Can Boswellia Help Inflammatory Bowel Disease?

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Boswellia (Indian frankincense), is a moderate to large sized branching tree of  family Burseraceae grows in dry mountainous regions of  India, Northern Africa and Middle East. The main active constituents of  boswellia serrata are the boswellic acids, most importantly AKBA (3-O-acetyl-11-keto-B-boswellic acid). AKBA has showed  many important inflammation-modulating properties in preclinical research. Animal-based and pilot clinical studies support the potential of  BSE (Boswellia serrata gum resin extract) for the therapy of a variety of inflammatory diseases like inflammatory bowel disease, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Boswellia and Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Various researches have shown boswellia serrata to be effective in people suffering from bronchial asthma, with improvements noted in 70% of cases, both in symptoms and in biochemical parameters, as well as in the therapy of chronic inflammation of intestinal mucosa. A 2008 comprehensive review  of the literature reported in the “British Medical Journal” found that B. serrata research was encouraging and showed clinical effectiveness for a number of highly inflammatory health problems;  Crohn’s disease, colitis and arthritis.  Germans with IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) placed boswellia extract among the top three most useful CAM therapies by IBD patients in Germany, along with probiotics and acupuncture. A long with acupuncture and probiotics, boswellia serrata extract helps treat inflammation in the bowels by inhibiting TH1 cytokine production while encouraging TH2 production.

Scientists explored boswellia serrata extract in animals with experimentally induced inflammatory bowel disease. The animals showed tissue injury and adherence of  white blood cells to the gastrointestinal lining. When the animals received B. serrata extract, they exhibited less inflammation and destruction of  gastrointestinal tissue. In another study examined boswellia serrata in an animal model of  ulcerative colitis. They found that the B. serrata extract protected the colon by significantly lessening disease activity, as measured by reduction recruitment and adherence of white blood cells as well as platelets in the inflamed colon. A clinical trial found that patients with ulcerative colitis taking (350 mg three times daily) of  boswellia extract 3 times daily for 6 weeks had similar improvement in symptoms and the severity of  their disease as people with ulcerative colitis taking the medication sulphasalazine.  Overall, 82% of participants receiving boswellia, along with 75% of  participants taking sulphasalazine, went into remission. A follow-up study of chronic colitis people taking gum resin of  boswellia serrata (900 mg daily in 3 divided doses for 6 weeks) and sulfasalazine again demonstrated similar improvements. Additionally, 14 of 20 people  treated with boswellia went into remission compared to 4 of 10 patients treated with sulfasalazine. In a clinical trial included 44 people treated with boswellia serrata extract and 39 patients treated  with mesalazine. Between enrollment and end of  treatment, the Crohn’s Disease Activity Index decreased significantly with both B. serrata extract and mesalazine. In a 2001 edition of the journal Zeitschrift für Gastroenterologie, researchers determined that B. serrata appears to be superior over the commonly used anti-inflammatory medication mesalazine.

Boswellia Suppresses Inflammation

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Boswellia serrata (Indian frankincense) is a herb which has the gum resin extract used for therapeutic purposes related to systemic and topical inflammation. In laboratory animals, boswellic acid inhibited an enzyme that is important in the process of inflammation, and it for this reason decreases swelling caused by chemicals or arthritis. Unlike NSAID’s (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), boswellia fights inflammation by blocking pro-inflammatory 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX). Until now, the only anti-inflammatory compounds that have been found to inhibit both HLE and 5-LOX are those derived from boswellia.

Natural Anti-inflammatory Boswellia

The important component is boswellic acid, which was shown in animal-based studies to be a strong 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) inhibitor with anti-inflammatory and antiarthritic activities. These anti-inflammatory activities have been studied for their effects in osteoarthritis, and it appears that oral boswellia extract can suppress pain and immobility associated with osteoarthritis quite significantly with the effects taking as little as a week to occur. AKBA (3-O-acetyl-11-keto-B-boswellic acid), is a strong, natural inhibitor of pain mediators, including 5-LOX and the protein that activates 5-LOX, as well as of  TNF-alpha, as showed by several blood markers. Also, it destroys the activity of certain matrix metalloproteinases, in particular that of  MMP-3, thus protecting cartilage from breakdown of collagen, an important component in connective tissue. Boswellia extract, while providing effective in the treatment of different chronic inflammatory conditions, produces none of the common side-effects associated with conventional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs  such as ibuprofen and Voltaren.

