title: In vitro cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory effects of myrrh oil on human gingival fibroblasts and epithelial cells.
abstract: Limited scientific studies suggest that myrrh (Commiphora molmol) has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities. This study determined myrrh oil (MO) cytotoxicity to human gingival fibroblasts and epithelial cells and its effect, measured by ELISA, on interleukin (IL)-1beta-stimulated IL-6 and IL-8 production. Cell viability and cytotoxicity were determined by metabolic reduction of a tetrazolium salt to a formazan dye (MTT assay) and by release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) from membrane damaged (LDH release assay) cells, respectively. Based on the MTT assay, 24- and 48-h exposures to </=0.001% MO had little effect on fibroblast and epithelial cell (24-h only) viability. At 48 h, 0.0005-0.001% MO decreased epithelial cell viability 30-50%. After 24 and 48 h, MO, at >/=0.005%, maximally decreased viability of all cell lines. In the LDH release assay, exposure to </=0.0001% MO caused <10% cytotoxicity to all cells. At 24 h, >/=0.0025% MO caused maximal cytotoxicity; </=0.001% MO caused 10-70% cytotoxicity. At longer exposure times, epithelial cells were more susceptible to cytotoxic effects of MO. There was little or no detectable IL-1beta-stimulated production of IL-6 or IL-8 by cells exposed to >/=0.0025% MO, probably reflective of loss of viability. At subtoxic MO levels (0.00001-0.001%), there was a significant reduction of IL-1beta-stimulated IL-6 and IL-8 production by fibroblasts, but not by epithelial cells.
authors.affiliation: Dental Research Center, Department of Periodontology, College of Dentistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 894 Union Avenue, TN 38163, Memphis, USA. dtipton@utmem.edu
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Tipton
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lyle
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Babich
authors.forename: M Kh
authors.initials: MKh
authors.lastname: Dabbous
mesh_terms: D001681:Biological Assay; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002470:Cell Survival; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects*; D005881:Gingiva / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D013729:Terpenes / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D013729:Terpenes; C014119:myrrh oil