Acetyl 11-Keto Beta-Boswellic Acid Improves Neurological Functions in a Mouse Model of Multiple Sclerosis

Acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid is one of the main active components of Boswellia sp. resin with the most potent anti-inflammatory activity. In recent years, herbal therapy has received considerable attention for the treatments of inflammatory and demyelinating diseases such as Multiple sclerosis (MS). Studies have shown that herbal compounds could enhance myelin repair and suppress inflammation. This study was designed to investigate the therapeutic effects of intraperitoneal administration of AKBA in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE), as an animal model of MS. Following EAE induction in female C57BL/6J mice, animals were treated with AKBA and the levels of different serum inflammatory mediators, as well as motor functions, myelination, and inflammatory cell infiltration were assessed. Our results revealed that the application of AKBA alleviated EAE clinical severity, and suppressed inflammation, demyelination, leukocyte infiltration, and gliosis in EAE mice. Our findings suggest that the therapeutic effects of AKBA are likely a consequence of its neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties. The beneficial effects of AKBA may therefore provide new insights in various neuroinflammatory diseases such as MS and thereby could serve as a potential treatment candidate.