Clinical Effects of Commiphora Myrrha in Oral and Dental Medicine, A Mini Review

Abstract

The United States Department of Agriculture USDA recognizes Commiphora myrrha, named myrrh, African myrrh, herbal myrrh, Somali myrrh, or gum myrrh as a tree in the Burseraceous family [1]. It is one of the primary trees used in the production of myrrh, a resin made from dried tree sap. According to the world agroforestry center, the tree exists in the middle east (Oman, Yemen) and in some African countries (Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, Northeast Kenya). In Arabic, it is named ‘mur’, which means bitter. It is the gum of the myrrh tree. Its oil is called oleoresin. It famously comes from Mecca, so it is called ‘Mur Makki’ [2]. According to Tonkal, Morsy [3], the genus Commiphora is composed of more than 200 species, and intimidated as a natural drug to treat pain, skin infections, inflammatory conditions, diarrhea, and periodontal diseases [3]. Traditional practice and evidence-based research have supported that these characteristics are directly attributable to terpenoids (especially furanosesquiterpenes), the active compounds present in myrrh essential oil [4].