Myrtle folium

Herbal drug obtained from leaves of Myrtus communis, the myrtle bush.

Commission E: not processed

HMPC: not processed

ESCOP: not processed

Myrtle oil is used in finished medicinal products for the treatment of colds, in particular because of the cineole it contains, e.g. Gelo Myrtol® forte.

The ethanolic myrtle extract, ^Myrtacine®, is used to treat acne.

Empirical medicine: dysmenorrhea, external: habitual aphtous stomatitis.

Food: as a spice, especially in Mediterranean cuisine

14% tannins, bitter substances, about 0.3% essential oil. Its main components are cineol, limonene, linalool, alpha pinene, myrtenyl acetate; further myrtenol, geraniol, nerol.

Antimicrobial, anti-edematous, blood sugar lowering, anti-inflammatory (with external application).

Internal: bronchial catarrh, rhinitis, diarrhea

External: there is evidence that myrtle extracts have an anti-inflammatory effect in mild to moderate acne vulgaris. Contained e.g. in: KERACNYL PP Cream

^Myrtacin® is contained in Ducray Keracnyl Serum, for example.

1. Gillissen A et al.(2013) A multi-centre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-cotrolled clinical trial on the efficacy and tolerability of GeloMyrtol® forte in acute bronchitis. Drug Res (Stuttg) 63:19-27.
2. Grassmann J et al.(2000) Antioxidant properties of essential oils. Possible explanations for their anti-inflammatory effects. Drug Research 50:135-139.
3. Koch AK et al,(2016) A Systematic Review of Phytotherapy for Acute Rhinosinusitis. Forsch Komplementmed 23:165-169.
4. Rantzsch U et al.(2009) Anti-inflammatory effects of Myrtol standardized and other essential oils on alveolar macrophages from patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Eur J Med Res 14 Suppl 4:205-209.
5. Fiorini-Puybaret C et al (2011). Pharmacological properties of Myrtacine® and its potential value in acne treatment. Planta Med. 77:1 582-589
6. Feuillolay C et al (2016) A Myrtus communis extract enriched in myrtucummulones and ursolic acid reduces resistance of Propionibacterium acnes biofilms to antibiotics used in acne vulgaris. 23:307-315
7. Songül K et al. (2019) Efficacy of two plant extracts against acne vulgaris: Initial results of microbiological tests and cell culture studies. J Cosmet Dermatol 18:1061-1065.
8. Pécastaings S et al.(2018) Characterization of Cutibacterium acnes phylotypes in acne and in vivo exploratory evaluation of Myrtacine®. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 32 (suppl 2):15-23.
9. Montag A (2023) Plants and skin. Springer-Verlag GmbH. S. 739-741.