By using various chromatographic steps (silica flash, CPC, preparative HPLC), 16 sesquiterpenes could be isolated from an ethanolic extract of myrrh resin. Their chemical structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and HRESIMS. Among them, six previously unknown compounds (1-6) and another four metabolites previously not described for the genus Commiphora (7, 10, 12, 13) could be identified. Sesquiterpenes 1 and 2 are novel 9,10-seco-eudesmanes and exhibited an unprecedented sesquiterpene carbon skeleton, which is described here for the first time. New compound 3 is an 9,10 seco-guaian and the only peroxide isolated from myrrh so far. Compounds 1, 2, 4, 7-9, 11, 13-16 were tested in an ICAM-1 in vitro assay. Compound 7, as well as the reference compound furanoeudesma-1,3-diene, acted as moderate inhibitors of this adhesion molecule ICAM-1 (IC50: 44.8 and 46.3 μM, respectively). These results give new hints on the activity of sesquiterpenes with regard to ICAM-1 inhibition and possible modes of action of myrrh in anti-inflammatory processes.
Keywords: Commiphora; ICAM-1; myrrh; seco-sesquiterpenoides; sesquiterpenes.