Health Beneficial Effects of Moomiaii in Traditional Medicine
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31661/gmj.v9i.1743Keywords:
Medicine; Humic Acid; Fulvic Acid; Immunomodulation; Antidiabetic; AntineoplasticAbstract
raditional medicine (TM) that developed over the years within various societies consists of medical experimental knowledge and practices, which apply natural methods and compounds for general wellness and healing. Moomiaii as a pale-brown to blackish-brown natural exudate is one of the natural compounds in traditional medicine that has been used over 3000 years in many countries of the world especially in India, China, Russia, Iran, Mongolia, Kazakhstan and Kirgizstan. We reviewed all English-language studies about Moomiaii that we accessed them. In traditional medicine, many beneficial activities have been attributed to Moomiaii and to its main constituents, Humic acid and Fulvic acid, which are widely used to prevent and treatment of different diseases. Some modern scientific investigations showed that Moomiaii as a safe dietary supplement can be beneficial in various health complications. Even though the beneficial effects of Moomiaii have been confirmed in traditional and modern medicine, it seems that additional in-vitro/in-vivo studies and comprehensive clinical trials are necessary to explain the whole mechanisms of action and to determine the effective doses in various diseases. We discuss and clarify the claimed health beneficial effects of Moomiaii in some wide-spread diseases regarding its anti-ulcerogenic, immunomodulatory, antidiabetic, antioxidative and anticancer properties. [GMJ.2020;9:e1743]
References
Qi Z, Kelley E. The WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2014-2023: A perspective. Science. 2014;346:S5-S6. "WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2014-2023". World Health Organization Retrieved 2014-04-20. 2013. Shahriari M, Zare F, Nimrouzi M. The Curative Role of Bitumen in Traditional Persian Medicine. Acta Med Hist Adriat. 2018;16(2):283-92. https://doi.org/10.31952/amha.16.2.6PMid:30488706 Olivieri MF, Marzari F, Kesel AJ, Bonalume L, Saettini F. Pharmacology and psychiatry at the origins of Greek medicine: The myth of Melampus and the madness of the Proetides. J Hist Neurosci. 2017;26(2):193-215. https://doi.org/10.1080/0964704X.2016.1211901PMid:27625080 Garedew A, Feist M, Schmolz E, Lamprecht I. Thermal analysis of mumiyo, the legendary folk remedy from the Himalaya region. Thermochimica acta. 2004;417(2):301-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tca.2003.09.034 Stohs SJ. Safety and efficacy of shilajit (mumie, moomiyo). Phytother Res. 2014;28(4):475-9. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.5018PMid:23733436 Shirbeigi L ZA, Naghizadeh A, Alizadeh Vaghasloo M. The Concept of Temperaments in Traditional Persian Medicine. Trad Integr Med. 2017;2(3):143-56. Frolova N, Kiseleva L, Tatiana. Chemical composition of mumijo and methods for determining its authenticity and quality (a review). Pharma Chem J. 1996;30(8):543-7. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02334644 Ghosal S. Shilajit in Perspective. 1th ed. United Kingdom: Alpha Science International Limited, Oxford; 2006. Agarwal SP, Khanna R, Karmarkar R, Anwer MK, Khar RK. Shilajit: a review. Phytother Res. 2007;21(5):401-5. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.2100PMid:17295385 Verma A, Kumar N, Gupta L, Chaudhary S. Shilajitin Cancer Treatment: Probable Mode of Action. Int J Pharmaceutic Bio Arch. 2016;7(1):12-6. Schepetkin I, Khlebnikov A, Kwon B. Medical drugs from humus matter: Focus on mumie. 2002. https://doi.org/10.1002/ddr.10058 Ghosal S, Singh S, Srivastava R. Shilajit part 2. Biphenyl metabolites from Trifolium repens. J Chem Res. 1988;196:165-6. Shahrokhi N, Keshavarzi Z, Khaksari M. Ulcer healing activity of Mumijo aqueous extract against acetic acid induced gastric ulcer in rats. J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 2015;7(1):56-9. https://doi.org/10.4103/0975-7406.148739PMid:25709338 PMCid:PMC4333629 Aiello A, Fattorusso E, Menna M, Vitalone R, Schröder HC, Müller WE. Mumijo traditional medicine: fossil deposits from antarctica (chemical composition and beneficial bioactivity). Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2011;2011. https://doi.org/10.1093/ecam/nen072PMid:18996940 PMCid:PMC3139983 Stohs SJ, Singh K, Das A, Roy S, Sen CK. 12-Energy and Health Benefits of Shilajit. In: Bagchi D, editor. Sustained Energy for Enhanced Human Functions and Activity. Academic Press; 2017. p. 187-204. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-805413-0.00012-0 Ghosal S, Lal J, Singh SK, Goel RK, Jaiswal AK, Bhattacharya SK. The need for formulation of Shilajit by its isolated active constituents. Phytother Res. 1991;5(5):211-6. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.2650050505 Bhattacharya SK, Sen AP, Ghosal S. Effects of Shilajit on biogenic free radicals. Phytother Res. 1995;9(1):56-9. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.2650090113 Trivedi N, Mazumdar B, Bhatt J, Hemavathi K. Effect of shilajit on blood glucose and lipid profile in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Indian J Pharmacol. 2004;36(6):373-6. Akhtar MS, Akhtar AH, Khan MA. Antiulcerogenic effects of Ocimum basilicum extracts, volatile oils and flavonoid glycosides in albino rats. Int J Pharmacognosy. 1992;30(2):97-104. https://doi.org/10.3109/13880209209053966 Najm WI. Peptic Ulcer Disease. Primary Care: Clinics in Office Practice. 2011;38(3):383-94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pop.2011.05.001PMid:21872087 Repetto MG, Llesuy SF. Antioxidant properties of natural compounds used in popular medicine for gastric ulcers. Braz J Med Biol Res. 2002;35(5):523-34. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-879X2002000500003PMid:12011936 Ghosal S, Singh S, Kumar Y, Srivastava R, K. Goel R, Dey R et al. Anti-ulcerogenic activity of fulvic acids and 4'-methoxy-6-carbomethoxybiphenyl isolated from Shilajit. 1988;2:187-91. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.2650020408 Spassov V. Memory effects of the natural product Mumyo on the water maze in rats. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 1994;4:396. https://doi.org/10.1016/0924-977X(94)90226-7 Czinner E, Hagymasi K, Blazovics A, Kery A, Szoke E, Lemberkovics E. The in vitro effect of Helichrysi flos on microsomal lipid peroxidation. J Ethnopharmacol. 2001;77(1):31-5. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-8741(01)00258-6 Kong Y, Butt P, Ng K, Cheng K, Camble R, Malla S. Chemical studies on a Napalese panacea; Shilajit. Int J Crude Drug Res. 1987;25:179-87. https://doi.org/10.3109/13880208709060925 Dong WG, Cheng CS, Liu SP, Yu JP. Epidemiology of peptic ulcer disease in Wuhan area of China from 1997 to 2002. World J Gastroenterol. 2004;10(22):3377-9. https://doi.org/10.3748/wjg.v10.i22.3377PMid:15484323 PMCid:PMC4572318 Frawley D, Lad V. The Yoga of Herbs: An Ayurvedic Guide to Herbal Medicine. 2th ed. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass; 2004. Bi WP, Man HB, Man MQ. Efficacy and safety of herbal medicines in treating gastric ulcer: a review. World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20(45):17020-8. https://doi.org/10.3748/wjg.v20.i45.17020PMid:25493014 PMCid:PMC4258570 Chaudhary S, Singh AK, Dwivedi NK. Medicinal properties of shilajit a review. Indian J Agricultureand Allied Sci. 2016;2(1):103-6. Ghosal S. Free radicals, oxidative stress and antioxidant defense. Phytomedica. 2000;21:1-8. Vucskits AV, Hullar I, Bersenyi A, Andrasofszky E, Kulcsar M, Szabo J. Effect of fulvic and humic acids on performance, immune response and thyroid function in rats. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl). 2010;94(6):721-8. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0396.2010.01023.xPMid:21073632 Goel RK, Banerjee RS, Acharya SB. Antiulcerogenic and antiinflammatory studies with shilajit. J Ethnopharmacol. 1990;29(1):95-103. https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-8741(90)90102-Y Van Rensburg CJ. The ameliorating effect of oxihumate on aflatoxicosis in broilers: University of Pretoria, PhD thesis; 2005. Van Rensburg CE, van Straten A, Dekker J. An in vitro investigation of the antimicrobial activity of oxifulvic acid. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2000;46(5):853. https://doi.org/10.1093/jac/46.5.853PMid:11062218 Van Rensburg C, Malfeld S, Dekker J. Topical application of oxifulvic acid suppresses the cutaneous immune response in mice. Drug Development Res. 2001;53(1):29-32. https://doi.org/10.1002/ddr.1166 Thiel KD, Helbig B, Klocking R, Wutzler P, Sprossig M, Schweizer H. Comparison of the in vitro activities of ammonium humate and of enzymically oxidized chlorogenic and caffeic acids against type 1 and type 2 human herpes virus (author's transl). Pharmazie. 