title: Inhibition of leukotriene B4 formation in rat peritoneal neutrophils by an ethanolic extract of the gum resin exudate of Boswellia serrata.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Tübingen, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Ammon
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mack
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Safayhi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D007975:Leukotriene B4 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016859:Lipoxygenase Inhibitors; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010529:Peritoneal Cavity / Q000166:cytology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012116:Resins, Plant; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D016859:Lipoxygenase Inhibitors; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012116:Resins, Plant; D014315:Triterpenes; C049844:salai guggal; D007975:Leukotriene B4