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Research: GUPTA and colleagues,
Listed in Issue 73
Abstract
GUPTA and colleagues, Department of Medicine, Medical College Jammu, JK, India, studied the gum resin of Boswellia serrata for the treatment of patients with chronic colitis .
Background
The inflammatory process in colitis is associated with increased formation of leukotrienes causing chemotaxis, chemokinesis, synthesis of superoxide radicals and release of lysosomal enzymes by phagocytes. The key enzyme for leukotriene biosynthesis is 5-lip oxygenase . Boswellic acids were found to be non-redox, non-competitive specific inhibitors of 5-lipoxygenase.
Methodology
This clinical trial involved 30 patients (17m, 13f; age range 18-48 years) with chronic colitis characterized by vague lower abdominal pain, bleeding per rectum with diarrhoea, and palpable tender descending and sigmoid colon. 20 of the patients received a preparation of the gum resin of Boswellia serrata (900 mg daily in three divided doses) and 10 patients (controls) received sulfasalazine (3 g daily in three divided doses) for 6 weeks.
Results
18 out of the 20 patients in the Boswellia group showed an improvement on one or more of the following [after the 6-week treatment]: stool properties, histopathology, scanning electron microscopy, haemoglobin, serum iron, calcium, phosphorus, proteins, total leukocytes and eosinophils. 6 of the 10 patients in the control group showed similar results with the same parameters. 14 of the 20 patients in the Boswellia group and 4 out of 10 in the sulfasalazine group [subsequently] went into remission. The authors reported 'minimal side effects' with Boswellia.
Conclusion
The findings suggest that a gum resin preparation from Boswellia serrata might be useful in the treatment of chronic colitis .
References
Gupta I et al. Effects of gum resin of Boswellia serrata in patients with chronic colitis. Planta Medica 67 (5): 391-5. Jul 2001.
Comment
A more extensive study with larger numbers of patients per group and possibly a longer treatment period is needed to confirm these initial promising findings.