1981;36(1):50-3. Winkler J, Ghosh S. Therapeutic Potential of Fulvic Acid in Chronic Inflammatory Diseases and Diabetes. J Diabetes Res. 2018;2018:5391014. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/5391014PMid:30276216 PMCid:PMC6151376 Sabi R, Vrey P, Van Rensburg C. Carbohydrate-derived Fulvic acid (CHD-FA) inhibits Carrageenan-induced inflammation and enhances wound healing: efficacy and Toxicity study in rats. Drug Development Res. 2012;73(1). https://doi.org/10.1002/ddr.20445 Chien SJ, Chen TC, Kuo HC, Chen CN, Chang SF. Fulvic acid attenuates homocysteine-induced cyclooxygenase-2 expression in human monocytes. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2015;15:61. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-015-0583-xPMid:25888188 PMCid:PMC4369892 Junek R, Morrow R, Schoenherr JI, Schubert R, Kallmeyer R, Phull S et al. Bimodal effect of humic acids on the LPS-induced TNF-alpha release from differentiated U937 cells. Phytomedicine. 2009;16(5):470-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2008.10.003PMid:19131228 Yamada P, Isoda H, Han JK, Talorete TP, Abe Y. Inhibitory effect of fulvic acid extracted from Canadian sphagnum peat on chemical mediator release by RBL-2H3 and KU812 cells. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2007;71(5):1294-305. https://doi.org/10.1271/bbb.60702PMid:17485833 Snyman J, Dekker J, Malfeld S, Van Rensburg C. Pilot study to evaluate the safety and therapeutic efficacy of topical oxifulvic acid in atopic volunteer. Drug Development Res. 2002;57(1):40-3. https://doi.org/10.1002/ddr.10116 Zhao Y, Paderu P, Delmas G, Dolgov E, Lee MH, Senter M et al. Carbohydrate-derived fulvic acid is a highly promising topical agent to enhance healing of wounds infected with drug-resistant pathogens. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2015;79(4 Suppl 2):S121-9. https://doi.org/10.1097/TA.0000000000000737PMid:26406424 Gupta GD, Sujatha N, Dhanik A, Rai NP. Clinical Evaluation of Shilajatu Rasayana in patients with HIV Infection. Ayu. 2010;31(1):28-32. https://doi.org/10.4103/0974-8520.68205PMid:22131681 PMCid:PMC3215318 Ghosal S. Shilajit: Its origin and vital significance. Mukherjee B ed. In Traditional Medicine. Delhi: Oxford - IBH: New; 1993. Chan JC, Malik V, Jia W, Kadowaki T, Yajnik CS, Yoon K-H et al. Diabetes in Asia: epidemiology, risk factors, and pathophysiology. Jama. 2009;301(20):2129-40. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2009.726PMid:19470990 Barrett K, Barman S, Boitano S, Brooks H. Ganong's review of medical physiology. 24th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2012. Saxena N, Dwivedi UN, Singh RK, Kumar A, Saxena C, Saxena RC et al. Modulation of oxidative and antioxidative status in diabetes by asphaltum panjabinum. Diabetes Care. 2003;26(8):2469-70. https://doi.org/10.2337/diacare.26.8.2469-aPMid:12882881 Pant K, Singh B, Thakur N. Shilajit: a humic matter panacea for cancer. Int J Toxicol Pharm Res. 2012;4(2):17-25. Choudhari SK, Chaudhary M, Gadbail AR, Sharma A, Tekade S. Oxidative and antioxidative mechanisms in oral cancer and precancer: a review. Oral Oncol. 2014;50(1):10-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oraloncology.2013.09.011PMid:24126222 Valko M, Rhodes CJ, Moncol J, Izakovic M, Mazur M. Free radicals, metals and antioxidants in oxidative stress-induced cancer. Chem Biol Interact. 2006;160(1):1-40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbi.2005.12.009PMid:16430879 Trachootham D, Lu W, Ogasawara MA, Valle NR-D, Huang P. Redox regulation of cell survival. Antioxid Redox Signal. 2008;10(8):1343-74. https://doi.org/10.1089/ars.2007.1957PMid:18522489 PMCid:PMC2932530 McCubrey JA, Steelman LS, Chappell WH, Abrams SL, Wong EW, Chang F et al. Roles of the Raf/MEK/ERK pathway in cell growth, malignant transformation and drug resistance. