Protective potential of frankincense essential oil and its loaded solid lipid nanoparticles against UVB-induced photodamage in rats via MAPK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways; A promising anti-aging therapy.

Frankincense oil has gained increased popularity in skin care, yet its anti-aging effect remains unclear. The current study aimed to investigate the anti-photoaging effect of frankincense (Boswellia papyrifera (Del.) Hochst., Family Burseraceae) essential oil in an in vivo model. The oil was initially extracted by two methods: hydro-distillation (HD) and microwave-assisted hydro-distillation (MAHD). GC/MS analysis revealed the dominance of n-octyl acetate, along with other marker compounds of B. papyrifera including octanol and diterpene components (verticilla 4(20) 7, 11-triene and incensole acetate). Thereafter, preliminary investigation of the anti-collagenase and anti-elastase activities of the extracted oils revealed the superior anti-aging effect of HD-extracted oil (FO), comparable to epigallocatechin gallate. FO was subsequently formulated into solid lipid nanoparticles (FO-SLNs) via high shear homogenization to improve its solubility and skin penetration characteristics prior to in vivo testing. The optimimal formulation prepared with 0.5% FO, and 4% Tween® 80, demonstrated nanosized spherical particles with high entrapment efficiency percentage and sustained release for 8 hours. The anti-photoaging effect of FO and FO-SLNs was then evaluated in UVB-irradiated hairless rats, compared to Vitamin A palmitate as a positive standard. FO and FO-SLNs restored the antioxidant capacity (SOD and CAT) and prohibited inflammatory markers (IL6, NFκB p65) in UVB-irradiated rats via downregulation of MAPK (pERK, pJNK, and pp38) and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways, alongside upregulating TGF-ß expression. Subsequently, our treatments induced Procollagen I synthesis and downregulation of MMPs (MMP1, MMP9), where FO-SLNs exhibited superior anti-photoaging effect, compared to FO and Vitamin A, highlighting the use of SLNs as a promising nanocarrier for FO. In particular, FO-SLNs revealed normal epidermal and dermal histological structures, protected against UVß-induced epidermal thickness and dermal collagen degradation. Our results indicated the potential use of FO-SLNs as a promising topical anti-aging therapy.

[Chemical constituents of diterpenoids from Boswellia carterii].

This paper explored the chemical constituents of Boswellia carterii by column chromatography on silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, ODS column chromatography, and semi-preparative HPLC. The structures of the compounds were identified by physicochemical properties and spectroscopic data such as infrared radiation(IR), ultra violet(UV), mass spectrometry(MS), and nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR). Seven diterpenoids were isolated and purified from n-hexane of B. carterii. The isolates were identified as(1S,3E,7E,11R,12R)-11-hydroxy-1-isopropyl-4,8,12-trimethyl-15-oxabicyclo[10.2.1]pentadeca-3,7-dien-5-one(1),(1R,3S,4R,7E,11E)-4,8,12,15,15-pentamethyl-14-oxabicyclo[11.2.1]hexadeca-7,11-dien-4-ol(2), incensole(3),(-)-(R)-nephthenol(4), euphraticanoid F(5), dilospirane B(6), and dictyotin C(7). Among them, compounds 1 and 2 were new and their absolute configurations were determined by comparison of the calculated and experimental electronic circular dichroisms(ECDs). Compounds 6 and 7 were obtained from B. carterii for the first time.

Phytochemical study of Boswellia dalzielii oleo-gum resin and evaluation of its biological properties.

Boswellia dalzielii is a resin-producing tree endemic to West and Central Africa, used by local populations for various medicinal purposes. In this study, B. dalzielii gum resin was analyzed by GC-MS and UHPLC-MS to identify and quantify volatile and non-volatile compounds. Its main volatile constituents were α-pinene (54.9%), followed by α-thujene (4.4%) and α-phellandren-8-ol (4.0%). Pentacyclic triterpenoids such as ß-boswellic acids and their derivatives were quantified by UHPLC-MS and their content was shown to reach around 22% of the gum resin. Since some of the volatile and non-volatile compounds identified in this work are known to possess biological effects, the bioactivities of B. dalzielii ethanolic extract, essential oil, as well as fractions of the oil and extract were evaluated. Some of these samples exhibited interesting anti-inflammatory properties, and their antioxidant, anti-ageing and skin-bleaching activities were also tested.

