- Boswellic acid
Boswellic acids are a series of pentacyclic
triterpene molecules which are produced by plants in the genus "Boswellia ". Like many otherterpenes , boswellic acids appear in theresin of the plant which exudes them; it is estimated that they make up 30% of the resin of "B. serrata". [cite web|url=http://www.salugenecists.com/genpage.php?tname=botanical&dbid=24|title=SaluGenecists, Inc. "Boswellia" information]tructure
The boswellic acids are
organic acid s, consisting of a pentacyclic triterpene, acarboxyl group and at least one other functional group. Alpha-boswellic acid and beta-boswellic acid, C30H48O3 both have an additionalhydroxyl group ; they differ only in their triterpene structure. Acetyl-alpha-boswellic acid and acetyl-beta-boswellic acid, C32H50O4, replace the hydroxyl group with anacetyl group.Other boswellic acids include the keto-boswellic acids and their acetyl counterparts.
Uses
Beta-boswellic acid, keto-beta-boswellic acid and acetyl-keto-beta-boswellic acid (AKBA) have been indicated in
apoptosis of cancer cells, particularly brain tumors and cells affected byleukemia orcolon cancer . [cite journal|last=Liu|first=Jian-Jun|coauthors=Nilsson, A., Oredsson, S., Badmaev, V., Zhao, W., Duan, R.|title=Boswellic acids trigger apoptosis via a pathway dependent on caspase-8 activation but independent on Fas/Fas ligand interaction in colon cancer HT-29 cells|journal=Carcinogenesis|volume=23|issue=12|pages=2087–2093|publisher=Oxford University Press|date=December 2002|url=http://carcin.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/23/12/2087|doi=10.1093/carcin/23.12.2087|format=abstract page]Acetyl-boswellic acids also exhibit
anti-inflammatory behaviour by inhibiting and increased lipid accumulation. Paradoxically, low doses of "Boswellia serrata" extract may have hepatoprotective effects. [cite journal |author=Y J, Kamath J, Asad M |title=Effect of hexane extract of Boswellia serrata oleo-gum resin on chemically induced liver damage |journal=Pak J Pharm Sci |volume=19 |issue=2 |pages=129–33 |year=2006 |pmid=16751123]Boswellic acids are also thought to decrease the symptoms of
asthma ; a small 1998 placebo-controlled trial of "Boswellia" extract for the treatment of asthma showed good results. [cite journal |author=Gupta I, Gupta V, Parihar A, Gupta S, Lüdtke R, Safayhi H, Ammon H |title=Effects of Boswellia serrata gum resin in patients with bronchial asthma: results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled, 6-week clinical study |journal=Eur J Med Res |volume=3 |issue=11 |pages=511–4 |year=1998 |pmid=9810030] "Boswellia" extracts are sold intablet ,capsule andtincture form, but no dosage guidelines have been developed. The risk of hepatotoxicity due to "Boswellia" administration has not been assessed.References
External links
* [http://www.lipidat.chemistry.ohio-state.edu/cis888/rehner/searchLMSD_2_4.asp Lipid Molecular Structure Database]
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