Myrrh tree

Authors:Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer, Prof. Dr. med. Martina Bacharach-Buhles

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Last updated on: 27.07.2023

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Synonym(s)

Commiphora abyssinica; Commiphora molomol (= Commiphora myrrhae)

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DefinitionThis section has been translated automatically.

The myrrh tree is a plant native to the eastern Mediterranean region, Ethiopia, Yemen, Somalia, Sudan and belongs to the balsam family (Burseraceae). It is thorny and strongly branched, and reaches a height of growth up to 3 meters. The leaves are imparipinnate and the flowers are yellow-red. The myrrh tree has secretory vessels. In these, a gum resin is found that seeps out when the bark is injured and hardens in the air. Myrrh is a product of excretion of the myrrh bush, see under myrrh.

General informationThis section has been translated automatically.

Commiphora abyssinica and Commiphora molomol (also known as Commiphora myrrhae) are parent plants of the official myrrha (also known as gum-rice myrrha, real myrrh or somali myrrh), the bitter-tasting lactic juice that has been extracted from the bark and dried. A positive monograph of Commission E is available for this.

Commiphora myrrha extract (INCI) is the resin of myrrh dissolved in ethanol. The extract has skin caring effects in cosmetic products.

Commiphora myrrha oil (INCI) is the ethanol-soluble essential oil of myrrh which is used in cosmetic products.

LiteratureThis section has been translated automatically.

  1. https://arzneipflanzenlexikon.info/myrrhe.php

Authors

Last updated on: 27.07.2023

Authors: Prof. Dr. med. Peter AltmeyerProf. Dr. med. Martina Bacharach-Buhles