Boswellic acid

Boswellic acids are a series of pentacyclic triterpene molecules which are produced by plants in the genus "Boswellia". Like many other terpenes, boswellic acids appear in the resin 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 acids, consisting of a pentacyclic triterpene, a carboxyl group and at least one other functional group. Alpha-boswellic acid and beta-boswellic acid, C₃₀H₄₈O_{3 both have an additional hydroxyl group; they differ only in their triterpene structure. Acetyl-alpha-boswellic acid and acetyl-beta-boswellic acid, C32H50O4, replace the hydroxyl group with an acetyl 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 by leukemia or colon 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 in tablet, capsule and tincture 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]