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The oleo gum resin of Boswellia sacra Fleuck. (Burseraceae) is widely consumed for treatment of several diseases and disorders. To determine the effect of repeated administration of this resin on liver and kidney functions, three different doses of standardized methanolic extract were administered orally to rats for 28 days. Apart from histological studies and determination of biomarkers of hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity, other parameters of sub-chronic toxicity such as behavioral change, food consumption and change in body weight were assessed. The extract contained about 36.91% of total boswellic acids; of which 11-keto beta boswellic acid, acetyl-11-keto beta boswellic acid, boswellic acids (α and β) and acetyl boswellic acid (α and β) were found to be 5.81%, 1.91%, 21.92% and 7.27% respectively. Oral administration of the extract for 28 consecutive days did not show any sign of behavioral toxicity and did not affect food consumption or weight gain significantly. Determination of biomarkers of hepatic and nephrotoxicity revealed that extract was safe at the tested doses as it did not produce any significant change in the studied biomarkers except producing a dose dependent increase in serum total protein levels. The histological examination supported biochemical findings. To conclude, methanolic extract of Boswellia sacra doen not produce any significant toxicity to liver and kidney up to doses of 100 mg/kg body weight. The results contradict earlier reports that members of boswellia species produce organ toxicity in rats.

Context: The water extract of Boswellia sacra Flueck. (Burseraceae) is used in the treatment of gastric and hepatic disorders in the Arab countries. Objective: The effect of Boswellia sacra water extract on gastric secretion and experimentally induced gastric ulcers in rats was studied. Materials and methods: Acetic acid-induced chronic gastric ulcers, pylorus ligation, aspirininduced, ethanol-induced, and restraint plus cold stress-induced gastric ulcer models were employed. The effect on normal rats was also studied. The water extract of B. sacra was administered orally at doses of 2 and 5 ml/kg once daily ranging from single dose to 30 d treatment depending on the model. The extract was subjected to GC-MS analysis to determine the presence of various phytoconstituents. Results: Boswellia sacra water extract (5 ml/kg, p.o (per os)) aggravated acetic acid-induced chronic ulcers, wherein an increase in ulcer index (p50.01) and ulcer score (p50.05) was observed. In pylorus-ligated rats, the extract increased gastric content volume (p50.01), free acidity (p50.01), total acidity (p50.01), ulcer index (p50.01), and pepsin activity (p50.05). There was no significant effect on the development of ethanol-induced and aspirin-induced ulcers while an increase in the development of stress-induced ulcers was observed (p50.01). The extract did not produce any ulcers when administered to normal rats. The dose of 2 ml/kg was less proulcerogenic compared with 5 ml/kg. The GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of several phytoconstituents that included menthol, 3-cyclohexen-1-ol, and octanoic acid. Conclusion: Boswellia sacra water extract has proulcerogenic activity due to its gastric hypersecretory effect.

BackgroundMulti-factorial etiology exists in pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases. The imbalance of anti-oxidant enzymes and dopamine level leads to Parkinsonism. The objective of this study was to assess the protective effect of Spirulina fusiform alone and in combination with amantadine against Parkinsonism effect in 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) induced rat model.MethodsS. fusiform was administered in different groups (500 mg/kg, once daily and twice daily) and a combination of spirulina (500 mg/kg, once daily) with amantadine (20 mg/kg once daily) for 30 days before and 14 days after a single injection of 6-OHDA into the dorsal striatum. Post lesion produced rotational behavior which was measured at two week intervals (37th and 44th day). Locomotors activity was also done at 44th and muscle coordination at 48th day. Dorsal striatum was isolated from rat brain for evaluating the antioxidant assays and dopamine content at 49th day.ResultsBoth the body rotations (ipsilateral and contralateral) were found to have a statistically significant (p < 0.001) decrease by 34.26 and 52 % after treatment with spirulina (Twice a day) in spirulina treated lesioned group. A higher percentage of improvement was shown in the reduction of ipsilateral (57.34 %) and contralateral (78.3 %) rotations in combination of spirulina with amantadine treated lesioned group rather than spirulina alone treated lesioned groups when compared with positive control lesioned group. Body movements and locomotor activity were improved statistically (p < 0.0001) significant in both treated lesioned groups (Combination of spirulina with amantadine and spirulina twice daily). Similar results were also seen in anti-oxidant levels which later on reached to the normal value. The levels of dopamine content had a statistically significant (p < 0.0001) increase by 78.3 % only in case of spirulina with amantadine treated lesioned group.ConclusionSpirulina is a potent nutraceutical supplement all over the world, so my preclinical study may contribute to give an additional adjuvant drug therapy in aging related disorders (Neurodegenerative as well as diabetes associated neurodegenerative disorders).Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12906-015-0815-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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