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Suspensions of rat peritoneal polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) elicited with glycogen were stimulated by calcium and ionophore to produce leukotrienes and 5-HETE from endogenous arachidonic acid (AA). We investigated the effect of ethanolic extracts of the gum resin exudate of Boswellia serrata. A concentration-dependent inhibition of LTB4 and 5-HETE production by different charges of exudate extracts were found. All products of the 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOx) from endogenous arachidonic acid (AA) in PMNL were reduced to the same extent by the extracts tested. The ethanolic extract of the gum resin also decreased 5-LOx mediated metabolisation of exogenously added AA to LTB4 and 5-HETE. Since steroidal-type anti-inflammatory drugs do not exert an immediate effect in the test system used, we conclude that the activity of the 5-LOx itself represents the side of inhibition by the gum resin extract. Therefore, an inhibition of 5-LOx catalysed mediator synthesis might be involved in the previously reported anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.

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Studies with various immunological models of inflammation revealed that the root extract possesses significant activity against carrageenin-induced pleurisy (10), contact and delayed hypersensitivity with picryl chloride (11), and delayed hypersensitivity reactions with oxazolone (12). SG and the ethanolic extract of Salai Guggal ex Boswellia serrata did not affect cell viability and did not stimulate 5-LOx product formation per se in the absence of calcium-ionophore. In conclusion, our findings indicate that SG inhibits leukotriene-generation in vitro. The results obtained thus suggest that the methanolic fraction of P. indica root extract possesses significant anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic action (Table 1).

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