Disease relevance of Boswellia

• Boswellic acids, the main active ingredients of Boswellia serrata, are antiinflammatory agents, inhibiting 5-lipoxygenase, the key enzyme of leukotriene biosynthesis and one of the pathophysiological mechanisms of peritumoral edema [1].
• In three small clinical trials, boswellia was shown to improve symptoms of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, and because of its alleged safety, boswellia was considered superior over mesalazine in terms of a benefit-risk evaluation [2].
• One trial studied bismuth subsalicylate (published in abstract form only), one trial studied Boswellia serrata extract (published in abstract form only), one trial studied prednisolone, and 3 trials studied budesonide in the therapy of collagenous colitis [3].
• The clinical efficacy of a herbomineral formulation containing roots of Withania somnifera, the stem of Boswellia serrata, rhizomes of Curcuma longa and a zinc complex (Articulin-F), was evaluated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled, cross-over study in patients with osteoarthritis [4].

High impact information on Boswellia

• Commercially available extracts from Boswellia serrata resin used as anti-inflammatory drugs or phytonutrients show paradoxical concentration-dependent potentiating and inhibitory actions on 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) product synthesis in stimulated PMNs [5].
• Extracts from Boswellia serrata have been reported to have anti-inflammatory activity, primarily via boswellic acid-mediated inhibition of leukotriene synthesis [2].
• 1. We have previously shown that 11-keto boswellic acids (11-keto-BAs), the active principles of Boswellia serrata gum resins, activate p38 MAPK and p42/44(MAPK) and stimulate Ca(2+) mobilisation in human polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNL) [6].
• Although the boswellic acids could be identified as moderate to potent inhibitors of the applied CYP enzymes, they are not the major CYP inhibitory principle of frankincense [7].
• LC/LC/ESI-MS fingerprint analyses of the boswellic acids 11-keto-beta-boswellic acid, alpha-boswellic acid, beta-boswellic acid and their 3-O-acylated derivatives were used for the authentication of the commercially obtained frankincense samples [7].

Biological context of Boswellia

• Boswellic acid acetate (BC-4), a compound isolated from the herb Boswellia carterii Birdw., can induce differentiation and apoptosis of leukemia cells [8].
• Mixed acetylboswellic acids, pentacyclic triterpenes extracted from the gum resin of Boswellia serrata Roxb., significantly inhibited the ionophore-stimulated release of the leukotrienes (LT) B4 and C4 from intact human polymorphonuclear neutrophil leukocytes (PMNLs), with IC50 values of 8.48 micrograms/ml and 8.43 micrograms/ml, respectively [9].
• Pretreatment of aqueous extracts of Zyrulina (Spirulina), Aswagandha (Withania) and Nopane (Boswellia) on colchicine induced chromosome damage showed weakness of clastogenic activity in Swiss albino mice [10].

Anatomical context of Boswellia

• Inhibition of leukotriene B4 formation in rat peritoneal neutrophils by an ethanolic extract of the gum resin exudate of Boswellia serrata [11].
• Extract of gum resins of Boswellia serrata L. inhibits lipopolysaccharide induced nitric oxide production in rat macrophages along with hypolipidemic property [12].

Associations of Boswellia with chemical compounds

• Out of 20 patients treated with Boswellia gum resin 14 went into remission while in case of sulfasalazine remission rate was 4 out of 10 [13].
• The pentacyclic triterpenoid 3-acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid (AKBA) from the resin of Boswellia spec. is a potent inhibitor of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) [14].
• The PDMS/DVB fiber was found to be the most efficient for trapping olibanum characteristic diterpenes, with a sampling time of 1 h and a sampling temperature of 80 degrees C [15].
• The characteristic chemical compounds of Boswellia papyrifera are the diterpenic biomarkers incensole and its oxide and acetate derivatives, n-octanol and n-octyl acetate [16].
• Oral therapy with the Boswellia extract or AKBA significantly reduces macroscopic and microcirculatory inflammatory features normally associated with indomethacin administration, indicating that the anti-inflammatory actions of the Boswellia extract in IBD may be due in part to boswellic acids such as AKBA [17].

Gene context of Boswellia

• Here we show that extracts of Boswellia serrata gum resins and its constituents, the boswellic acids (BAs), activate the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) p42(MAPK) and p38 in isolated human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) [18].
• The stems of Boswellia ovalifoliolata BAL. & HENRY (Burseraceae) afforded two new macrocyclic diaryl ether heptanoids, ovalifoliolatin A (1) and B (2) together with three known compounds; acerogenin C (3), 3 alpha-hydroxyurs-12-ene (4), and sitost-4-en-3-one (5) [19].

References