive, neurogenic, neuropathic
and psychogenic, which are associated with stimulation of
nociceptors, neuronal tissue damage, nerve dysfunction and
psychological factors, respectively. Nociception is a process
through which signals caused by harmful stimuli are trans-
mitted to the central nervous system (CNS). Nociceptors are
pain-sensitive neurons located in the skin, blood vessels,
muscles, joints and junctions. The correct use of analgesics
includes oral administration, regular treatment, pain-based
prescription, individually tailored doses, and constant moni-
toring of when and how to administer the medication.
In addition to synthetic drugs, various plant extracts are
known for their analgesic activity, including opium poppy
alkaloids (Papaver somniferum) and Indian cannabis can-
nabinoids (Cannabis sativa var. indica) [2]. In addition to
the monoterpenes of several essential oils [3], other classes
of terpenoids show analgesic action. Furanosesquiterpe-
nes with analgesic activity, such as furanoelemanes, fura-
noeudesmanes and furanogermacranes, are present in the
extracts of myrrh gum resins [4]. Myrrh is the exudate pro-
duced by the bark of plants belonging to the genus Commi-
phora (family Burseraceae), which includes more than 150
species predominantly originating in arid tropical and sub-
tropical regions [5]. The so-called ‘true myrrh’ is produced
by Commiphora myrrha (Nees) Engl. (Fig. 1), also known
as C. molmol Engl. or Balsamodendron myrrha Nees. This
plant has been used to treat wounds for millennia, with
medicinal uses dating back to biblical times [6]. The myrrh
furanodienes: furanoeudesma-1,3-diene, lindestrene and
curzerene, are mainly responsible for the aroma of myrrh
and its high analgesic activity [7] (Fig. 2).
MyrLiq® is a C. myrrha liquid and powder extract produced
by Biosfered (Turin, Italy) that possesses the highest content
of bioactive furanodienes available on the market. MyrLiq®
has been shown to exert a strong analgesic activity in a pilot
clinical study.
Composition and technical specification
MyrLiq® is produced by Biosfered using a proprietary and
patented method of extraction. It is characterized by a high
content of bioactive furanodienes (identified by GC-MS and
quantified by GC-FID). MyrLiq® is available both as a pow-
der extract (MyrLiq®-PWD) and a fluid extract (MyrLiq®-FL).
Figure 1 - Commiphora myrrha plant growing wild in North-West Africa and myrrh gum resin extracted by Biosfered for use in MyrLiq®
Figure 2 - The main furanodienes present in MyrLiq®
furanoeudesma-1,3-diene lindestrene curzerene
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Nutrafoods (2017) 16:N47-N57 ingredients & products
Efficacy
Preclinical studies and mechanism of action
Myrrh is a known analgesic which was used to clean
wounds and sores for more than 2,000 years until Europeans
discovered morphine. Ethanolic extracts of C.
myrrha exert analgesic effects though decreas-
ing the PGE2 level in formalin-induced pain
models [8]. Rats pre-treated with 10% sus-
pension of curzerene or furanoeudesma-1,3-
diene demonstrated increased licking latency
in a hot plate test. Furanoeudesma-1,3-diene
also reduced the number of writhes caused
by intraperitoneal administration of acetic
acid. The analgesic effects of curzerene and
furanoeudesma-1,3-diene were reversed by
naloxone, indicating this analgesic activity was
exerted through interaction with a brain opioid
mechanism [7]. The mechanisms of action re-
lated to multiple inflammation-related proteins
and signal pathways have been discussed, and
COX, NO formation, ROS, TNF-a, PGE2, NF-
kB and MAPK have been identified as potential
anti-inflammatory targets of myrrh extracts [6].
The analgesic properties of MyrLiq® have been
recently reported [9].
Clinical study
In a pilot study, 95 female and 89 male matched
volunteers (aged from 18 to over 60) exhibit-
ing different types of pain, including headache,
fever-dependent pain, joint pain, muscle aches,
lower back pain and menstrual cramps, were di-
vided into two groups. The experimental group
received one capsule/day containing either 200
mg or 400 mg of MyrLiq® (corresponding to 8 mg
or 16 mg of bioactive furanodienes, respectively)
for 20 days, while 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 an-
algesics. Pain alleviation in the male volunteers
was obtained with 400 mg of MyrLiq®/day for al-
most all pathologies, while in female volunteers,
alleviation of lower back pain and fever-depend-
ent pain was observed with only 200 mg of Myr-
Liq®/day. These results indicate that MyrLiq® has
significant analgesic properties [9].
Both products are standardized and titrated to provide 40 g
of bioactive furanodienes per kg of product.
MyrLiq® is stable at room temperature. The technical speci-
fications of MyrLiq®-PWD and MyrLiq®-FL are reported in
Table 1.
