Abstract
This study is aimed at investigating the cytotoxicity, anti-inflammatory, and angiogenic activities of two Boswellia serrata extracts on primary culture of porcine aortic endothelial cells (pAECs). Chemical characterization of a dry extract (extract A) and a hydroenzymatic extract (extract G) of B. serrata was performed by HPLC using pure boswellic acids (BAs) as standard. In cultured pAECs, extract G improved cell viability, following LPS challenge, in a dose-dependent manner and did not show any toxic effect. On the other hand, extract A was toxic at higher doses and restored pAEC viability after LPS challenge only at lower doses. Pure BAs, used at the same concentrations as those determined in the phytoextracts, did not contrast LPS-induced cytotoxicity. Extract A showed proangiogenic properties at the lowest dose, and the same result was observed using pure AKBA at the corresponding concentration, whereas extract G did not show any effect on the migration capacity of endothelial cells. In conclusion, an anti-inflammatory activity of B. serrata extracts on endothelial cells was reported, though cytotoxicity or proliferative stimulation can occur instead of a protective effect, depending on the dose and the formulation.
Highlights
The endothelium, uniquely positioned at the interface between the vascular wall and the blood, regulates multiple functions such as maintenance of normal vascular tone, modulation of coagulation, and immune responses [1]
Other components of the B. serrata phytocomplex were only visualized at 210 nm, and the peak at Rt of 49 min was identified as β-boswellic acid (βBA) by the use of the analytical standard
The gum resin obtained from B. serrata, used in Ayurvedic medicine for the treatment of a variety of diseases, is considered a promising natural source of anti-inflammatory molecules, in particular boswellic acids (BAs) [4, 9]
Summary
The endothelium, uniquely positioned at the interface between the vascular wall and the blood, regulates multiple functions such as maintenance of normal vascular tone, modulation of coagulation, and immune responses [1]. The extracts from the oleo-gum resin of Boswellia serrata Roxb. The oleo-gum resin, obtained by incision of the bark, is composed by essential oil (5–9%), mucopolysaccarides (21–22%), and pure resin (65–85%), containing tetracyclic and pentacyclic triterpene acids, of which boswellic acids (BAs) are the most important bioactive molecules [4, 9, 10]. 11-keto-β-boswellic acid (KBA) and 3-O-acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid (AKBA) were proposed to act as inhibitors of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) [11, 12]. Other components of the phytocomplex, such as β-boswellic acid (βBA), have been suggested as anti-inflammatory molecules, acting through inhibition of serine protease cathepsin G (catG) and microsomal prostaglandin E synthase (mPGES) [9]
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