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Mastiha has efficacy in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases through a microRNA-155 Th17 dependent action.

  • 2021-09
  • Pharmacological research 171
    • Charalampia Amerikanou
    • Efstathia Papada
    • Aristea Gioxari
    • Ilias Smyrnioudis
    • Stamatia-Angeliki Kleftaki
    • Evdokia Valsamidou
    • Victoria Bruns
    • Rajarshi Banerjee
    • Maria Giovanna Trivella
    • Natasa Milic
    • Milica Medić-Stojanoska
    • Amalia Gastaldelli
    • Aimo Kannt
    • George V Dedoussis
    • Andriana C Kaliora

Study Design

Type
Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
Population
IBD patients, particularly ulcerative colitis patients in relapse, and NAFLD patients
Methods
two double blinded and placebo-controlled randomized clinical trials with Mastiha; plasma miR-16, miR-21 and miR-155 measured by Real-Time PCR before and after intervention
Blinding
Double-blind
Mastiha is a natural nutritional supplement with known anti-inflammatory properties. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are immune mediated inflammatory diseases that share common pathophysiological features. Mastiha has shown beneficial effects in both diseases. MicroRNAs have emerged as key regulators of inflammation and their modulation by phytochemicals have been extensively studied over the last years. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate whether a common route exists in the anti-inflammatory activity of Mastiha, specifically through the regulation of miRNA levels. Plasma miR-16, miR-21 and miR-155 were measured by Real-Time PCR before and after two double blinded and placebo-controlled randomized clinical trials with Mastiha. In IBD and particularly in ulcerative colitis patients in relapse, miR-155 increased in the placebo group (p = 0.054) whereas this increase was prevented by Mastiha. The mean changes were different in the two groups even after adjusting for age, sex and BMI (p = 0.024 for IBD and p = 0.042). Although the results were not so prominent in NAFLD, miR-155 displayed a downward trend in the placebo group (p = 0.054) whereas the levels did not changed significantly in the Mastiha group in patients with less advanced fibrosis. Our results propose a regulatory role for Mastiha in circulating levels of miR-155, a critical player in T helper-17 (Th17) differentiation and function.

Research Insights

  • Mastic→Reduced Interleukin-6 Levels

    Although the results were not so prominent in NAFLD, miR-155 displayed a downward trend in the placebo group (p = 0.054) whereas the levels did not changed significantly in the Mastiha group in patients with less advanced fibrosis.

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
  • Mastic→Reduced miR-155 Level

    In IBD and particularly in ulcerative colitis patients in relapse, miR-155 increased in the placebo group (p = 0.054) whereas this increase was prevented by Mastiha. The mean changes were different in the two groups even after adjusting for age, sex and BMI (p = 0.024 for IBD and p = 0.042).

    Effect
    Beneficial
    Effect size
    Small
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