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.
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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.
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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