Mastic gum
TYPE OF INGREDIENT
Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial
COMMONLY FOUND IN
Oils, powders, creams, tablets
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF MASTIC GUM?
Mastic gum has a distinctive chemical composition with terpenes (unsaturated long-chain fatty acids) and phenolic compounds, which have myriad in-vivo effects including inhibition of inflammatory markers, as well as antimicrobial and antioxidant activity. Mastic gum may help eradicate free radicals, reduce crucial immune modulates, improve nail fragility and appearance for brittle nails, and aid in wound healing by increasing cell migration and wound contractions. Evidence suggests its efficacy for several dermatological conditions:
- Brittle Nails: In-vitro studies have demonstrated that mastic gum may be a helpful adjunct to nail growth. In a prospective study of patients with brittle nail syndrome – a common nail disorder affecting nearly 1 in 5 people – treatment with a mastic compound helped reduce nail plate roughness and breakage over a period of 6 months.
- Atopic Dermatitis: In an animal model of atopic and allergic dermatitis, treatment with various formulations of mastic gum showed significant reduction in pruritus and inflammation.
When ingested orally, mastic gum has also been used for treatment of dyspepsia and indigestion.
WHAT IS MASTIC GUM ?
Mastic gum is a resin extracted from the mastic tree (P. lentiscus), a shrub commonly found in the eastern Mediterranean region, especially the Greek island of Chios. The resin can be chewed or processed into powders, oils and creams for use in cosmetics. The ancient Greek physician Hippocrates wrote about medical uses of this plant nearly 2,500 years ago, and mastic gum has been used in traditional African and Greek medicine for millennia. In 2015, P. lentiscus was officially recognized as an herbal medicinal product by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), indicating two therapeutic uses: skin disorders including wound healing, and mild dyspepsia.
IS MASTIC GUM SAFE FOR ALL SKIN TYPES AND TONES?
Mastic gum has been used in traditional remedies in a variety of cultures throughout the Mediterranean region and North Africa; however, there is insufficient data on the optimal formulation, dosage and safety on the use of mastic gum in all skin types.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
Although rare, contact dermatitis to topical mastic gum has been reported in the literature. Systemic ingestion of mastic gum can cause inhibition of CYP3A4 enzyme system in the liver, which can lead to higher concentrations of certain medications. Patients interested in using mastic gum should consult a physician beforehand.
Sources:
- Dragović S, Dragović-Uzelac V, Pedisić S, et al. The Mastic Tree (Pistacia lentiscus L.) Leaves as Source of BACs: Effect of Growing Location, Phenological Stage and Extraction Solvent on Phenolic Content. Food Technol Biotechnol. 2020;58(3):303-313.
- José Serrano Vega R, Campos Xolalpa N, Josabad Alonso Castro A, Pérez González C, Pérez Ramos J, Pérez Gutiérrez S. Terpenes from Natural Products with Potential Anti-Inflammatory Activity. In: Terpenes and Terpenoids. IntechOpen; 2018.
- Dhieb C, Trabelsi H, Boukhchina S, Sadfi-Zouaoui N. Evaluation of Antifungal and Antibacterial Activities of Tunisian Lentisc (<i>Pistacia Lentiscus L.</i>) Fruit Oil. Journal of Food and Nutrition Research. 2021;9(4):177-181.
- Kishimoto R, Kato N, Koike M, Iwashita N, Takagi Y, Fukuyama T. Topical treatment with mastic (resin from Pistacia lentiscus) elicits anti-inflammatory and anti-pruritic responses by modulating keratinocyte activation in a mouse model of allergic dermatitis. Phytomedicine. 2021;91:153679.
- Suzuki R, Sakagami H, Amano S, Fukuchi K, Sunaga K, Kanamoto T, Terakubo S, Nakashima H, Shirataki Y, Tomomura M, Masuda Y, Yokose S, Tomomura A, Watanabe H, Okawara M, Matahira Y. Evaluation of Biological Activity of Mastic Extracts Based on Chemotherapeutic Indices. In Vivo. 2017 Jul-Aug;31(4):591-598.
- Starace M, Granger C, Carpanese MA, Alessandrini A, Bruni F, Piraccini BM. Review of the literature on the efficacy and safety of a new cosmetic topical treatment containing Pistacia lentiscus and hyaluronic acid for the treatment of nail plate damages. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2022 Nov;21(11):5514-5518. doi: 10.1111/jocd.15302. Epub 2022 Sep 20. PMID: 35962760.
- Dabos KJ, Sfika E, Vlatta LJ, Frantzi D, Amygdalos GI, Giannikopoulos G. Is Chios mastic gum effective in the treatment of functional dyspepsia? A prospective randomised double-blind placebo controlled trial. J Ethnopharmacol. 2010 Feb 3;127(2):205-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2009.11.021. Epub 2009 Dec 2. PMID: 19961914.