Simultaneous identification and quantification of pentacyclic triterpenoids and phenolic compounds from the leaves of Boswellia serrata using LC-MS/MS tandem mass spectrometry.

Boswellia serrata (B. serrata) is an important medicinal plant widely used as dietary supplements to provide a support for osteoarthritic and inflammatory diseases. The occurrence of triterpenes in leaves of B. serrata is very little or none. Therefore, the qualitative and quantitative determination of phytoconstituents (triterpenes and phenolics) present in the leaves of B. serrata is very much needed. The aim of this study was to develop an easy, rapid, efficient and simultaneous liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the identification and quantification of the compounds present in the leaves extract of B. serrata. The purification of ethyl acetate extracts of B. serrata was performed by solid phase extraction method, followed by HPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis. Chromatographic parameters of the analytical method included negative electrospray ionization (ESI-) with a flow of 0.5 mL/min in gradient mode consisting of acetonitrile (A) and water (B) containing 0.1% formic acid, at 20 °C. Total 19 compounds (13 triterpenes and 6 phenolic compounds) were separated, and simultaneously quantified using a validated LC-MS/MS method with high accuracy and sensitivity. Good linearity was obtained with r2 > 0.973 in the calibration range. The overall recoveries were in a range between 95.78 and 100.2% with relative standard deviations (RSD) below 5% for the entire procedure of matrix spiking experiments. Overall, there was no ion suppression from the matrix. The quantification data showed that the total amount of triterpenes and phenolic compounds in the leaves of B. serrata ethyl acetate extract samples ranged from 14.54 to 102.14 mg/g and 2.14 to 93.12 mg/g of dry extract, respectively. This work provides, for the first time, a chromatographic fingerprinting analysis on the leaves of B. serrata. A rapid, efficient, and simultaneous liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed and used for the both identification and quantification of triterpenes and phenolic compounds in the leaves extracts of B. serrata. The method established in this work can be used as quality-control method for other market formulations or dietary supplements containing leaf extract of B. serrata.

A Simple HPTLC Approach of Quantification of Serratol and Tirucallic Acid with Boswellic Acids in Boswellia serrata by Validated Densitometric Method with MS/MS Characterization.

This study was planned to develop a simple high-performance thin-layer chromatography method for qualitative and quantitative estimation of 3-acetyl-11-keto-ß-boswellic acid (AKBBA), ß-boswellic acid (BBA), 3-oxo-tirucallic acid (TCA) and serratol (SRT) with HPTLC-ESI-MS/MS for characterization in Boswellia serrata Roxb. oleo gum resin extract. The method was developed with hexane-ethyl acetate-toluene-chloroform-formic acid as mobile phase. RF values observed for AKBBA, BBA, TCA and SRT were 0.42, 0.39, 0.53 and 0.72, respectively. The method was validated according to International Council for Harmonisation guidelines. The concentration range for linearity was 100-500 ng/band for AKBBA and 200-700 ng/band for the other three markers with r2 > 0.99. The method resulted in good recoveries as 101.56, 100.68, 98.64 and 103.26%. The limit of detection was noticed as 25 , 37, 54 and 38 ng/band, with a limit of quantification as 76, 114, 116 and 115 ng/band, for AKBBA, BBA, TCA and SRT, respectively. The four markers were identified and confirmed in B. serrata extract using TLC-MS by indirect profiling by LC-ESI-MS/MS and were identified as terpenoids, TCA and cembranoids: AKBBA (mass/charge (m/z) = 513.00), BBA (m/z = 455.40), 3-oxo-tirucallic acid (m/z = 455.70) and SRT (m/z = 291.25), respectively.

