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Abstract
Extracts from the gum resin of Boswellia serrata and some of is constituents including
boswellic acids affect the immune system in different ways. Among the various boswellic
acids 11-keto-beta-boswellic acid (KBA) and acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid have
been observed to be active. However, also other boswellic acids may exhibit actions
in the immune system. In the humoral defence system a mixture of boswellic acis at
higher doses reduced primary antibody titres; on the other hand lower doses enhanced
secondary antibody titres following treatment with sheep erythrocytes. In the cellular
defence boswellic acides appear to increase lymphocyte proliferation whereas higher
concentrations are even inhibitory. Moreover, BAs increase phagocytosis of macrophages.
BAs affect the cellular defence system by interaction with production/release of cytokines.
Thus, BAs inhibit activation of NFkappaB which is a product of neutrophile granulocytes.
Consequently a down regulation of TNF-alpha and decrease of IL-1, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6
and IFN-gamma, which are proinflammatory cytokines by BEs and BAs has been reported.
Suppressions of the classic way of the complement system was found to be due to inhibition
of the conversion of C3 into C3a and C3b. However, which of these pharmacological
actions contribute to the therapeutic effects and which is finally the best dosage
of a standardized extract needs further examination. And it is also a question whether
or not a single BA will have the same therapeutic effect as a standardized extract.
Among the mediators of inflammatory reaction, mast cell stabilisation has been described
by a BE. Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis appears to play only a minor role as
far as the anti-inflammatory effect is concerned. On the other hand the inhibitory
action of BAs on 5-LO leading to a decreased production of leukotrienes has received
high attention by the scientific community since a variety of chronic inflammatory
diseases is associatied with increased leukotriene activity. At the end of the cascade
of events in the cellular immune system as far as it directs to various tissues of
the body - i.e. autoimmune diseases - formation of oxygen radicals and proteases (for
example elastase) play an important destructive role. Here, BEs as well as BAs have
been found to be inhibitory. From the pharmacological properties of BEs and BAs it
is not surprising that positive effects of BEs in some chronic inflammatory diseases
including rheumatoid arthritis, bronchial asthma, osteoarthritis, ulcerative colitis
and Crohn's disease have been reported.
Copyright 2010. Published by Elsevier GmbH.