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Efficacy of Frankincense and Myrrha in Treatment of Acute Interstitial Cystitis/Painful Bladder Syndrome

Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine volume 26, pages 519–526 (2020)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective

To investigate the efficacy of frankincense and myrrha in the treatment of acute interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS).

Methods

The effects of frankincense and myrrha on the proliferation and migration of primary human urothelial cells (HUCs) were assessed in vitro. In the animal study, 48 virgin female rats were randomized into 4 groups (12 in each group): (1) control group (saline-injected control); (2) cyclophosphamide (CYP) group (intraperitoneal injected 150 mg/kg CYP); (3) CYP + pentosan polysulfate sodium group (orally received 50 mg/kg pentosan polysulfate sodium); and (4) CYP + frankincense and myrrha group [orally received frankincense (200 mg/kg) and myrrha (200 mg/kg)]. Rats orally received pentosan polysulfate sodium or frankincense and myrrha on day 1, 2, and 3. The experiments were performed on day 4. Pain and cystometry assessment behavior test were performed. Voiding interval values were assessed in rats under anesthesia. Finally, immunohistochemistry and Western blot were used to confirm the location and level, respectively, of cell junction-associated protein zonula occludens-2 (ZO-2) expression.

Results

Low dose frankincense and myrrha increased cell proliferation and migration in HUCs compared with control (P<0.05). Rats with acute IC/PBS rats exhibited lower voiding interval values, pain tolerance, and ZO-2 expression (P<0.05). Voiding interval values and pain tolerance were higher in the frankincense and myrrha group than CYP group (P<0.05). ZO-2 expression in the bladder was increased in the CYP + pentosan polysulfate and frankincense + myrrha groups compared with the CYP-induced acute IC/PBS group (P<0.05).

Conclusion

frankincense and myrrha modulate urothelial wound healing, which ameliorates typical features of acute IC/PBS in rats.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Miss Chen DY and Miss Zuo YH for the experimental assistance.

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, College of Medicine, Research Center for Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture, Chinese Medicine Research Center, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, China

    Yung-Hsiang Chen, Wen-Chi Chen, Ming-Yen Tsai & Huey-Yi Chen

  2. Departments of Medical Research, Urology, and Obstetrics and Gynecology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, China

    Yung-Hsiang Chen, Wen-Chi Chen & Huey-Yi Chen

  3. Department of Psychology, College of Medical and Health Science, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan, China

    Yung-Hsiang Chen

  4. Department of Applied Cosmetology, Master Program of Cosmetic Science, Hungkuang University, Taichung City, Taiwan, China

    Kao-Sung Tsai

  5. Department of Respiratory Therapy, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, China

    Po-Len Liu

  6. Department of Chinese Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, China

    Ming-Yen Tsai

  7. Department of Dermatology, Chung Shan University Hospital, Institute of Medicine, School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, China

    Tzu-Chun Lin

  8. Department of Neurology, Kuang Tien General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, China

    Shih-Chieh Yu

Authors
  1. Yung-Hsiang Chen
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Contributions

Chen HY designed the experiments and drafted the manuscript. Chen YH, Chen WC, Tsai KS, Liu PL, Tsai MY, Lin TC, Yu SC, and Chen HY helped perform the analysis with constructive discussions and revised the manuscript. Chen YH, Chen WC, Yu SC, and Chen HY carried out the experiments. Chen WC and Chen HY contributed to the statistical analysis. Chen YH and Yu SC contributed equally to this work. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Huey-Yi Chen.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.

Additional information

Supported in part by China Medical University Hospital (No. DMR-109-085) and Taiwan Ministry of Science and Technology (No. MOST 107-2314-B-039-036 and MOST 107-2320-B-039-034)

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Chen, YH., Chen, WC., Tsai, KS. et al. Efficacy of Frankincense and Myrrha in Treatment of Acute Interstitial Cystitis/Painful Bladder Syndrome. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 26, 519–526 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-020-3216-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-020-3216-2

Keywords

  • frankincense
  • myrrha
  • acute interstitial cystitis
  • painful bladder syndrome
  • cell junction-associated Protein