African and Indian Bdellium

Abstract: While some resins from Commiphora-species, such as myrrhe and opopanax are wellknown in the European parfume-industry (myrrhe also as a stomatologicum), another drug of the classical Materia Medica related to these resins has rather fallen into oblivion, the bdellium from Africa and India. It counted for a valuable remedy against »magical diseases« (e.g. not defined diseases) such as stone diseases, goiter, inflammatory processes and overweight. Indian pharmacologists besides other compounds isolated ketosteroids (guggulusterones) from the resin which exhibited hypocholesterolemic and hypolipidemic effects and inhibit platelet aggregation. Further the lignanderivative sesamin (pseudocubebene) could be identified. It would be worth to pay as much attention to bdellium resin as has been paid to myrrhe recently.

Keyword(s): Myrrhe

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