Effect of Treatment with Aqueous Extracts of Boswellia serrata on Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability and Brain Edema in Experimental Model of Stroke in Rats

Stroke is the third cause of death and disability in most human communities. Today, herbal medicines are used as alternative therapy with fewer side-effects. Frankincense (Boswellia serrata) has a rich medical history. In this study, the effect of administration of Boswellia serrata extract, was investigated on the level of blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability and stroke-induced brain edema.
In this experimental study, animals were randomly divided into 3 groups of experimental, sham, and control. The experimental group comprised 3 groups receiving aqueous extract of Boswellia serrata at doses of 50,100, and 150mg/kg bw for 30 days. The control group received distilled water, while therapy and ischemia induction, were not performed for sham group. Two hours after the last oral dose, middle cerebral artery occlusion model (MCAO) surgery was conducted on the groups to induce ischemia and assess the level of BBB permeability and brain edema. The data were analyzed using ANOVA test.
In this study, the Boswellia serrata (dose, 50mg/kg) had no significant effect on the BBB permeability and brain edema induced by stroke, but doses 100 and 150 mg/kg significantly reduced the permeability of BBB and brain edema compared to the control group in rats.
According to the results of this study, pre-treatment with aqueous extract of Boswellia serrata reduces BBB permeability and brain edema in the model of ischemia-reperfusion in rats.