Anti-inflammatoryStandardised extract of  boswellia is mainly used for its anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects, which make it particularly effective for treating decreased joint mobility and flexibility. In a study that published in the Jan 2003 edition of  “Phytomedicine”, people with osteoarthritis of the knee took boswellia  extract for 8 weeks. Participants experienced reduction pain, reduction frequency in swelling, increased knee bending ability and increased walking distance. In a Sept 2011 study reported in “Osteoarthritis and Cartilage“, curcumin and  boswellia were compared to the prescription drug celecoxib in individuals with osteoarthritis. This combination provided better pain relief and distance walked without pain, and equaled the drug for improving joint flexibility. In one study of 175 participants confined to bed, 67% reported improvements in various parameters; morning stiffness, pain, and ability to carry out daily activities. Two placebo-controlled studies, involving a total of 81 patient with rheumatoid arthritis, reportedly found important reductions in swelling and pain over the course of three months.

In a study, involving  triterpenes in boswellic acid reduce the synthesis of  leukotrienes in intact neutrophils by inhibiting 5-lipoxygenase, the key enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of leukotrienes, which mediate inflammation. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 30 patients were given either 1,000 mg boswellia daily or placebo in three divided doses for 8 weeks. Patients in the boswellia group experienced a important reduction in pain and swelling and increase in range of motion compared to placebo. In a study reported  in the journal Arthritis Research and Therapy in 2008, participants who consumed the boswellia  extract experienced a important improvement in their arthritis symptoms compared to those who took a placebo.

One of the most powerful extract of  boswellia available as a supplement is a patent pending standardized extract called 5-LOXIN™.  5-Loxin is made in such a way as to standardized the extract for 30% AKBA, 10 times more concentrated than typical boswellia. In an animal-based study comparing the efficacy of 5-Loxin to that of the prescription anti-inflammatory medication ibuprofen, 5-Loxin produced a 27% diminution in inflammation, compared to 35% for ibuprofen. In another study comparing5-Loxin to the anti-inflammatory medication prednisone found that 5-Loxin produced a 55% diminution in inflammation, similar to the effects of prednisone. In 1998 a 90-day double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of 5-Loxin was undertaken with 75 osteoarthritis patients. Within 7 days the 250 mg group had a important decrease in joint pain. At the end of the study, both doses of 5-Loxin conferred statistically  and clinically significant improvements in pain scores and physical function scores.

Powerful Antibiotic Propolis

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Propolis is a natural product derived from plant resins collected by honeybees. More than 300 constituents such as polyphenols, phenolic aldehydes, sequiterpene quinines, steroids, amino acids, coumarins and inorganic compounds have been identified in propolis samples. Propolis constituents is highly variable, depending on the plant species and on the season of collection.

Antibacterial Properties of  Propolis

Research findings shows it offers antibiotic, antibacterial, antiseptic, and antifungal. Propolis has also been proven to fight bacterial strains that have become resistant to chemical antibiotics. When chemical antibiotics are taken one condition after another, invading bacteria get “smarter” and the medications eventually becomes less effective. Prescription antibiotics destroy all bacteria in the body, both the friendly, and the bad intestinal flora. Propolis works against harmful bacteria without destroying the friendly bacteria the body needs.

Bee propolis has been shown to fight bacterial strains that have become resistant to chemical antibiotics. The concentrations of flavonoids seem to be responsible for the important antibiotic effects. Propolis was found to have antibacterial effect against a range of commonly encountered cocci and Gram-positive rods, including the human tubercle bacillus, but just limited effect against Gram-negative bacilli. A 2001 study demonstrated that propolis has antifungal effect against multiple strains of yeast, including Candida albicans, which causes yeast infections.

Bee propolis has the ability to directly destroy bacteria, viruses, fungi and penicillin-resistant staphylococcus. Australian scientists, showed that propolis increases the effectiveness of penicillin or other antibiotics from 10 to 100 folds. Used as mouthwash, it may reduce bacteria in the mouth, reduce the formation of plaque and relieve dental pain and gum inflammation.Bee Propolis could assist in treating gingivitis or periodontal disease, according to a study reported in a 2005 edition of  “Oral Health and Preventive Dentistry“.

Anticancer Activities of Propolis

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Propolis is a resinous substance produced by honeybees. Its biological activities and chemical constituents may vary according to the geographic location and to the different plant sources. Propolis is thought to be effective in primary cancer prevention because of its properties of direct anticancer activity, immune enhancing property and antioxidant effect.

Propolis Cancer Prevention and Treatment

Many constituents of propolis have antitumor activities including artepillin C, caffeic acid phenyl ester (CAPE), luteolin, galangin, and quercetin. Propolis, was first identified as an anti-cancer remedy in a late 1980s when “Dezider Grunberger’s group at Columbia University” found that CAPE is the important anti-cancer ingredient.