New verticillane-diterpenoid as potent NF-κB inhibitor isolated from the gum resin of Boswellia sacra.

Two new verticillane-diterpenoids (1 and 2) were isolated from the gum resin Boswellia sacra. Their structures were elucidated by physiochemical and spectroscopic analysis, as well as ECD calculation. In addition, the in vitro anti-inflammatory activities of the isolated compounds were evaluated by determining the inhibitory effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 mouse monocyte-macrophages. The results showed that compound 1 exhibited significant inhibitory effect on NO generation with an IC50 value of 23.3 ± 1.7 µM suggesting that it might be a candidate for an anti-inflammatory agent. Furthermore, 1 potently inhibited the release of inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α induced by LPS in a dose-dependent manner. Using Western blot and Immunofluorescence methods, compound 1 was found to inhibit inflammation mainly by restraining the activation of NF-κB pathway. And in the MAPK signaling pathway, it was found to have inhibitory effects on the phosphorylation of JNK and ERK proteins and have no effect on the phosphorylation of p38 protein.

Efficacy and Safety of Aflapin®, a Novel Boswellia Serrata Extract, in the Treatment of Osteoarthritis of the Knee: A Short-Term 30-Day Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Aflapin®, also known as AprèsFlex® was developed as an enhanced bioavailable extract of Boswellia serrata gum resin, standardized to 20% 3-O-acetyl-11-keto-ß-boswellic acid. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial confirms the efficacy of Aflapin in ameliorating the symptoms of osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. METHODS: Based on the inclusion/exclusion criteria of the American College of Rheumatology, seventy subjects were recruited and randomized into Placebo (n = 35) and Aflapin (n = 35) groups. Subjects received either 100 mg Aflapin or a placebo for 30 days. All subjects were evaluated for pain and physical function using the standard tools i.e., Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Lequesne Functional Index (LFI), and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) at the baseline (Day 0), 5, and 30 days of treatment. Additionally, several inflammatory and cartilage biomarkers, including matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein (COMP), and collagen type II cleavage (C2C) were evaluated. Total blood chemistry analyses were conducted to affirm the safety of Aflapin. RESULTS: Sixty-seven subjects completed the study. Aflapin conferred significant improvements in pain scores as early as five days of treatment. Post-trial, VAS, LFI, WOMAC pain, WOMAC stiffness, WOMAC function, and total WOMAC scores decreased in the Aflapin group by 45%, 40.9%, 44.4%, 66.3%, 44.4%, and 48%, respectively. Aflapin supplementation also reduced circulating MMP-3, TNFα, hsCRP, and C2C. CONCLUSION: This investigation affirms that Aflapin is clinically efficacious, fast-acting, and safe in the management of osteoarthritis. No significant adverse effects were observed.

Beneficial Effect of Methanolic Extract of Frankincense (Boswellia Sacra) on Testis Mediated through Suppression of Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis.

Boswellia sacra oleo gum resin (Burseraceae) commonly known as frankincense is traditionally used in many countries for its beneficial effect on male fertility. This study explores its effect on the male reproductive system after a 60-day repeated administration at two different doses to rats (in vivo) and on human Leydig cells (in vitro). The methanolic extract of B. sacra was analyzed for the presence of various constituents by preliminary phytochemical analysis and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) while quantitative analysis of boswellic acids was done by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Administration of B. sacra extract to rats elevated the serum testosterone levels with an associated reduction in serum levels of FSH and LH. An increase in the activity of antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase and catalase, was seen. A dose-dependent increase in the sperm count and sperm motility was also observed. The in vivo results were supported by changes in the expression of the Bcl-2 gene and caspase-3 gene in human Leydig cells in vitro. The results of this study support the traditional use of B. sacra to increase male fertility.

Evaluation of antibacterial and wound-healing activities of alcoholic extract of Boswellia carterii, in vitro and in vivo study.

