11-keto-boswellic-acid and boswellic-acid

A library of boswellic acid analogues were synthesized and tested for their anti-inflammatory potential on key inflammatory mediators, TNF-α and IL-6. The study led to the identification of lead compounds showing significant inhibition of the cytokines, TNF-α and IL-6 both in vitro and in vivo.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Humans; Interleukin-6; Mice; Triterpenes; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Methyl esters of the β-boswellic acid (BA) and 11-keto-β-boswellic acid (KBA) obtained from Boswellia serrata resin were subjected to Steglich esterification with the different non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) viz., ibuprofen, naproxen, diclophenac and indomethacin. The novel hybrids of methyl boswellate (5-8) and that of methyl 11-keto boswellate (9-12) were evaluated for anti-inflammatory activity by carrageenan-induced rat hind paw edema model and anti-arthritic activity by Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) induced arthritis in Wister albino rat. Significant inhibition on carrageenan-induced paw edema has been observed with 5, 6 and 10 where as in CFA induced rats, hybrids 5, 8, 9 and 12 exhibited pronounced antiarthritic activity. Hybrid molecules 5 and 9 have been found to be more effective in inhibiting in-vivo COX-2 than ibuprofen by itself, thus showing the synergistic effect. Hybrid 5 and 9 tested for in-vitro lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase-2 (LOX/COX-2) inhibitory activity. The studies revealed that both 5 and 9 inhibited COX-2 relatively better than LOX enzyme.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Arthritis; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Triterpenes

The microsomal prostaglandin E2 synthase (mPGES)-1 is the terminal enzyme in the biosynthesis of prostaglandin (PG)E2 from cyclooxygenase (COX)-derived PGH2. We previously found that mPGES-1 is inhibited by boswellic acids (IC50 = 3-30 μM), which are bioactive triterpene acids present in the anti-inflammatory remedy frankincense. Here we show that besides boswellic acids, additional known triterpene acids (i.e., tircuallic, lupeolic, and roburic acids) isolated from frankincense suppress mPGES-1 with increased potencies. In particular, 3α-acetoxy-8,24-dienetirucallic acid (6) and 3α-acetoxy-7,24-dienetirucallic acid (10) inhibited mPGES-1 activity in a cell-free assay with IC50 = 0.4 μM, each. Structure-activity relationship studies and docking simulations revealed concrete structure-related interactions with mPGES-1 and its cosubstrate glutathione. COX-1 and -2 were hardly affected by the triterpene acids (IC50 > 10 μM). Given the crucial role of mPGES-1 in inflammation and the abundance of highly active triterpene acids in frankincence extracts, our findings provide further evidence of the anti-inflammatory potential of frankincense preparations and reveal novel, potent bioactivities of tirucallic acids, roburic acids, and lupeolic acids.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Boswellia; Characidae; Cyclooxygenase 1; Cyclooxygenase 2; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; Dinoprostone; Humans; Inhibitory Concentration 50; Intramolecular Oxidoreductases; Lipoxygenase Inhibitors; Molecular Structure; Pentacyclic Triterpenes; Prostaglandin Antagonists; Prostaglandin-E Synthases; Resins, Plant; Structure-Activity Relationship; Tetracycline; Triterpenes

Boswellia serrata gum resin extracts are used widely for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. However, very low concentrations in the plasma and brain were observed for the boswellic acids (1-6, the active constituents of B. serrata). The present study investigated the effect of phospholipids alone and in combination with common co-surfactants (e.g., Tween 80, vitamin E-TPGS, pluronic f127) on the solubility of 1-6 in physiologically relevant media and on the permeability in the Caco-2 cell model. Because of the high lipophilicity of 1-6, the permeability experiments were adapted to physiological conditions using modified fasted state simulated intestinal fluid as apical (donor) medium and 4% bovine serum albumin in the basolateral (receiver) compartment. A formulation composed of extract/phospholipid/pluronic f127 (1:1:1 w/w/w) increased the solubility of 1-6 up to 54 times compared with the nonformulated extract and exhibited the highest mass net flux in the permeability tests. The oral administration of this formulation to rats (240 mg/kg) resulted in 26 and 14 times higher plasma levels for 11-keto-β-boswellic acid (1) and acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid (2), respectively. In the brain, five times higher levels for 2 compared to the nonformulated extract were determined 8 h after oral administration.