Table 1 - Technical specifications of MyrLiq®-PWD and MyrLiq®-FL
MyrLiq®-PWD MyrLiq®-FL
Organoleptic properties
Appearance Powder (≥60 mesh) Fluid
Colour Yellow powder Pale-yellow liquid
Physical and chemical properties
Extraction solvent Ethanol/water Water
Extraction ratio 3:1 2.5:1
Total furanodiene content (g/kg) ≥40 ≥40
Curzerene (%) ≥20 ≥20
Furanoeudesma-1,3-diene (%) ≥30 ≥30
Lindestrene (%) ≥8 ≥8
Other furanodienes (%) ≥5 ≥5
Loss on drying (%) ≤9 <
Tapped bulk density 525–565 kg/m3 Not applicable
Residual organic solvents
Ethanol ≤3% Absent
Methanol <10 ppm Absent
Heavy metals
Pb (ppm) <3 <3
Cd (ppm) <1 <1
Hg (ppm) <0.1 <0.1
As (ppm) <1 <1
Aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, G2) (ppb) <10 <10
Total aflatoxin B1 (ppb) <5 <5
Gluten (ppm) ≤20 ≤20
Pesticide residuesIn accordance with EC No. 396/2005 and subsequent amendments
Excipients
Rice (Oryza sativa L.) (%) Rice proteins <90 Rice oil 70–95
Auxiliary substances Absent Absent
Preservatives Absent Absent
Microbiological properties
Total aerobic microbial count (CFU/g) <5×104 <5×104
Total yeast microbial count (CFU/g) <100 <100
Salmonella Absent Absent
Enterobacteriaceae Absent Absent
Escherichia coli Absent Absent
Staphylococcus aureus Absent Absent
Storage In a cool, dry, ventilated area away from direct light
Shelf life 24 Months
Allergens Absent
Other specifications GMO-free, no nanomaterials, non-irradiat-ed, vegan-compliant
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ingredients & products Nutrafoods (2017) 16:N47-N57
49
4. Morteza-Semnani K, Saeedi M (2003) Constituents of the essential
oil of Commiphora myrrha (Nees) Engl. var. molmol. J Essent Oil Res
15:50–51
5. Langenheim JH (2003) Plant resins: chemistry, evolution, ecology
and ethnobotany. Portland, Cambridge: Timber Press
6. Shen T, Li GH, Wang XN et al (2012) The genus Commiphora: a
review of its traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology. J
Ethnopharmacol 142:319–330
7. Dolara P, Luceri C, Ghelardini C et al (1996) Analgesic effects of
myrrh. Nature 379:29
8. Su SL, Wang TJ, Duan JA et al (2011) Anti-inflammatory and analge-
sic activity of different extracts of Commiphora myrrha. J Ethnophar-
macol 134:251–258
9. Germano A, Occhipinti A, Barbero F et al (2017) A pilot study on
bioactive constituents and analgesic effects of MyrLiq®, a Commi-
phora myrrha extract with a high furanodiene content. BioMed Res
Int 2017:Article ID 3804356
Safety
MyrLiq® is produced using strict procedures, and the safety
of the product is ensured with advanced microbiological,
chemical and molecular detection systems.
Application and use
Careful authentication of the bioactive furanodienes by GC-
MS and quantification and standardization by GC-FID are
necessary for preparing effective doses for analgesia. Our
published findings indicate MyrLiq® is an attractive candi-
date for the development of novel natural preparations for
reducing pain, including headache, fever-dependent pain,
joint pain, muscle aches, lower back pain and menstrual
cramps.
The recommended dosage of MyrLiq® is 200–400 mg/dose,
depending on the type of pain. This dosage has been dem-
onstrated to be effective when administered once a day for
at least 20 days.
MyrLiq®-FL is the only alcohol-free liquid source of myrrh
extract available on the market and is particularly suitable
for all liquid applications, including softgels. Our technol-
ogy allows custom-made MyrLiq®-FL to be prepared con-
taining up to 500 g/kg furanodiene in any lipophilic solvent.
ReFeReNCeS
1. Clark JD (2008) The pitfalls of profoundly effective analgesic thera-
pies. Clin J Pain 24:825–831
2. Calixto JB, Beirith A, Ferreira J et al (2000) Naturally occurring an-
tinociceptive substances from plants. Phytother Res 14:401–418
3. Sarmento-Neto JF, do Nascimento LG, Felipe CFB et al (2015) Anal-
gesic potential of essential oils. Molecules 21(1):E20
Biosfered in a nutshellBiosfered S.r.l. is an academic spin-off of the University of Turin, set up in 2013 by teachers and researchers from the Plant Physiology Unit, Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Italy, and supported by the business skills of the Coopera-tiva Sociale Arcobaleno. The company produces liquid and powder extracts from plant matrices obtained through patented techniques and technologies based on green chemistry without the use of toxic solvents. The products are chemically characterized and titrated us-ing the most advanced analytical and mass spectrometric techniques (GC-MS, HPLC-ESI-MS/MS) and supplied to the pharmaceutical, nu-traceutical, food and cosmetic industries.
For informationMassimo E. Maffeim.maffei@biosfered.comwww.biosfered.com