In Vitro and In Vivo Chondroprotective and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of a Standardized Boswellia serrata Extract in Osteoarthritis Models
- 1Phytoveda Pvt. Ltd., Maharashtra 400043, India
- 2Cryst Bio Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Maharashtra 412308, India
- 3Viridis Biopharma Pvt. Ltd., Maharashtra 400043, India
Abstract
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint deformity that is characterised by chronic inflammation, progressive cartilage degeneration, compromised cartilage repair capacity, and limited therapeutic options. This study highlights the anti-inflammatory, chondroprotective, cytoprotective, and regenerative responses of a Boswellia serrata extract (BS) incorporating serratol and tirucallic acids, using complementary in vitro and in vivo osteoarthritis models. In vitro, the therapeutic benefits of BS were investigated in inflammation-induced THP-1 macrophage and SW1353 chondrosarcoma cell lines using western blot and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analyses. In vivo, BS was orally supplemented in monoiodoacetate-induced Sprague-Dawley rats, and their knee joints were histologically and biochemically analyzed for inflammation and cartilage turnover markers. In vitro, BS reduced pro-inflammatory stimulation by suppressing cluster of differentiation 86, tumour necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-6 expression and diminishing the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase. In addition, BS attenuated principal pro-inflammatory and catabolic modulators while restoring the levels of cartilage anabolic markers, reducing inflammation, and enhancing extracellular matrix synthesis. In vivo, BS supplementation notably suppressed systemic pro-inflammatory markers and reduced cartilage matrix degradation, while promoting cartilage regeneration. Histopathological examinations observed attenuated articular degeneration and inflammatory alterations. Furthermore, BS modulated cartilage remodelling markers compared with the standard drug indomethacin. Overall, the study highlights that BS exerts pleiotropic effects by suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokine pathways, suppressing nuclear factor kappa B/mitogen-activated protein kinase signalling, attenuating extracellular matrix catabolism, and facilitating cartilage repair. These in vitro and in vivo findings support the potential of BS as a promising therapeutic intervention against osteoarthritis progression.
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BibTeX
@article{bhaskar2026vitro,
title = {{In Vitro and In Vivo Chondroprotective and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of a Standardized Boswellia serrata Extract in Osteoarthritis Models}},
author = {Anand Bhaskar and Gunjan Gujrati and Minal Vivek Parab and Prem Muthuraj and Ashok Kumar Vishwakarma and Chhaya Godse and Yogesh Talekar and Anirudh Mehta and Siddharth J. Modi and Juhi Srivastava},
journal = {Preventive Nutrition and Food Science},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3746/pnf.2026.133},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3746/pnf.2026.133},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - In Vitro and In Vivo Chondroprotective and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of a Standardized Boswellia serrata Extract in Osteoarthritis Models
AU - Anand Bhaskar
AU - Gunjan Gujrati
AU - Minal Vivek Parab
AU - Prem Muthuraj
AU - Ashok Kumar Vishwakarma
AU - Chhaya Godse
AU - Yogesh Talekar
AU - Anirudh Mehta
AU - Siddharth J. Modi
AU - Juhi Srivastava
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/21
JO - Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
DO - 10.3746/pnf.2026.133
UR - https://doi.org/10.3746/pnf.2026.133
AB - Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint deformity that is characterised by chronic inflammation, progressive cartilage degeneration, compromised cartilage repair capacity, and limited therapeutic options. This study highlights the anti-inflammatory, chondroprotective, cytoprotective, and regenerative responses of a Boswellia serrata extract (BS) incorporating serratol and tirucallic acids, using complementary in vitro and in vivo osteoarthritis models. In vitro, the therapeutic benefits of BS were investigated in inflammation-induced THP-1 macrophage and SW1353 chondrosarcoma cell lines using western blot and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analyses. In vivo, BS was orally supplemented in monoiodoacetate-induced Sprague-Dawley rats, and their knee joints were histologically and biochemically analyzed for inflammation and cartilage turnover markers. In vitro, BS reduced pro-inflammatory stimulation by suppressing cluster of differentiation 86, tumour necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-6 expression and diminishing the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase. In addition, BS attenuated principal pro-inflammatory and catabolic modulators while restoring the levels of cartilage anabolic markers, reducing inflammation, and enhancing extracellular matrix synthesis. In vivo, BS supplementation notably suppressed systemic pro-inflammatory markers and reduced cartilage matrix degradation, while promoting cartilage regeneration. Histopathological examinations observed attenuated articular degeneration and inflammatory alterations. Furthermore, BS modulated cartilage remodelling markers compared with the standard drug indomethacin. Overall, the study highlights that BS exerts pleiotropic effects by suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokine pathways, suppressing nuclear factor kappa B/mitogen-activated protein kinase signalling, attenuating extracellular matrix catabolism, and facilitating cartilage repair. These in vitro and in vivo findings support the potential of BS as a promising therapeutic intervention against osteoarthritis progression.
SN - 2287-1098
SN - 2287-8602
ER -