Boswellic Acids Show In Vitro Activity against Leishmania donovani

In continuation of our search for leads from medicinal plants against protozoal pathogens, we detected antileishmanial activity in polar fractions of a dichloromethane extract from Boswellia serrata resin. 11-keto-β-boswellic acid (KBA) could be isolated from these fractions and was tested in vitro against Leishmania donovani axenic amastigotes along with five further boswellic acid derivatives. 3-O-acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid (AKBA) showed the strongest activity with an IC50 value of 0.88 µM against axenic amastigotes but was inactive against intracellular amastigotes in murine macrophages

Isolation and Identification of Boswellic Acids by Modern Analytical Techniques

Quality by Design (QbD) is a modern, scientific approach that formalizes product design, automates manual test¬ing, and streamlines troubleshooting. It uses a system¬atic approach to ensure quality by developing a thorough understanding of the compatibility of a finished product to all of the components and processes involved in manufac¬turing that product. Olibanum also known as “Dhup”, Indian Frankincense is an oleo gum resin of Boswellia species. In India it is obtained from Boswellia serrata. Boswellia serrata (Burseraceae) The major use of Boswellia serrata in contemporary medicine is as an anti-arthritic and anti-inflammatory pharmacological agent. The anti-inflammatory properties of the gum resin are attributed to the presence of “boswellic acids” The four major pentacyclic triterpenic acids present in the acidic extract of Boswellia serrata gum resin. β-Boswellic Acid, Acetyl-β-Boswellic Acid, 11-keto-β-Boswellic Acid, Acetyl-11-keto-β-Boswellic Acid. Oleo gum resin was subjected for solubility studies in different solvents. In this 10 commonly available solvents were used for extraction including water. All of them showed same TLC pattern except water. In case of maceration no heat is employed, but the material has to be extracted multiple times with fresh solvent each time. In this method solvent requirement increases. Each time the extract was checked for presence of boswellic acids by TLC to ensure complete extraction. It took 4-5 times repeated extraction for complete extraction of Boswellic acids by maceration. Literature survey reveals that anti-inflammatory activities associated with this resin are completely restricted to presence of Boswellic acids. So focus in experimental work done is placed on isolation of acid fraction of oleo gum resin. As mentioned in the procedures above acid fraction was obtained as white precipitate. This white precipitate was separated, dried and weighed. Amount of acid fraction obtained was determined on weight basis. In the experimental work done isolation of acid fraction was carried out by procedures mentioned in section above. This is common procedure which uses treatment of resin with alkali to convert acid into its salt and then precipitating salt of acid by using mineral acid. Studies were carried out to check variations in amount of acid portion obtained when parameters were altered. Use of 2% KOH followed by dilute hydrochloric acid as mineral acid will be most suitable.