Anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective activity of boswellic acids in rotenone parkinsonian rats

Abstract

There is evidence that inflammation and oxidative stress contribute to the neurodegenerative changes observed in Parkinson's disease. Unfortunately, there is a lack of curative treatment for this debilitating movement disorder. Boswellic acids (BAs) are pentacyclic triterpene molecules of plant origin that have been utilized for treating many inflammatory conditions. The current study was conducted to explore the protective role of BAs against rotenone-induced experimental parkinsonism. Twenty-four rats were assigned to one of four treatment groups. The first two groups were a vehicle group (no rotenone) and a rotenone control group in which rats received rotenone (1 mg/kg) every 48 h. The next 2 groups received rotenone (1 mg/kg every 48 h) plus protective oral doses of BAs (125 or 250 mg/kg daily). Rats in the rotenone group showed motor dysfunction when tested in the open-field arena and cylinder and rotarod tests. Moreover, inflammatory markers increased, whereas the dopamine level was lower in the striata of rats in the rotenone group versus those in the vehicle group. BAs taken by rats with rotenone-induced parkinsonism showed enhanced general motor performance, reduced inflammatory markers, and increased striatal dopamine level and nigral tyrosine hydroxylase immunostaining. In conclusion, BAs are promising agents in slowing the progression of Parkinson's disease if appropriate data become available about their safety and efficacy in humans.

The protective effect of natural compounds against rotenone‐induced neurotoxicity

“…The BAs also have been shown to have an inhibitory effect on signal transducer and as an activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) protein. [ 132 ] STAT3 is a critical signaling molecule involved in downstream regulation of proinflammatory cytokines. [ 133 ] Therefore, inhibition of NF‐κB and STAT3 proteins may be potential targets for the treatment of rotenone‐induced neurotoxicity [ 132 ] (Figure 4).…”

Boswellic acids ameliorate doxorubicin-induced nephrotoxicity in mice: a focus on antioxidant and antiapoptotic effects

“…BAs were also reported to produce antioxidant and hepatoprotective effect against non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases produced after feeding rats with a high-fat diet [21]. One recent study demonstrated the neuroprotective effect of BAs in experimentally induced Parkinsonism in rats [22].…”

Repeat oral dose safety study of standardized methanolic extract of Boswellia sacra oleo gum resin in rats

“…This indicates good extraction and it also shows that the quality of oleo gum resin used for extraction is of very good quality. Earlier reports show that the boswellic acids in the extract varies from 65% to 0.03% in Boswellia serrata , the most widely used boswellia species (Ameen et al, 2017, Beghelli et al, 2017). There are no reports on the amount of boswellic acids present in Boswellia sacra used in Arabian countries.…”