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8328864 
Journal Article 
Characterization of the action on central opioid receptors of furaneudesma-1, 3-diene, a sesquiterpene extracted from myrrh 
Dolara, P; Moneti, G; Pieraccini, G; Romanelli, N 
1996 
1 
Phytotherapy Research
ISSN: 0951-418X
EISSN: 1099-1573 
10 
7 SUPPL. 
S81-S83 
English 
Myrrh, a resin extracted from north African shrubs of the genus Commiphora, was used since antiquity as a perfume and as remedy for human and animal diseases. Following the Gospel reporting the offer of myrrhed wine to Christ before crucifixion, we isolated three furanosesquiterpenoids (curzarene, furaneudesma-1,3-diene and furanodiene) from myrrh hexane extract Furaneudesma-1, 3-diene and curzarene increased pain reaction latency on a 52°C hot plate by intracerebroventricular injection in mice (1.25 mg/kg). Furanoeudesma-1,3-diene was effective also p.o. (50 mg/kg). The analgesic effects were reversed by naloxone (1 mg/kg). Furanoeudesma-1, 3-diene displaced concentration-dependently the specific binding of [3H] diprenorphine to brain membranes and showed structural similarities with peptide PL017 (morphiceptin) and DPDPE (μ and δ opioid agonists respectively). These results explain the analgesic effect of myrrh and indicate one of the reasons why myrrh had such a widespread use as a medicinal remedy in the past. © 1996 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 
Analgesia; Myrrh; Opioid receptors; Sesquiterpenes