Chios Gum Mastic: A Review of its Biological Activities

Abstract

The resin of Pistacia lentiscus (L.) var. chia (Duham), an evergreen shrub belonging to the family Anacardiaceae and uniquely cultivated in southern Chios, is known as mastic. It has been used for more than 2500 years in traditional Greek medicine for treating several diseases such as gastralgia and peptic ulcers, while the actions of the gum are mentioned in the works of Herodotus, Dioscorides and Galen. Several Roman, Byzantine, Arab and European authors make extensive references to mastic's healing properties. Modern scientific research has justified the beneficial action of mastic to gastric diseases, by revealing its in vivo and in vitro activity against Helicobacter pylori, which is considered as the main cause for gastric ulcers. Furthermore, studies of the antimicrobial, antifungal, antioxidant, hypolipidemic, anti-inflammatory, anti-Crohn and anticancer activities of mastic have characterized it as a wide-range therapeutic agent and a potential source of nature-originated treatments.

Short-Term Effects of Oral Administration of <b><i>Pistacia Lentiscus</i></b> Oil on Tissue-Specific Toxicity and Drug Metabolizing Enzymes in Mice

“…Pistacia lentiscus is used as a seasoning in Mediterranean cuisine, in the production of natural chewing gum, in perfumery, in dentistry, and also for the relief of gastralgia and protection against peptic ulcer [13]. Based on the abovementioned information and since the most common of its therapeutic use has been for gastrointestinal disorders, we decided to treat the TO mice orally with 100 µl Pistacia lentiscus oil for 5 consecutive days in order to investigate whether it has any toxic effects in short term treatment.…”

“…eczema, throat infections, diarrhea, renal stones, jaundice, asthma and gastric ulcer [1]. Mastic oil, the essential oil of mastic gum, a natural resin obtained from Pistacia lentiscus has a wide -range of therapeutic effects: anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anticancer, and hypolipidemic activities [2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13]. Pistacia lentiscus is also effective in the treatment of functional dyspepsia and gastric ulcer [14,15,16] as well as in the healing of burns [17].…”

Medicinal plants in the treatment ofHelicobacter pyloriinfections

“…Pistacia lentiscus L. (Anacardiaceae) has been referred to over the centuries as having medicinal properties to treat a variety of diseases such as gastralgia and peptic ulcers (Paraschos et al, 2012). Pistacia lentiscus resin known as ''Mastaki'' has traditionally been used in the treatment of gastritis in Iran (Akhawayni, 1965).…”

Oxidative stress-related liver dysfunction by sodium arsenite: Alleviation byPistacia lentiscusoil

“…Mastic oil, the essential oil of mastic gum, a natural resin obtained from Pistacia lentiscus has a wide-range of therapeutic effects: anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anticancer, and has hypolipidemic activities (Marone et al, 2001;Paraschos et al, 2012). Pistacia lentiscus is also effective in the treatment of functional dyspepsia and gastric ulcer (Dabos et al, 2010) as well as in the healing of burns (Djerrou et al, 2010).…”