Journal of Medical Council of Iran
مجله علمی پژوهشی سازمان نظام پزشکی
Volume 43, Issue 1 (2025)
jmciri 2025, 43(1): 6-17 |
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Aghababaei M J, Mashhadi Akbar Boojar M, Mashhadi Akbar Boojar M. Therapeutic Potentials of Boswellic Acid: An Updated Review for Researchers. jmciri 2025; 43 (1) :6-17
URL: http://jmciri.ir/article-1-3325-en.html
URL: http://jmciri.ir/article-1-3325-en.html
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abstract: (88 Views)
Background: In recent years, much attention has been paid to using natural substances to treat many chronic diseases. Boswellic acid, obtained from the gum resin of Boswellia serrata (B. serrata) and Boswellia carteri, which consists of five-ring triterpene molecules, has been of interest since ancient times to treat various diseases. This review aims to provide an in-depth explanation of the origin, structure, pharmacokinetics, and especially the biological activities of boswellic acid derivatives.
Methods: Articles were reviewed to find studies on B. serrata and isolated boswellic acid derivatives and properties such as anti-cancer, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic, blood lipid-lowering, immune modulator, anti-diabetic, liver protective, anti-asthmatic, and anti-Alzheimer disease. For this purpose, the keywords “Boswellia, Boswellic acid, Therapeutic reviews, Anti-inflammatory” which were selected according to the MeSH pattern were searched in Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopus databases separately and together.
Results: The antitumor effects of B. serrata are due to its triterpenoid content, especially boswellic acid. Among boswellic acid derivatives, acetylketoboswellic acid has shown the greatest potential as a cytotoxic molecule. Activation of caspases, increase in Bax expression, decrease in NF-kB level, inhibition of TNF, cyclooxygenase, and lipoxygenase, and suppression of free radical production all play major roles in the cytotoxic and antitumor effects, blood lipid-lowering, immune system modulation, antidiabetes and treatment and prevention of neurodegenerative diseases.
Conclusion: Numerous preclinical researches and a wide range of clinical trials have shown that boswellic acid and its derivatives have a wide range of beneficial medicinal effects against many chronic diseases. These factors can inhibit several mechanisms that contribute to disease progression. However, doubts about the pharmacokinetic quality of this compound have been a decisive challenge in the development of boswellic acid derivatives as an effective drug. Many studies have been initiated to find ways to overcome these barriers and progress in this area will be gradual.
Methods: Articles were reviewed to find studies on B. serrata and isolated boswellic acid derivatives and properties such as anti-cancer, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic, blood lipid-lowering, immune modulator, anti-diabetic, liver protective, anti-asthmatic, and anti-Alzheimer disease. For this purpose, the keywords “Boswellia, Boswellic acid, Therapeutic reviews, Anti-inflammatory” which were selected according to the MeSH pattern were searched in Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopus databases separately and together.
Results: The antitumor effects of B. serrata are due to its triterpenoid content, especially boswellic acid. Among boswellic acid derivatives, acetylketoboswellic acid has shown the greatest potential as a cytotoxic molecule. Activation of caspases, increase in Bax expression, decrease in NF-kB level, inhibition of TNF, cyclooxygenase, and lipoxygenase, and suppression of free radical production all play major roles in the cytotoxic and antitumor effects, blood lipid-lowering, immune system modulation, antidiabetes and treatment and prevention of neurodegenerative diseases.
Conclusion: Numerous preclinical researches and a wide range of clinical trials have shown that boswellic acid and its derivatives have a wide range of beneficial medicinal effects against many chronic diseases. These factors can inhibit several mechanisms that contribute to disease progression. However, doubts about the pharmacokinetic quality of this compound have been a decisive challenge in the development of boswellic acid derivatives as an effective drug. Many studies have been initiated to find ways to overcome these barriers and progress in this area will be gradual.
Type of Study: Review |
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