BACKGROUND: Today, despite the existence of various chemical and physical treatments for wound healing, the use of traditional medicine including herbal medicine is still widely used in most developed and developing countries. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the antimicrobial and wound-healing activities of alcoholic extract of Boswellia carterii (BC) plant. METHODS: The BC extract was prepared using alcohol 70%. The chemical groups and extract compounds were determined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis, respectively. The antimicrobial and wound-healing activities of different concentrations of BC extract and its combination with penicillin-streptomycin were assessed by agar well diffusion and infected wound model in albino rabbits, respectively. RESULTS: FTIR revealed the presence of hydroxyl, amide, carboxyl, alkyl C-H stretches, aromatic C=C bends, and aromatic C-H bends in the BC extract. The HPLC revealed 14 different compounds including thujene (48.0%) as the most abundant ingredient. All BC concentrations showed antibacterial and wound-healing activities. The 10% concentration of BC extract had the strongest antibacterial effect. Also, the combination of penicillin-streptomycin with BC extract showed synergistic antibacterial effect. The 5% concentration of BC was the best wound-healing compound which healed the wound in 6 days and decreased the wound size 10 mm each day. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated the potential abilities of BC as an antibacterial and wound-healing medicinal plant. Further studies are required to justify the in vivo use of this plant.

Frankincense extract protects against testicular damage through augmentation of antioxidant defense mechanisms and modulation of apoptotic genes expression.

Frankincense (Boswellia sacra Fluck.,) is traditionally used in the treatment of altered male fertile potential in several countries. This study evaluated the cytoprotective action of B. sacra oleo gum resin extract against cyclophosphamide (CP) induced testicular toxicity in rats (in-vivo) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced cytotoxicity in human Leydig cells (in-vitro). The methanolic extract of B. sacra was standardized for the presence of different boswellic acids using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and volatile constituents in the extract were detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Two doses of B. sacra extract were used in the in-vivo study. The HPLC analysis showed that extract contains about 36% w/w of total boswellic acids and GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of another 71 different constituents. Administration of B. sacra extract to rats increased serum testosterone levels, antioxidant enzyme activities, and sperm count with improved sperm quality in a dose-dependent manner, when compared to CP treated animals. Boswellia sacra extract also protected the human Leydig cells against LPS-induced damage and increased the expression of the Bcl-2 gene along with a decrease in caspase-3 gene expression. The results of this study show that B. sacra extract has a protective effect on the male reproductive system.

Pro-inflammatory cytokine molecules from Boswellia serrate suppresses lipopolysaccharides induced inflammation demonstrated in an in-vivo zebrafish larval model.

BACKGROUND: Boswellia serrate is an ancient and highly valued ayurvedic herb. Its extracts have been used in medicine for centuries to treat a wide variety of chronic inflammatory diseases. However, the mechanism by which B. serrata hydro alcoholic extract inhibited pro-inflammatory cytokines in zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae with LPS-induced inflammation remained unknown. METHODS: LC-MS analysis was used to investigate the extract's phytochemical components. To determine the toxicity of B. serrata extract, cytotoxicity and embryo toxicity tests were performed. The in-vivo zebrafish larvae model was used to evaluate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of B. serrata extract. RESULTS: According to an in silico study using molecular docking and ADMET, the compounds acetyl-11-keto-boswellic and 11-keto-beta-boswellic acid present in the extract had higher binding affinity for the inflammatory specific receptor, and it is predicted to be an orally active molecule. In both in-vitro L6 cells and in-vivo zebrafish larvae, 160 µg/mL concentration of extract caused a high rate of lethality. The extract was found to have a protective effect against LPS-induced inflammation at concentrations ranged between 10 and 80 µg/mL. In zebrafish larvae, 80 µg/mL of treatment significantly lowered the level of intracellular ROS, apoptosis, lipid peroxidation, and nitric oxide. Similarly, zebrafish larvae treated with B. serrata extract (80 µg/mL) showed an increased anti-inflammatory activity by lowering inflammatory specific gene expression (iNOS, TNF-α, COX-2, and IL-1). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our findings suggest that B. serrata can act as a potent redox scavenger against LPS-induced inflammation in zebrafish larvae and an inhibitor of specific inflammatory genes.