Topics: Absorption; Administration, Oral; Animals; Boswellia; Brain; Caco-2 Cells; Humans; Male; Models, Biological; Permeability; Phospholipids; Poloxamer; Polysorbates; Rats; Solubility; Time Factors; Triterpenes; Vitamin E

Boswellic acid acylates including their epimers were synthesized and screened against a panel of human cancer cell lines. They exhibited a range of cytotoxicity against various human cancer cell lines thereby leading to the development of a possible SAR. One of the identified lead compounds was found to be an inhibitor of the NF-κB and STAT proteins, warranting further investigations to be developed into a potential anticancer lead.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Drug Design; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Flow Cytometry; HL-60 Cells; Humans; Models, Chemical; NF-kappa B; Phosphorylation; STAT Transcription Factors; Triterpenes

Semi-synthetic analogues of β-boswellic acid (BA) and 11-keto-β-boswellic acid (KBA) were comparatively evaluated for in vitro cytotoxicity against human myeloid leukaemia (HL-60) and human cervical carcinoma (HeLa) cells. 2-Cyano analogues of both the triterpenes were observed to have significant cytotoxicity against both the cells, displaying cytotoxicity in HL-60 cells at low concentrations. Further investigations suggested the proapoptotic potential associated with the two molecules to induce cytotoxicity in HL-60 cells, where one of them showed early proapoptotic effect as evidenced by several biological end-points of the apoptosis such as annexinV binding, DNA fragmentation and increase in sub-G0 DNA fraction and apoptotic bodies formation (Hoechst 33258 staining and SEM studies).

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; Cell Cycle; HeLa Cells; HL-60 Cells; Humans; Nitriles; Oxygen; Triterpenes

4-Amino analogues prepared from beta-boswellic acid and 11-keto-beta-boswellic acid, wherein the carboxyl group in ursane nucleus was replaced by an amino function via Curtius reaction, displayed improved cytotoxicity than the parent molecules. The same molecules also exhibited apoptotic activity by inducing DNA fragmentation.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Apoptosis; Boswellia; Cell Line, Tumor; DNA Fragmentation; Growth Inhibitors; Humans; Triterpenes

The present study revealed the synergistic effect of boswellic acid mixture (BA) and glucosamine for anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activities in rats. Two studies were conducted, that is, acute anti-inflammatory by carrageenan edema and chronic anti-arthritic by Mycobacterium-induced developing arthritis. Five groups of animals were included in each of the study: the vehicle control, positive control (ibuprofen 100mg/kg), boswellic acids (250 mg/kg), glucosamine (250 mg/kg) and a combination of boswellic acids (125 mg/kg) and glucosamine (125 mg/kg). BA when administered at 250 mg/kg in rats, carrageenan-induced paw edema and Mycobacterium-induced developing arthritis were significantly inhibited. In comparison to boswellic acids, glucosamine when administered at 250 mg/kg showed a mild effect in carrageenan-induced edema and moderate inhibition of paw swelling against developing arthritis. Although the combination of boswellic acids and glucosamine did not affect the acute inflammation to a greater extent yet a significant anti-arthritic activity was observed in rats. In conclusion, a synergistic effect was observed in chronic inflammatory conditions when two chemical entities were administered in combination in preclinical study.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Arthritis; Carrageenan; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; Drug Design; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Drug Synergism; Edema; Glucosamine; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Models, Chemical; Mycobacterium; Rats; Triterpenes

Pentacyclic triterpenes from the 11-keto-boswellic acid series were identified as the active principal ingredients of Boswellia resin, inhibiting the key enzyme of leukotriene biosynthesis, 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO). Of the genuine boswellic acids hitherto characterized, 3-O-acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid, AKBA (1), proved to be the most potent inhibitor of 5-LO. In the course of purification of further boswellic acid derivatives from Boswellia resin, we observed the degradation of the natural compound 3-O-acetyl-11-hydroxy-beta-boswellic acid (2) to the thermodynamically more stable product 3-O-acetyl-9, 11-dehydro-beta-boswellic acid (4). The metastable intermediate of this conversion, under moderate conditions of workup in methanolic solutions, was identified as 3-O-acetyl-11-methoxy-beta-boswellic acid (3). The novel artifactual boswellic acid derivatives inhibited 5-LO product formation in intact cells with different characteristics: 4 almost totally abolished 5-LO activity, with an IC(50) of 0.75 microM, whereas 3 and 9,11-dehydro-beta-boswellic acid (5), the deacetylated analogue of 4, were incomplete inhibitors. The data suggest that the conditions chosen for the workup of Boswellia extracts could significantly influence the potency of their biological actions and their potential therapeutic effectiveness.

Topics: Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase; Chromatography, Gel; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Leukotrienes; Lipoxygenase Inhibitors; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Medicine, Traditional; Neutrophils; Plants, Medicinal; Resins, Plant; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; Triterpenes