Boswellia Serrata Supplementation in Horses: Effects on Ex Vivo Immune Responses and Redox Status

The gum resin of Boswellia serrata (BS), a natural compound also called Indian frankincense in the traditional medicine, has been used for centuries in the Middle East and in central Africa for its anti-inflammatory, antiarthrogenic, and analgesic properties (1, 2). The persistent low-grade inflammation plays a key role in the pathogenesis of many chronic diseases (3) and most of these diseases are also associated with increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which results in oxidative stress (4). However, in recent years, the extracts from the gum resin of BS have been also shown to target both the humoral and adaptive immune responses in mice (5), eventually interfering with the inflammatory cascade (6). To date, the effects of an oral administration of BS in horses has not been investigated. Purpose of this preliminary work was the evaluation of immune responses in ex vivo peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of horses supplemented with BS and its effects on their redox status.