Tracing analgesic constituents from crude and vinegar-processed resin of Boswellia carterii by integrating ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry-based determination, analgesic evaluation in mice, and gray relationship analysis.

The analgesic effect of the resin of Boswellia carterii (BC) is well known; however, the constituents that contribute to the analgesic effect remain elusive. The current study integrates ultrasonic-assisted extraction, quantitative determination, analgesic evaluation in rats, and gray relationship analysis for tracing analgesic constituents from the resin of BC. First, a robust and precise ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry approach with multiple reaction monitoring mode was developed for the simultaneous quantification of seven major constituents in crude and vinegar-processed resin of BC. Glycyrrhetinic acid was chosen as the internal standard. The approach showed good linearity. The intra- and inter-day precisions of each constituent were within 3.0%. The recoveries of each constituent were in the range of 96.4-102.7%. The approach was then applied to determine the seven constituents in 10 batches of crude and vinegar-processed resin of BC. Second, the analgesic effects of crude and vinegar-processed resin of BC were assessed in mice. Third, chemometrics methods, gray relationship analysis, and partial least squares regression were employed for determining the relationship between the contents of seven constituents and their analgesic effects. 11-Keto-ß-boswellic acid, 3-acetyl-ß-boswellic acid, 3-acetyl-α-boswellic acid, 3-acetyl-11-keto-ß-boswellic acid, and ß-sitosterol were identified as the key analgesic constituents of BC.

Isolation, molecular characterization, immunological and anticoagulatant activities of polysaccharides from frankincense and its vinegar processed product.

Frankincense (FRA), the oily resin consisting of essential oils, boswellic acids (BAs) and polysaccharides, has been used to improve the blood circulation and relieve pain against carbuncles. According to the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, vinegar processed frankincense (VPF) can increase the effects of promoting blood circulation and relieving pain. Existing studies have carried out much on BAs and essential oils. However, the comparative analysis of polysaccharides from FRA and VPF has not been reported. In this paper, two polysaccharides were isolated and purified from FRA and the other two were from VPF, and their structures and physicochemical properties were analyzed. The immunological and anticoagulatant activities of the four polysaccharides were tested in RAW 264.7 cell and Sprague-Dawley rats, respectively. The polysaccharides purified from VPF showed better immunological and anticoagulatant activities than those in FRA. Therefore, polysaccharides may be one of the active substances for the synergistic effect of VPF.

Beneficial Effects on Abdominal Bloating with an Innovative Food-Grade Formulation of Curcuma longa and Boswellia serrata Extracts in Subjects with Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Small Bowel Dysbiosis.

Bloating is a symptom frequently reported by subjects with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and small bowel dysbiosis, and Low FODMAP's diet (LFD) has been used to treat them. Extracts of Curcumalonga and Boswelliaserrata share anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects that could be useful in the management of these clinical conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of curcumin and boswellia extracts (as Curcumin Boswellia Phytosome, CBP) and LFD on the relief of abdominal bloating in IBS subjects with small bowel dysbiosis, in comparison to LFD alone, in a 30-day supplementation, randomized trial. IBS participants were randomized to either the intervention (500 mg bid of CBP and LFD) or control arm (LFD). Small bowel dysbiosis has been defined by an increase of urinary indican with normal urinary skatole. A total of 67 subjects were recruited. The intervention group (33 subjects) showed a significant decrease (p < 0.0001) of bloating, abdominal pain, and indican values at the end of the study, when compared to the control group (34 subjects). Moreover, the subjects of the intervention group showed a significantly better (p < 0.0001) global assessment of efficacy (GAE) as compared to controls. In conclusion, in subjects with IBS and small bowel dysbiosis, abdominal bloating can be successfully reduced with a supplementation with CBP and LFD.

Molecular evidences on anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and memory-boosting effects of frankincense.

