Planta Med 2015; 81 - PW_01
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1565625

In vitro studies on the anti-inflammatory potential of chamomile, myrrh and coffee charcoal – components of a traditional herbal medicinal product (Myrrhinil-Intest®)

C Vissiennon 1, 3, KH Goos 2, O Goos 2, J Arnhold 1, K Nieber 3
  • 1University of Leipzig, Institute for Medical Physics and Biophysics, Leipzig, Germany
  • 2REPHA GmbH Biologische Arzneimittel, Langenhagen, Germany
  • 3University of Leipzig, Institute of Pharmacy, Leipzig, Germany

The herbal medicinal product Myrrhinil-Intest® consists of myrrh, chamomile flower dry extract and coffee charcoal. Clinical data prove the effectiveness of this herbal preparation for inflammatory intestinal disorders.

To further investigate the anti-inflammatory potential of the single components as part of a multi-target principle, an ethanolic (MY) and aqueous (MYA) myrrh extract, ethanolic chamomile flower extract (KA) and aqueous coffee charcoal extract (CC), were examined in an in vitro TNBS inflammation model using rat small intestinal preparations. The effect of the plant extracts on TNBS induced inflammatory damage was characterised based on TNFα-gene expression analysis, isometric contraction measurement and histological analysis. Furthermore, TNFα-release from LPS-stimulated THP-1 cells was determined. Budesonide was used as positive control. Additionally, microarray gene expression analysis was performed in LPS/IFNγ stimulated native human macrophages to determine potential underlying mechanisms.

The TNBS-induced overexpression of TNFα-mRNA was reduced after KA (0.1 mg/mL) and MYA (1 mg/mL) treatment down to 24% and 16%, resp.; TNBS-induced loss of contractility and reduction of mucosal layer thickness was inhibited after KA (3 mg/mL) treatment by 26% and 25%, resp.; after MYA (0.1 – 1 mg/mL) treatment by 17% and 44%, resp. LPS-induced TNFα release from THP-1 cells was inhibited concentration-dependently by MY (IC50 = 60.65 µg/mL; 97% inhib.), KA (IC50 = 439 µg/mL; 71% inhib.) and CC (IC50 = 1886 µg/mL; 44% inhib.). Furthermore, KA (200 µg/mL) and CC (500 µg/mL) inhibited the LPS/IFNγ-induced expression of genes associated with chemokine signalling up to 100fold (for CXCL13). The presented study demonstrates further evidence for anti-inflammatory properties of the herbal components which contribute to the reported clinical effectiveness.