The genus Commiphora: a review of its traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology

Liver diseases are a major worldwide health problem, with high endemicity in developing countries. They are mainly caused by chemicals and some drugs when taken in very high doses. Despite advances in modern medicine, there is no effective drug available that stimulates liver function, offer protection to the liver from damage or help to regenerate hepatic cells. There is urgent need, therefore, for effective drugs to replace/supplement those in current use. The plant kingdom is undoubtedly valuable as a source of new medicinal agents. The present work constitutes a review of the literature on plant extracts and chemically defined molecules of natural origin with hepatoprotective activity. The review shows 107 plants, their families, geographical distribution, plant parts utilized, type of assay and inducer of liver damage. It also includes 58 compounds isolated from higher plants, classified into appropriate chemical groups. This work intends to aid researchers in the study of natural products useful in the treatment of liver diseases.

	 

	Key words: Liver, liver disease, hepatoprotective activity, natural products.

A review of natural products with hepatoprotective activity

Cytotoxicity of some Cameroonian spices and selected medicinal plant extracts.

Identification of active principles and their molecular targets from traditional medicine is an enormous opportunity for modern drug development. Gum resin from Commiphora wightii (syn C. mukul) has been used for centuries in Ayurveda to treat internal tumors, obesity, liver disorders, malignant sores and ulcers, urinary complaints, intestinal worms, leucoderma (vitiligo), sinuses, edema and sudden paralytic seizures. Guggulsterone has been identified as one of the major active components of this gum resin. This steroid has been shown to bind to the farnesoid X receptor and modulate expression of proteins with antiapoptotic (IAP1, XIAP, Bfl-1/A1, Bcl-2, cFLIP, survivin), cell survival, cell proliferation (cyclin D1, c-Myc), angiogenic, and metastatic (MMP-9, COX-2, VEGF) activities in tumor cells. Guggulsterone mediates gene expression through regulation of various transcription factors, including NF-kappaB, STAT-3 and C/EBPalpha, and various steroid receptors such as androgen receptor and glucocorticoid receptors. Modulation of gene expression by guggulsterone leads to inhibition of cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis, suppression of invasion and abrogation of angiogenesis. Evidence has been presented to suggest that guggulsterone can suppress tumor initiation, promotion and metastasis. This review describes the identification of molecular targets of guggulsterone, cellular responses to guggulsterone, and animal studies and clinical trials of guggulsterone in cancer and other diseases.

The guggul for chronic diseases: ancient medicine, modern targets.

The Mediterranean diet is considered one of the healthiest diets in the world This is often attributed to low saturated fat consumption, moderate wine consumption, and high vegetable consumption However, herbs and spices associated with these diets may also play an important role in the quality of this diet This review summarizes the most recent research regarding the anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperlipidemic and anti-hypertensive properties of this collection of culinary species Additionally, this review briefly summarizes studies performed on lesser known herbs from around the world, with the goal of identifying new culinary species that may be useful in the treatment or prevention of diseases

The Health Benefits of Selected Culinary Herbs and Spices Found in the Traditional Mediterranean Diet

The hepatoprotective activity of an ethanolic extract of Commiphora opobalsamum (Balessan) was investigated in rats by inducing hepatotoxicity with carbon tetrachloride:liquid paraffin (1:1). This extract has been shown to possess significant protective effect by lowering serum transaminase levels (serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase and serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase), alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin. Pretreatment with an extract of Balessan prevented the prolongation of the barbiturate sleeping time associated with carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage in mice. On the other hand, CCI 4 -induced low-level non protein sulfhydryl concentration in the liver was replenished by the Balessan extract. These data suggest that the plant C. opobalsamum may act as an antioxidant agent and may have a hepatoprotective effect.

Hepatoprotective properties of Commiphora opobalsamum ("Balessan"), a traditional medicinal plant of Saudi Arabia.

Objective : To study the anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective properties of an ethanolic extract of Parsley ' Petroselinum crispum ' leaves. Materials and methods : An ethanolic extract of Parsley was subjected for evaluation of anti-inflammatory and anti-hepatotoxic activities against inflammation induced by carrageenan and cotton pellet granuloma and hepatic damage induced by carbon tetrachloride, respectively in rats. Apart from enzymes, non-protein sulfhydryl (NP-SH) groups were also estimated in liver. Histopathological test on liver was carried out and phenobarbitone-induced sleeping time in mice was also measured in different groups. Results : The phytochemical screening of the extract revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, sterols and or triterpenes. The extract exhibited significant protection against carrageenan-induced inflammation, cotton pellet-induced granuloma and CCl 4 -induced hepatic damage. Conclusion : Petroselinum crispum exhibited significant anti-inflammatory and anti-hepatotoxic activities which merits further detailed investigations.

K. H. El-Tahir

Papers

Hepatoprotective properties of Commiphora opobalsamum ("Balessan"), a traditional medicinal plant of Saudi Arabia.

Preliminary Evaluation of the Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Hepatotoxic Activities of 'Parsley' Petroselinum crispum in Rats