Chemical diversity of natural products with drug-like features has attracted much attention from medicine to develop more safe and effective drugs. Their anti-inflammatory, antitumor, analgesic, and other therapeutic properties are sometimes more successful than chemical drugs in controlling disease due to fewer drug resistance and side effects and being more tolerable in a long time. Frankincense, the oleo gum resin extracted from the Boswellia species, contains some of these chemicals. The anti-inflammatory effect of its main ingredient, boswellic acid, has been traditionally used to treat many diseases, mainly those target memory functions. In this review, we have accumulated research evidence from the beneficial effect of Frankincense consumption in memory improvement and the prevention of inflammation and cancer. Besides, we have discussed the molecular pathways mediating the therapeutic effects of this natural supplement.

Rapid Identification of Commercial Frankincense Products by MALDITOF Mass Spectrometry.

BACKGROUND: Frankincense is a resin secreted by the Boswellia tree. It is used in perfumery, aromatherapy, skincare, and traditional Chinese medicine. However, all Boswellia species are under threat owing to habitat loss and overexploitation. As a result, the market is getting flooded with counterfeit frankincense products. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to establish a high-throughput method to screen and identify the authenticity of commercial frankincense products. We report, for the first time, a matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS)-based method for rapid and high-throughput screening of frankincense samples. METHODS: MALDI-TOF MS, HPLC, thin-layer chromatography (TLC), and in vitro antiinflammatory activity assay were used to examine the frankincense samples. RESULTS: Well-resolved peaks of frankincense triterpenoids in the spectra were observed in the crude extract of commercial samples, including α-boswellic acids (αBAs), ß-boswellic acids (ßBAs), 11-keto-ß-boswellic acids (KBAs), acetyl-11-keto-ß-boswellic acids (AKBAs), and their esters. These compounds can be used as indicators for determining the authenticity of frankincense. CONCLUSION: Unlike LC-MS, which is a time-consuming and expensive method, and TLC, which requires a reference sample, our inexpensive, rapid high-throughput identification method based on MALDI-TOF MS is ideal for large-scale screening of frankincense samples sold in the market.

Anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective cembranoid alcohols from the Gum Resin of Boswellia carterii.

Five undescribed cembranoid alcohols, boscartinols A-E (1-5) were discovered from the gum resin of Boswellia carterii. Their structures were elucidated by analyzing the spectroscopic data. Notably, all these five compounds preserved an isopropyl type cembranoid skeleton, featured the same groups of one epoxy ring at C1-C12 and one hydroxy group at C-11, as well as two double bonds migrating from C3 to C9 and one hydroxy group from C3 to C8 within the cembranoid structure. These cembranoids were evaluated for the hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory activities using two cell models of APAP-induced HepG2 and LPS-induced RAW 264.7. For hepatoprotective activity, compounds 1 and 5 showed remarkable hepatoprotective activity (inhibition rate of 51.6% and 39.8%, respectively) at 10 µM, with the other three compounds of 2-4 showing less potently hepatoprotective. For anti-inflammatory activity, compounds 2-4 showed significant inhibitory effects on NO produced by LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cell (IC50 values of 13.40 µM, 7.08 µM and 14.26 µM), with the other two compounds of 1 and 5 showing less potently anti-inflammatory activities.

Inhibition of heme detoxification pathway in malaria parasite by 3-hydroxy-11-keto-ß-boswellic acid isolated from Boswellia serrata.

