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Planta Med 1991; 57(3): 203-207
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-960074
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© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Inhibition of Leukotriene B4 Formation in Rat Peritoneal Neutrophils by an Ethanolic Extract of the Gum Resin Exudate of Boswellia serrata

H. P. T. Ammon1 , T. Mack1 , G. B. Singh2 , H. Safayhi1
  • 1Department of Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Institute, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, D-7400 Tübingen, Federal Republic of Germany
  • 2Pharmacology Department, Regional Research Laboratory, Jammu-Tawi, India
Further Information

Publication History

1990

Publication Date:
05 January 2007 (online)

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Abstract

Suspensions of rat peritoneal polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) elicited with glycogen were stimulated by calcium and ionophore to produce leukotrienes and 5-HETE from endogenous arachidonic acid (AA). We investigated the effect of ethanolic extracts of the gum resin exudate of Boswellia serrata. A concentration-dependent inhibition of LTB4 and 5-HETE production by different charges of exudate extracts were found. All products of the 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOx) from endogenous arachidonic acid (AA) in PMNL were reduced to the same extent by the extracts tested. The ethanolic extract of the gum resin also decreased 5-LOx mediated metabolisation of exogenously added AA to LTB4 and 5-HETE. Since steroidal-type anti-inflammatory drugs do not exert an immediate effect in the test system used, we conclude that the activity of the 5-LOx itself represents the side of inhibition by the gum resin extract. Therefore, an inhibition of 5-LOx catalysed mediator synthesis might be involved in the previously reported anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.

Key words

5-Lipoxygenase - leukotrienes - Boswellia serrata - Salai guggal

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