Affiliation:
1. Department of Traditional Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Abstract
Background:
Neurodegenerative procedures include a large spectrum of disorders with
diverse pathological features and clinical manifestations, such as Alzheimer's Disease (AD), Parkinson's
disease (PD), Multiple sclerosis, and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Neurodegenerative
diseases (NDs) are indicated by progressive loss of neurons and cognitive function, which is associated
with free radical formation, extra and intercellular accumulation of misfolded proteins, oxidative
stress, mitochondrial and neurotrophins dysfunction, bioenergetic impairment, inflammation,
and apoptotic cell death. Boswellic acid is a pentacyclic triterpene molecule of plant origin that has
been applied for treating several inflammatory disorders. Numerous studies have also investigated
its’ therapeutic potential against multiple NDs.
Objective:
In this article, we aim to review the neuroprotective effects of boswellic acid on NDs and
the related mechanisms of action.
Methods:
The databases of PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Sciences, and Scopus were searched
to find studies that reported the effects of boswellic acid on NDs without time limits. Review articles,
letters, editorials, unpublished data, and articles not published in the English language were not
included in the study.
Results:
Overall, 17 studies were included in the present study (8 NDs in general, 5 AD, 3 PD, and
1 ALS). According to the reports, boswellic acid exerts anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiapoptotic,
and neuromodulatory effects against NDs. Boswellic acid decreases Tau phosphorylation
and amyloid-β (Aβ) generation in AD. This substance also protects nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons
and improves motor impairments in PD and modulates neurotransmitters, decreases the demyelination
region, and improves behavioral functions in ALS.
Conclusion:
Due to the significant effects of boswellic acid in NDs, more clinical studies are necessary
to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of this substance because it seems that boswellic acid can be
used as a complementary or alternative treatment in patients with NDs.
PROSPERO Registration Number:
361020.
Funder
Research Council of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences
Publisher
Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.
Subject
Drug Discovery,Pharmacology,General Medicine