Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Properties of the Kyphi (and of the Orthodox Holy Chrism): A Microbiological Approach

Maravelia, Alicia and Faviou, Elsa and Filianos, Markos (2022) Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Properties of the Kyphi (and of the Orthodox Holy Chrism): A Microbiological Approach. In: Aegyptus et Pannonia VIII. : Acta Symposii anno 2021. Magyar-Egyiptomi Baráti Társaság, Ókori Egyiptomi Bizottság, Budapest, pp. 7-41. ISBN 978-615-6571-02-1

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Abstract

The use of aromatics and incense in divine worship and in Medicine is ancient indeed. The present work is based on a recent paper concerning the comparative study of the ancient Egyptian kyphi and of the Orthodox Holy Chrism (Maravelia – Filianos 2020). Kyphi (kApt), a special mixture of more than 12 herbal aromatic substances, including wine and honey, was used as burning incense and medicament during a very long period in the context of the ancient Egyptian culture, as is attested in Papyrus Ebers and other sources. The aim of the present paper is to investigate the possible antimicrobial effect of pure smoke and of the kyphi by performing fumigation experiments on bacterial and fungal cultures in two independent laboratories. Hence, the anti- fungal and anti-microbial activity of the kyphi [re-produced in vitro by one of the authors (M.F.)] has been studied by performing fumigation experiments to cultivations of Escherichia coli M. (Gram-negative bacterium) and Candida parapsilosis L.&T. (fungus) in two separate Laboratories, independently and in different conditions. Furhtermore, cultivations of two Gram-positive cocci, Staphylococcus aureus R. and Staphylococcus capitis K.&S., were tested only in the 2nd Laboratory. Preliminary results show that the action of fumigation (pure smoke and/or kyphi) on selective and differential culture media has almost no effect on the growth of microorganisms. However, there is a clear direct effect of smoke (pure smoke and kyphi) on the microorganisms, that appears stronger with kyphi and mainly in 1/1000 dilutions. In addition, the experimental data of our study demonstrate that the effect of kyphi on yeasts is more powerful than that on bacteria. It is suggested to further proceed with more experiments, in order to confirm the above conclusions, as well as to investigate the potentially “active” component(s) of kyphi, discovering the pathophysiological mechanisms through which this particular antimicrobial action of kyphi could be explained.

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