title: Anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective activity of boswellic acids in rotenone parkinsonian rats.
abstract: There is evidence that inflammation and oxidative stress contribute to the neurodegenerative changes observed in Parkinson's disease. Unfortunately, there is a lack of curative treatment for this debilitating movement disorder. Boswellic acids (BAs) are pentacyclic triterpene molecules of plant origin that have been utilized for treating many inflammatory conditions. The current study was conducted to explore the protective role of BAs against rotenone-induced experimental parkinsonism. Twenty-four rats were assigned to one of four treatment groups. The first two groups were a vehicle group (no rotenone) and a rotenone control group in which rats received rotenone (1 mg/kg) every 48 h. The next 2 groups received rotenone (1 mg/kg every 48 h) plus protective oral doses of BAs (125 or 250 mg/kg daily). Rats in the rotenone group showed motor dysfunction when tested in the open-field arena and cylinder and rotarod tests. Moreover, inflammatory markers increased, whereas the dopamine level was lower in the striata of rats in the rotenone group versus those in the vehicle group. BAs taken by rats with rotenone-induced parkinsonism showed enhanced general motor performance, reduced inflammatory markers, and increased striatal dopamine level and nigral tyrosine hydroxylase immunostaining. In conclusion, BAs are promising agents in slowing the progression of Parkinson's disease if appropriate data become available about their safety and efficacy in humans.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt.
authors.forename: Angie M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ameen
authors.affiliation: b Medical Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt.
authors.forename: Amany Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Elkazaz
authors.affiliation: c Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt.
authors.forename: Hala M F
authors.initials: HMF
authors.lastname: Mohammad
authors.affiliation: d Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy (Girls), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Bassant M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Barakat
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020734:Parkinsonian Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D051381:Rats; D012402:Rotenone / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D014315:Triterpenes; D012402:Rotenone; C054625:boswellic acid
keywords: acides boswelliques; boswellic acids; inflammation; parkinsonism; parkinsonisme; rat; rotenone; roténone