Malaria eradication is still a major global health problem in developing countries, which has been of more concern ever since the malaria parasite has developed resistance against frontline antimalarial drugs. Historical evidence proves that the plants possess a major resource for the development of novel anti-malarial drugs. In the present study, the bioactivity guided fractionation of the oleogum-resin of Boswellia serrata Roxb. yielded the optimum activity in the ethyl acetate fraction with an IC50 of 22 ± 3.9 µg/mL and 26.5 ± 4.5 µg/mL against chloroquine sensitive (NF54) and resistant (K1) strains of Plasmodium falciparum respectively. Further, upon fractionation, the ethyl acetate fraction yielded four major compounds, of which 3-Hydroxy-11-keto-ß-boswellic acid (KBA) was found to be the most potent with IC50 values 4.5 ± 0.60 µg/mL and 6.25 ± 1.02 µg/mL against sensitive and resistant strains respectively. KBA was found to inhibit heme detoxification pathways, one of the most common therapeutic targets, which probably lead to an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) detrimental to P. falciparum. Further, the induced intracellular oxidative stress affected the macromolecules in terms of DNA damage, increased lipid peroxidation, protein carbonylation as well as loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. However, it did not exhibit any cytotoxic effect in VERO cells. Under in vivo conditions, KBA exhibited a significant reduction in parasitemia, retarding the development of anaemia, resulting in an enhancement of the mean survival time in Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis (chloroquine-resistant) infected mice. Further, KBA did not exhibit any abnormality in serum biochemistry of animals that underwent acute oral toxicity studies at 2000 mg/kg body weight.

Antifungal Evaluation and Molecular Docking Studies of Olea europaea Leaf Extract, Thymus vulgaris and Boswellia carteri Essential Oil as Prospective Fungal Inhibitor Candidates.

Background: The present study investigated the antifungal activity and mode of action of four Olea europaea leaf extracts, Thymus vulgaris essential oil (EO), and Boswellia carteri EO against Fusarium oxysporum. Methods:Fusarium oxysporum Lactucae was detected with the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. The chemical compositions of chloroform and dichloromethane extracts of O. europaea leaves and T. vulgaris EO were analyzed using GC-MS analysis. In addition, a molecular docking analysis was used to identify the expected ligands of these extracts against eleven F. oxysporum proteins. Results: The nucleotide sequence of the F. oxysporum Lactucae isolate was deposited in GenBank with Accession No. MT249304.1. The T. vulgaris EO, chloroform, dichloromethane and ethanol efficiently inhibited the growth at concentrations of 75.5 and 37.75 mg/mL, whereas ethyl acetate, and B. carteri EO did not exhibit antifungal activity. The GC-MS analysis revealed that the major and most vital compounds of the T. vulgaris EO, chloroform, and dichloromethane were thymol, carvacrol, tetratriacontane, and palmitic acid. Moreover, molecular modeling revealed the activity of these compounds against F. oxysporum. Conclusions: Chloroform, dichloromethane and ethanol, olive leaf extract, and T. vulgaris EO showed a strong effect against F. oxysporum. Consequently, this represents an appropriate natural source of biological compounds for use in healthcare. In addition, homology modeling and docking analysis are the best analyses for clarifying the mechanisms of antifungal activity.

Potential therapeutic effects of boswellic acids/Boswellia serrata extract in the prevention and therapy of type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer's disease.

The link between diabetes and cognitive dysfunction has been reported in many recent articles. There is currently no disease-modifying treatment available for cognitive impairment. Boswellia serrata (B. serrata) is used traditionally to treat chronic inflammatory diseases such as type 2 diabetes (T2D), insulin resistance (IR), and Alzheimer's disease (AD). This review aims to highlight current research on the potential use of boswellic acids (BAs)/B. serrata extract in T2D and AD. We reviewed the published information through June 2021. Studies have been collected through a search on online electronic databases (Academic libraries as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Egyptian Knowledge Bank). Accumulating evidence in preclinical and small human clinical studies has indicated that BAs/B. serrata extract has potential therapeutic effect in T2D and AD. According to most of the authors, the potential therapeutic effects of BAs/B. serrata extract in T2D and AD can be attributed to immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant activity, and elimination of the senescent cells. BAs/B. serrata extract may act by inhibiting the IκB kinase/nuclear transcription factor-κB (IKK/NF-κB) signaling pathway and increasing the formation of selective anti-inflammatory LOX-isoform modulators. In conclusion, BAs/B. serrata extract may have positive therapeutic effects in prevention and therapy of T2D and AD. However, more randomized controlled trials with effective, large populations are needed to show a definitive conclusion about therapeutic efficacy of BAs/B. serrata extract in T2D and AD.