title: Anticomplementary activity of boswellic acids--an inhibitor of C3-convertase of the classical complement pathway.
abstract: Boswellic acids (BA), an anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic principle/s of Boswellia serrata, were found to possess anticomplementary activity. It inhibits the in vitro immunohaemolysis of antibody-coated sheep erythrocytes by pooled guinea-pig serum. The reduced immunohaemolysis was found to be due to inhibition of C3-convertase of the classical complement pathway. The threshold concentration for inhibiting C3-convertase was found to be 100 micrograms. However, higher concentrations of BA showed constant inhibitory effects on immunohaemolysis. BA also exhibited weak inhibitory effects on individual components of the complement system. In vivo administration of BA also showed the inhibitory effect on guinea-pig serum.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacology Division, Regional Research Laboratory, Jammu Tawi, India.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kapil
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Moza
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology; D050577:Complement C3-C5 Convertases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D003171:Complement Pathway, Classical / Q000187:drug effects*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014315:Triterpenes; C054625:boswellic acid; D050577:Complement C3-C5 Convertases