PropolisAn in vitro study found propolis to have a more potent cytotoxic effect against human lung adenocarcinoma (A549) and human fibrosarcoma (HT-1080) cells compared to 5-fluorouracil. A study reported in “Nutrition and Cancer” in 2003 revealed that propolis stimulated apoptosis and necrosis of lung cancer tumors in mice. According to a study reported in the Feb 2004 issue of the “American Journal of  Biochemistry and Biotechnology“, propolis contains therapeutic compounds that can kill MCF-7, a breast carcinoma cell. In an animal-based study reported in 2005 in Veterinary Research Communications, scientists found that caffeic acid reduced the number of lung tumors in mice.

The investigators found that caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) arrests early-stage prostate cancer by shutting down the tumour cells’ system for detecting sources of nutrition. “If you feed CAPE to mice daily, their tumours will stop growing. After several weeks, if you stop the treatment, the tumours will begin to grow again at their original pace,” said Richard B. Jones. During the study, mice that had human prostate tumors grafted in to them were administered oral doses of CAPE for 6 weeks. The tumors volume growth was reduced by half as long as they were administered CAPE. Several weeks after discontinuing the CAPE therapy the tumor cells began to grow at their original pace again, suggesting the substance does not kill the cells just prevents cellular division and prostate cancer proliferation.

Since bee propolis contains anti-cancer ingredients caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) and artepillin C, both of which block the oncogenic PAK1 signaling pathways, its possible therapeutic effects on NF tumors were explored in vivo. The PAK 1 is understood to be responsible for the activation of molecules fostering cellular division, the survival of cancer cells, the invasion of the body by the tumor and the development of blood vessels within the tumor. Where CAPE (Caffeic acid phenethyl ester) was taken orally by mice with lung tumours, a reduction of tumour size of 50 % was noted.  Artepillin C; has been isolated from propolis and has been shown to have cytotoxic effect on human lung cancer cells, human gastric carcinoma cells and mouse colon carcinoma cells in vitro. In a survey conducted in 2007 observed a significant  reduction in the emergence of new blood vessels within the tumor in mice treated orally with Artepillin C. Shown that intratumoral injections of 500 mgs of Artepillin C produced apoptosis and an increase in immune defenses. More than 70% of cancers are PAK1 dependant and Artepillin C appears to be a very  strong blocking agent of PAK1.

Are Ashwagandha Effective in Treating Anxiety?

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Ashwagandha (Withania Somnifera) is a traditional ayurvedic medicine herb used in India for more than 3,000 years and is frequently referred to as “Indian Ginseng“. Ashwagandha has been investigated as an adaptogen, a class of natural plant agents that build non-specific resistance to various stressors. Withanolides are main constituents of this herb and play an significant role in ashwagandha’s overall ability to promote mental and physical health.

Ashwagandha and Anxiety

It is traditionally used for insomnia, age-related problems, impotence and mental fatigue. New researches reveal that Ashwagandha, can restore the neurotransmitters and hence can be beneficial in various mental disorders.

Ashwagandha,has important stress-relieving effects comparable to those of strong drugs used to treat anxiety and depression. A study done at the Department of  Pharmacology, University of  Texas Health Science Center indicated that extracts of  Ashwagandha produce GABA-like activity, which may account for the herb’s anti-anxiety effects. The findings of a study reported in the Dec 2000 edition of  Phytomedicine, found that its antidepressant effects were comparable with the prescription treatment imipramine.

Withania SomniferaIn a study published in Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, ashwagandha was found to be as effective as diazepam for cases of anxiety and depression associated. In a trial, 30 patients suffering from anxiety neurosis were administered a dose of 40 ml per day for a month. The research concluded that most of anxiety symptoms, panic attacks and phobia were significantly relieved. Oral administration of ashwagandha for 5 days suggested anxiety-relieving effects similar to those achieved by the anti-anxiety drug Ativan, and antidepressant effects similar to those of the prescription antidepressant drug Tofranil. In a study reported in the Aug 2009 edition of the  journal PLoS One, investigators found that ashwagandha was an effective and safe option to help alleviate anxiety.

In a study, scientists investigated the effects of a standardized extract of ashwagandha on the unfavorable effects of stress, including elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol. The participants demonstrated several measurable improvements, including a reduction of cortisol levels up to 26%. The Department of  Neuropsychiatry and Geriatric Psychiatry at India’s Asha Hospital carried a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving 64 participants with a history of chronic stress. The study group began supplementing with high-concentration, full-spectrum ashwagandha extract. After 2 months, the study group reported important improvements in all stress measurements and quality of  life.