Effect of Myrrha Water Extract on Psoriasis-Like Skin Inflammation

Gyeong-Ran Noh; Il-Joo Jo; Noh, Gyeong-Ran; Jo, Il-Joo

doi:10.13048/jkm.25020

JKM > Volume 46(2); 2025 > Article

Noh and Jo: Effect of Myrrha Water Extract on Psoriasis-Like Skin Inflammation

Original Article

The Journal of Korean Medicine 2025; 46(2): 84-92.

Published online: June 1, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.13048/jkm.25020

Effect of Myrrha Water Extract on Psoriasis-Like Skin Inflammation

Gyeong-Ran Noh¹

, Il-Joo Jo²^{, *}

¹Department of Pharmacology, School of Korean Medicine, Wonkwang University

²Research center of Traditional Korean medicine, Wonkwang University

Correspondence to: Il-Joo Jo, Research center of Traditional Korean medicine, Wonkwang University., Tel: +82-63-850-6842, Email: joiljoo@naver.com

Received April 11, 2025 Revised April 30, 2025 Accepted May 22, 2025

Abstract

Objectives

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder characterized by abnormal keratinocyte hyperproliferation and increased inflammatory signaling. Commiphora myrrha (myrrh), a traditional medicinal resin used in East Asian herbal medicine, has been applied to treat skin-related ailments due to its anti-inflammatory and healing properties. This study investigated the potential anti-psoriatic effects of aqueous myrrh extract in an in vitro psoriatic keratinocyte model using HaCaT cells.

Methods

HaCaT keratinocytes were stimulated with a cytokine mixture (IL-17A, IL-22, oncostatin M, IL-1α, and TNF-α; collectively called M5) to mimic psoriatic conditions. Cell viability after aqueous myrrh extract treatment was evaluated using the MTT assay. The expression of keratin 6 (KRT6), a marker of hyperproliferation, was measured by quantitative real-time PCR. mRNA levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, IL-17, IL-22) and chemokines (MCP-1, CCL2, CCL5, CXCL1, CXCL8) were also analyzed.

Results

Aqueous myrrh extract showed cytotoxicity at 1 mg/mL, whereas lower concentrations (0.05–0.5 mg/mL) were non-toxic and used in further experiments. It significantly reduced M5-induced KRT6 expression, indicating reduced hyperproliferation. It also suppressed IL-6, IL-17, and IL-22 expression, though TNF-α reduction was not significant. Among chemokines, CCL2, CCL5, CXCL1, and CXCL8 were significantly downregulated, while MCP-1 was unaffected.

Conclusions

Aqueous myrrh extract alleviates keratinocyte hyperproliferation and inflammatory mediator expression in a psoriatic model. Its traditional use and demonstrated efficacy suggest myrrh as a promising candidate for anti-psoriatic therapy development.

Keywords: HaCaT cell, psoriasis, keratinocytes, aqueous myrrh extract

Fig. 1

Cytotoxic effects of Myrrha water extract in HaCaT cells.

Fig. 2

Effects of Myrrha water extract on mRNA expression of KRT6 in HaCaT cells.

Fig. 3

Effects of Myrrha water extract on mRNA expression of IL-6, TNF-α, IL-17 and IL-22 in HaCaT cells.

Fig. 4

Effects of Myrrha water extract on mRNA expression of MCP-1, CCL2, CCL5, CXCL1, and CXCL8 in HaCaT cells.

Table 1

Primer Sequence of SYBR Green Real-Time PCR

Name	Direction	Sequence
HPRT	Forward	5′-TGA CAC TGG CAA AAC AAT GCA–3′
HPRT	Reverse	5′-GGT CCT TTT CAC CAG CAA GCT-3′

KRT6	Forward	5′-GGG TTT CAG TGC CAA CTC AG–3′
KRT6	Reverse	5′-CCA GGC CAT ACA GAC TGC GG-3′

TNF-α	Forward	5′-CCT CTC TCT AAT CAG CCC TCT G-3′
TNF-α	Reverse	5′-GAG GAC CTG GGA GTA GAT GAG-3′

IL-6	Forward	5′-ACT CAC CTC TTC AGA ACG AAT TG-3′
IL-6	Reverse	5′-CCA TCT TTG GAA GGT TCA GGT TG-3′

IL-17	Forward	5′-TCT GTG ATC TGG GAG GCA AAG-3′
IL-17	Reverse	5′-CGT TCC CAT CAG CGT TGA T-3′

IL-22	Forward	5’-CGT TCC CAT CAG CGT TGA T-3′ ′
IL-22	Reverse	5′-GGA TAT GCA GGT CAT CAC CTT CA-3′

CCL5	Forward	5′-CTA CTG CCC TCT GCG CTC C-3′
CCL5	Reverse	5′-TGG TGT CCG AGG AAT ATG GG-3′

CCL2	Forward	5′-CAC CAG CAG CAA GTG TCC C-3′
CCL2	Reverse	5′-CCA TGG AAT CCT GAA CCC AC-3′

CXCL1	Forward	5′-CCT CAA TCC TGC ATC CC-3′
CXCL1	Reverse	5′-AGT TGG ATT TGT CAC TGT-3′

CXCL8	Forward	5′-CCC CTA AGA GCA GTA ACA GTT CCT-3′
CXCL8	Reverse	5′-GGT GAA GAT AAG CCA GCC AAT C-3′

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