ingredients & products Nutrafoods (2017) 16:N47-57DOI 10.17470/NF-017-3003-2

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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