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)-Mol Cell Res. 2007;1773(8):1263-84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbamcr.2006.10.001PMid:17126425 PMCid:PMC2696318 Shinohara M, Adachi Y, Mitsushita J, Kuwabara M, Nagasawa A, Harada S et al. Reactive oxygen generated by NADPH oxidase 1 (Nox1) contributes to cell invasion by regulating matrix metalloprotease-9 production and cell migration. J Biol Chem. 2010;285(7):4481-8. https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M109.071779PMid:20018867 PMCid:PMC2836054 Clair T, Ehrman J, Kaczmarska I, Locke A, Tarasick D, Day KE et al. Will reduced summer UV-B levels affect zooplankton populations of temperate humic and clearwater lakes? Hydrobiologia. Hydrobiologia. 2001;462(1):75-89. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1013128202565 Mesri EA, Cesarman E, Boshoff C. Kaposi's sarcoma and its associated herpesvirus. Nat Rev Cancer. 2010;10(10):707-19. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrc2888PMid:20865011 PMCid:PMC4721662 Mauizio Z, inventor Treatment of HIV infection with Humic acid. Paris2002. Joone GK, Dekker J, van Rensburg CE. Investigation of the immunostimulatory properties of oxihumate. Z Naturforsch C. 2003;58(3-4):263-7. https://doi.org/10.1515/znc-2003-3-421PMid:12710739 Klocking R, Helbig B, Schotz G, Schacke M, Wutzler P. Anti-HSV-1 activity of synthetic humic acid-like polymers derived from p-diphenolic starting compounds. Antivir Chem Chemother. 2002;13(4):241-9. https://doi.org/10.1177/095632020201300405PMid:12495212 Pena-Mendez EM, Havel J, Patocka J. Humic substances - compounds of still unknown structure: applications in agriculture, industry, environment, and biomedicine. J App Biomed. 2004;3. https://doi.org/10.32725/jab.2005.002 Hseu YC, Lin E, Chen JY, Liua YR, Huang CY, Lu FJ et al. Humic acid induces G1 phase arrest and apoptosis in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells. Environ Toxicol. 2009;24(3):243-58. https://doi.org/10.1002/tox.20426PMid:18683188 Kececi M, Akpolat M, Gulle K, Gencer E, Sahbaz A. Evaluation of preventive effect of shilajit on radiation-induced apoptosis on ovaries. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2016;293(6):1255-62. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-015-3924-6PMid:26530234 Nimrouzi M, Zarshenas MM. Anorexia: Highlights in Traditional Persian medicine and conventional medicine. Avicenna J Phytomed. 2018;8(1):1-13. Jorjani E. Zakhireye Kharazm Shahi (Treasure of Kharazm Shah) [in Persian]. Tehran: Iranian Medical Academy; 2001. Razi Z. "Mansuri Fi-Al-Tib." Persian Translation. 2008. Kotb-El-Sayed Mk, Amin H, Al-kaf A. Anti-Microbial, Anti-Oxidant and Anti-Ulcerogenic Effects of Shilajit on Gastric Ulcer in Rats. Am J Biochem and Biotech. 2012;8:26-39. https://doi.org/10.3844/ajbbsp.2012.26.39 Agzamov R, Arifkhanova S, Vakhidova G. Mumie as a pathogenetic agent in the treatment of tuberculosis. Problemy tuberkuleza. 1988;7(7):49-52. Atashbar J, Shahrokhi N, Khaksari Haddad M, Asadi Karam G, Shahrokhi N, Ghazi F. Mumijo Protection gainst Acetaminophen-Induced Acute Hepatic Injury: Role of Oxidative Stress. J Kerman Uni Med Sci. 2018;25(1):44-56. Khaksari M, Mahmmodi R, Shahrokhi N, Shabani M, Joukar S, Aqapour M. The Effects of Shilajit on Brain Edema, Intracranial Pressure and Neurologic Outcomes following the Traumatic Brain Injury in Rat. Iran J Basic Med Sci. 2013;16(7):858-64. Schcolnik-Cabrera A, Chavez-Blanco A, Dominguez-Gomez G, Duenas-Gonzalez A. Understanding tumor anabolism and patient catabolism in cancer-associated cachexia. Am J Cancer Res. 2017;7(5):1107-35. Zeinalian M, Eshaghi M, Naji H, Marandi SM, Sharbafchi MR, Asgary S. Iranian-Islamic traditional medicine: An ancient comprehensive personalized medicine. Adv Biomed Res. 2015;4:191. Vetvicka V, Baigorri R, Zamarreno AM, Garcia-Mina JM, Yvin JC. Glucan and humic acid: synergistic effects on the immune system. J Med Food. 2010;13(4):863-9. https://doi.org/10.1089/jmf.2009.0178PMid:20553181 Pant K, Gupta P, Damania P, Yadav AK, Gupta A, Ashraf A et al. Mineral pitch induces apoptosis and inhibits proliferation via modulating reactive oxygen species in hepatic cancer cells. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2016;16:148. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-016-1131-zPMid:27233240 PMCid:PMC4882837 Malekzadeh G, Dashti-Rahmatabadi MH, Zanbagh S, Akhavi Mirab-bashii A. Mumijo attenuates chemically induced inflammatory pain in mice. Altern Ther Health Med. 2015;21(2):42-7.
