Biomaterial Database

Inhibition by boswellic acids of human leukocyte elastase. 1997

H Safayhi, and B Rall, and E R Sailer, and H P Ammon

Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Tuebingen, Germany.

Frankincense extracts and boswellic acids, biologically active pentacyclic triterpenes of frankincense, block leukotriene biosynthesis and exert potent anti-inflammatory effects. Screening for additional effects of boswellic acids on further proinflammatory pathways, we observed that acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid, an established direct, nonredox and noncompetitive 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor, decreased the activity of human leukocyte elastase (HLE) in vitro with an IC50 value of about 15 microM. Among the pentacyclic triterpenes tested in concentrations up to 20 microM, we also observed substantial inhibtion by beta-boswellic acid, amyrin and ursolic acid, but not by 18beta-glycyrrhetinic acid. The data show that the dual inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase and HLE is unique to boswellic acids: other pentacyclic triterpenes with HLE inhibitory activities (e.g., ursolic acid and amyrin) do not inhibit 5-lipoxygenase, and leukotriene biosynthesis inhibitors from different chemical classes (e.g., NDGA, MK-886 and ZM-230,487) do not impair HLE activity. Because leukotriene formation and HLE release are increased simultaneously by neutrophil stimulation in a variety of inflammation- and hypersensitivity-based human diseases, the reported blockade of two proinflammatory enzymes by boswellic acids might be the rationale for the putative antiphlogistic activity of acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid and derivatives.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000894	Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal	Anti-inflammatory agents that are non-steroidal in nature. In addition to anti-inflammatory actions, they have analgesic, antipyretic, and platelet-inhibitory actions. They act by blocking the synthesis of prostaglandins by inhibiting cyclooxygenase, which converts arachidonic acid to cyclic endoperoxides, precursors of prostaglandins. Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis accounts for their analgesic, antipyretic, and platelet-inhibitory actions; other mechanisms may contribute to their anti-inflammatory effects.	Analgesics, Anti-Inflammatory,Aspirin-Like Agent,Aspirin-Like Agents,NSAID,Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agent,Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agents,Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agent,Anti Inflammatory Agents, Nonsteroidal,Antiinflammatory Agents, Non Steroidal,Antiinflammatory Agents, Nonsteroidal,NSAIDs,Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agents,Agent, Aspirin-Like,Agent, Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory,Agent, Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory,Anti-Inflammatory Agent, Non-Steroidal,Anti-Inflammatory Agent, Nonsteroidal,Anti-Inflammatory Analgesics,Aspirin Like Agent,Aspirin Like Agents,Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Agent,Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Agents,Nonsteroidal Anti Inflammatory Agent,Nonsteroidal Anti Inflammatory Agents,Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Agents
D013329	Structure-Activity Relationship	The relationship between the chemical structure of a compound and its biological or pharmacological activity. Compounds are often classed together because they have structural characteristics in common including shape, size, stereochemical arrangement, and distribution of functional groups.	Relationship, Structure-Activity,Relationships, Structure-Activity,Structure Activity Relationship,Structure-Activity Relationships
D014315	Triterpenes	A class of terpenes (the general formula C30H48) formed by the condensation of six isoprene units, equivalent to three terpene units.	Triterpene,Triterpenoid,Triterpenoids
D016859	Lipoxygenase Inhibitors	Compounds that bind to and inhibit that enzymatic activity of LIPOXYGENASES. Included under this category are inhibitors that are specific for lipoxygenase subtypes and act to reduce the production of LEUKOTRIENES.	5-Lipoxygenase Inhibitor,Lipoxygenase Inhibitor,12-Lipoxygenase Inhibitors,15-Lipoxygenase Inhibitors,5-Lipoxygenase Inhibitors,Arachidonate 12-Lipoxygenase Inhibitors,Arachidonate 15-Lipoxygenase Inhibitors,Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase Inhibitors,Inhibitors, Lipoxygenase,12 Lipoxygenase Inhibitors,12-Lipoxygenase Inhibitors, Arachidonate,15 Lipoxygenase Inhibitors,15-Lipoxygenase Inhibitors, Arachidonate,5 Lipoxygenase Inhibitor,5 Lipoxygenase Inhibitors,5-Lipoxygenase Inhibitors, Arachidonate,Arachidonate 12 Lipoxygenase Inhibitors,Arachidonate 15 Lipoxygenase Inhibitors,Arachidonate 5 Lipoxygenase Inhibitors,Inhibitor, 5-Lipoxygenase,Inhibitor, Lipoxygenase,Inhibitors, 12-Lipoxygenase,Inhibitors, 15-Lipoxygenase,Inhibitors, 5-Lipoxygenase,Inhibitors, Arachidonate 12-Lipoxygenase,Inhibitors, Arachidonate 15-Lipoxygenase,Inhibitors, Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase
D019272	Leukocyte Elastase	An enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of proteins, including elastin. It cleaves preferentially bonds at the carboxyl side of Ala and Val, with greater specificity for Ala. EC 3.4.21.37.	Lysosomal Elastase,Neutrophil Elastase,PMN Elastase,Polymorphonuclear Leukocyte Elastase,Granulocyte Elastase,Elastase, Granulocyte,Elastase, Leukocyte,Elastase, Lysosomal,Elastase, Neutrophil,Elastase, PMN,Elastase, Polymorphonuclear Leukocyte,Leukocyte Elastase, Polymorphonuclear