COMMIPHORA MYRRHA LINN (MURR MAKKI) A MULTIFACETED MEDICINAL PLANT IN UNANI SYSTEM OF MEDICINE: A REVIEW OF PHARMACOLOGICAL STUDIES
Rehana Khatoon* and Prof. Ismath Shameem
ABSTRACT
In spite of great advances of modern scientific medicine, traditional medicine is still the primary form of treating diseases by majority of people in developing countries. In traditional oriental medicine, Commiphora myrrha Linn and its resinous exudate (myrrh) are used as herbal remedy to treat various disorders. It is a yellow fragrant oleo-gum resin, found mainly in dry tropic of Africa and Arabia. Traditional practices and textbooks advocate that it possess many properties, even innumerable phytochemical studies supported the text, and conclude that these characteristics are directly attributable to terpenoids (especially furano- sesquiterpenes) the active compound present in myrrh essential oil, steroids, flavonoids, lignans, carbohydrates, and alcohol derivatives that makes it a potent herbal medicine. Unani physicians used this wonderful drug in various ailments as a single drug and in combination with other herbs in the form of decoction, syrup, paste, powder both orally as well as locally. Several in-vitro and in-vivo studies had conducted and they revealed that murr is an emmenogogue, anti-hyperlipidemic, hepatoprotective, anti-dysmenorrhoic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antimicrobial, antifungal, antiulcer, anticancer, hypoglycemic drug. Few clinical trials were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of this drug in different disorders such as incomplete abortion, early wound healing after tooth extraction but still there is a need of further more human trials on large groups of patients to assess the efficacy and safety of this drug.
Keywords: Murr makki, Commiphora myrrha, Unani medicine, phytochemical and scientific studies.
[Full Text Article]
[Download Certificate]
Impact Factor : 8.181 
