Boswellia serrata has Beneficial Anti‐Inflammatory and Antioxidant Properties in a Model of Experimental Colitis

Abstract

Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory disease that involves only the colon and rectum, being characterized by leukocyte infiltrate and superficial ulcers in the intestinal mucosa. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of extract from the Boswellia serrata plant in an experimental rat model of acute ulcerative colitis induced by the administration of acetic acid (AA). An extract of B. serrata (34.2 mg/kg/day) was administered by oral gavage for 2 days before and after the induction of colitis with 4 mL of 4% AA. The anal sphincter pressure in the colitis group showed a significant decrease compared to that of the control groups (p < 0.001). The analysis of the values of lipid peroxidation (LPO) obtained by substances that react with thiobarbituric acid (TBARS) showed a significantly increased LPO in the colitis group compared to the control groups (p < 0.001). The nitric oxide levels and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) showed a significant increase in the colitis group compared to control groups (p < 0.01). Both pretreatment and treatment with B. serrata exhibited significantly reduced lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide and iNOS and showed improvements in tissue injury and anal sphincter pressure in animals with ulcerative colitis. The B. serrata extract has protective anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects that inhibit inflammatory mediators in acute experimental colitis.

Therapeutic Potential ofMyrtus communisSubsp.communisExtract Against Acetic ACID-Induced Colonic Inflammation in Rats

“…Various studies have shown that in AA‐induced colitis, MDA, an index of lipid peroxidation, was increased while treatment with antioxidants decreased the level (Hartmann et al . ; Kumar et al . ).…”

“…The main molecular mechanisms involved in oxidative damage to cellular structures have been suggested to be lipid peroxidation (Dianzani and Barrera 2008). Various studies have shown that in AA-induced colitis, MDA, an index of lipid peroxidation, was increased while treatment with antioxidants decreased the level (Hartmann et al 2014;Kumar et al 2014). In agreement with these reports, this study showed that MDA level was significantly increased, indicating oxidative tissue damage.…”

Phytochemicals and Their Potential Usefulness in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

“…Antiinflammatory and antioxidant effects of B. serrata extract (34.2 mg/kg) was evaluated in a rat model of acetic acid‐induced colitis. The protective effects were associated with reduced lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide, and iNOS levels, and an increase in anal sphincter pressure (Hartmann et al , ). Olive leaf extract dose‐dependently attenuated intestinal macroscopic and microscopic scores and reduced the levels of TNF‐α and IL‐2.…”

Effect of Olibanum (Boswellia thurifera) as a feed additive on performance, some blood biochemical and intestinal morphology in broiler chicks

“…A reduction of intestinal crypts indicates a decrease in the exchange of enterocytes and a lower requirement of tissue development (Pluske et al, 1996;Samanya and Yamauchi, 2002). Hartmann et al (2014) observed a reduction of the inflammatory condition and swelling in the intestinal submucosa of rats and reduced damage of the epithelium lining the crypts after the use of Boswellia serrata. …”