Lack of the Beneficial Effects of Mirazid (Commiphora molmol) When administered with Chemotherapeutic Agents on Ehrlich Ascetic Carcinoma Bearing Mice

Recently, the complementary and alternative medicines are used all over the world to enhance the anti-tumor activity and to ameliorate the side effects after chemotherapy treatments. The current study was conducted to assess the efficacy of oleo-gum-resin of Commiphora molmol (Family: Burceraceae) known as Myrrh and the commercial extract known as Mirazid (MRZ) as anti-tumor agents and its possible role as a complementary medicine with the standard chemotherapeutic drugs; cisplatin or 5-Flurouracil (5-FU). Ehrlich ascetic carcinoma (EAC) cells (2 x 10 cells / mouse) were inoculated in eighty four female Swiss albino mice by 6 intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection. After 24 hours of tumor inoculation, mice were divided into seven groups (n=12). MRZ was injected alone or in combination with cisplatin or with 5-FU daily for 6 days. The anti-tumor efficacy was evaluated by using median survival time (MST), tumor ascetic volume, counting the viable and non-viable tumor cells. Some biochemical parameters and the hematological profile were assessed as well. Analyzing data showed that the median lethal dose LD50 and LD90 of MRZ to normal mice were 1739.5 and 2777 mg/kg, respectively. The study showed that the metronomic provision of MRZ (100 mg/Kg/6 days daily or 250 mg/Kg every other day for 6 days) alone had no anti-tumor activity against EAC in vivo. In addition, the treatment with MRZ alone or in concomitant with cisplatin or 5-FU didn’t change the hematological profile, but it did some biochemical changes. Collectively, the treatment with MRZ had no effect as anti-tumor agent and didn’t show any beneficial effects when administered in concomitant with chemotherapeutic agents.