Abstract

REVIEW ON PROPERTIES OF BOSWELLIA SERRATA IN INFLAMMATORY AND RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS (RA) MANAGEMENT

Arul Kumar R.*, Indrapriyadharshini C., Parthiban S., Boopathi T. and Jimmy Alexander

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Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease which leads to destruction of joints. Since time immemorial, Boswellia species has been used as incense in religious and cultural ceremonies, as well as in medicines. Boswellia serrata (Salai/Salai guggul) is a medium to large-sized branching tree of the family Burseraceae (Genus Boswellia) that grows in dry mountainous areas of India, Northern Africa, and the Middle East. Boswellia serrata is primarily found in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh. The resinous part of Boswellia serrata contains monoterpenes, diterpenes, triterpenes, tetracyclic triterpenic acids, and four major pentacyclic triterpenic acids, namely - boswellic acid, acetyl—boswellic acid, 11-keto—boswellic acid, and acetyl-11-keto— boswellic acid. Acetyl-11-keto-boswellic acid is the most potent inhibitor of 5-lipoxygenase, an enzyme involved in inflammation, of the four boswellic acids studied. A special extract of Boswellia serrata (BS) is effective in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The primary goal of this review is to scrutinize the anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activity of Boswellia serrata.

Keywords: Boswellia serrata, Boswellic acid, Rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory disorder.