Abstract
Mumijo is a widely used traditional medicine, especially in Russia, Altai Mountains, Mongolia, Iran Kasachstan and in Kirgistan. Mumijo preparations have been successfully used for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases; they display immune-stimulating and antiallergic activity as well. In the present study, we investigate the chemical composition and the biomedical potential of a Mumijo(-related) product collected from the Antarctica. The yellow material originates from the snow petrels, Pagodroma nivea. Extensive purification and chemical analysis revealed that the fossil samples are a mixture of glycerol derivatives. In vitro experiments showed that the Mumijo extract caused in cortical neurons a strong neuroprotective effect against the apoptosis-inducing amyloid peptide fragment β-fragment 25–35 (Aβ25–35). In addition, the fraction rich in glycerol ethers/wax esters displayed a significant growth-promoting activity in permanent neuronal PC12 cells. It is concluded that this new Mumijo preparation has distinct and marked neuroprotective activity, very likely due to the content of glycerol ether derivatives.
Highlights
“Reports on the high biodiversity of marine animals date back to Aristotle (384–322 BC) [1], who gave—in his 5th book on the History of Animals—extensive descriptions on those sponge species near the island of Lesbos that have been commercially used later”
Pfolsprundt [4] mentioned the alleviating remedy in his compendium. This traditional drug is widely distributed in Russia, India (Saljit), Birma [Kao-tun], Altai Mountains [Barachgschin], Mongolia [Brogschaun] and Iran Kasachstan, and Usbekistan as well as in Kirgistan [Arakul dshibal] [3]
We report about the chemical composition of the fossil sample of Mumijo as well as about its neuroprotective and cell growth stimulatory effects
Summary
“Reports on the high biodiversity of marine animals date back to Aristotle (384–322 BC) [1], who gave—in his 5th book on the History of Animals—extensive descriptions on those sponge species near the island of Lesbos that have been commercially used later (reviewed in [2])”. The term Mumijo is restricted to the black, tar-like substance from Asia [3], but it is used for the paleoenvironmental records—subfossil stomach oil deposits from Antarctica [8]. This material is yellow and originates from the snow petrels, Pagodroma nivea. We report about the chemical composition of the fossil sample of Mumijo as well as about its neuroprotective and cell growth stimulatory effects Our results correlate this latter activity to the presence of α-glyceryl ethers in this material. It cannot be ruled out that Mumijo causes, as a complex formulation, in addition an amelioration of a series of afflictions and may act as an antimicrobial, antiviral, antitumor, antiallergic, immunomodulating or anti-inflammatory medicine, similar to the active compounds from mushrooms [15], or of Propolis [16], or “Kampo” compounds [17] as well as of Arabic medical herbs [18]
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