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Effect of Myrrha Water Extract on Psoriasis-Like Skin Inflammation

Article information

J Korean Med. 2025;46(2):84-92
Publication date (electronic) : 2025 June 1
doi : https://doi.org/10.13048/jkm.25020
Gyeong-Ran Noh1orcid_icon, Il-Joo Jo2,orcid_icon
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 2025 April 11; Revised 2025 April 30; Accepted 2025 May 22.

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.

Primer Sequence of SYBR Green Real-Time PCR

References

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Article information Continued

Fig. 1

Fig. 1

Cytotoxic effects of Myrrha water extract in HaCaT cells.

Fig. 2

Fig. 2

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

Fig. 3

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

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′
Reverse 5′-GGT CCT TTT CAC CAG CAA GCT-3′
KRT6 Forward 5′-GGG TTT CAG TGC CAA CTC AG–3′
Reverse 5′-CCA GGC CAT ACA GAC TGC GG-3′
TNF-α Forward 5′-CCT CTC TCT AAT CAG CCC TCT G-3′
Reverse 5′-GAG GAC CTG GGA GTA GAT GAG-3′
IL-6 Forward 5′-ACT CAC CTC TTC AGA ACG AAT TG-3′
Reverse 5′-CCA TCT TTG GAA GGT TCA GGT TG-3′
IL-17 Forward 5′-TCT GTG ATC TGG GAG GCA AAG-3′
Reverse 5′-CGT TCC CAT CAG CGT TGA T-3′
IL-22 Forward 5’-CGT TCC CAT CAG CGT TGA T-3′ ′
Reverse 5′-GGA TAT GCA GGT CAT CAC CTT CA-3′
CCL5 Forward 5′-CTA CTG CCC TCT GCG CTC C-3′
Reverse 5′-TGG TGT CCG AGG AAT ATG GG-3′
CCL2 Forward 5′-CAC CAG CAG CAA GTG TCC C-3′
Reverse 5′-CCA TGG AAT CCT GAA CCC AC-3′
CXCL1 Forward 5′-CCT CAA TCC TGC ATC CC-3′
Reverse 5′-AGT TGG ATT TGT CAC TGT-3′
CXCL8 Forward 5′-CCC CTA AGA GCA GTA ACA GTT CCT-3′
Reverse 5′-GGT GAA GAT AAG CCA GCC AAT C-3′