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Inhibition of adiposity and related metabolic disturbances by polyphenol-rich extract of Boswellia serrata gum through alteration of adipo/cytokine profiles

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Abstract

Background

The role of proinflammatory cytokines in adiposity is well established. The anti-inflammatory and antihyperglycemia effects of Boswellia serrata (B. Serrata) gum have been demonstrated by many investigators. The present study aimed to investigate the anti-obesity potential of B. serrata extract.

Methods

The effects of B. serrata extract on lipase activity and acute food intake were investigated. The present study aimed to investigate the anti-obesity potential of B. serrata extract. The effects on lipase activity and acute food intake were investigated. Body weight changes, biochemical and histopathological markers were demonstrated in rats fed a high-fat diet.

Results

Boswellia serrata extract inhibited alterations in pancreatic lipase activity, but orlistat was more efficacious. B. serrata and ephidrene, but not orlistat, significantly suppressed cumulative food intake in mice. In obese rats, B. serrata or orlistat significantly decreased weight gain and weight of visceral white adipose tissue. B. serrata-treated animals exhibited a significant reduction in serum glucose, TC, TG, LDL-C, FFA, IL-1β, TNF-α, insulin and leptin levels of obese rat groups while HDL-C and adiponectin levels were significantly increased by orlistat or B. serrata extract. Histopathological examination of the liver revealed that B. serrata was more effective than orlistat in alleviating steatosis and adipocyte hypertrophy shown in obese control rats.

Conclusions

Boswellia serrata is as effective as orlistat in preventing obesity, hyperlipidemia, steatosis and insulin resistance. These actions may be mediated by suppression of food intake and decrease levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and leptin resistance along with increasing adiponectin.

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Acknowledgements

We appreciate the astute observations, the effort and time donation that Prof. Malcolm L. Watson, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of Bath, UK, offered to improve our manuscripts. We also thank Prof. Makboul Ahmed Makboul, Professor of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Assiut University for his specialized assistance in authentication and extraction of the plant materials.

Funding

This work was supported by the Science & the Technology Development Fund (STDF), Ministry of State for Scientific Research, Egypt (Grant # 6897) to purchase materials.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt

    Adel A. Gomaa, Hanan S. M. Farghaly, Magda M. Farrag & Nahla I. Al-Zokeim

  2. Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt

    Dalia A. El-Sers

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  1. Adel A. Gomaa
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  2. Hanan S. M. Farghaly
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  4. Magda M. Farrag
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  5. Nahla I. Al-Zokeim
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Correspondence to Adel A. Gomaa.

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Gomaa, A.A., Farghaly, H.S.M., El-Sers, D.A. et al. Inhibition of adiposity and related metabolic disturbances by polyphenol-rich extract of Boswellia serrata gum through alteration of adipo/cytokine profiles. Inflammopharmacol 27, 549–559 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10787-018-0519-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10787-018-0519-4

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