Maxi-Boz II 90 capsules - Boswellia serrata, a herb with remarkable anti-inflammatory properties | AOR

AOR Maxi•Boz II is standardized Boswellia serrata extract, a botanical with a long historical usage in traditional Ayurvedic medicine for support in inflammatory conditions. Boswellic acids are the key triterpene phytonutrients which are responsible for Boswellia's ability to help relieve inflammation and support good joint health.

Put Out the Fires
Boswellia functions in a similar way as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that are generally used in inflammatory conditions. However, boswellic acids are less toxic and even more potent. They are effective at blocking the production of pro-inflammatory signaling molecules which cause the constriction of airways in the lungs. One of these signaling molecules is elastase, which may be involved in emphysema and possibly in cystic fibrosis, chronic bronchitis and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Boswellic acids also block the recruitment of inflammatory cells, and the increased permeability of blood vessels, which allow inflammatory cells to reach tissues. Boswellic acids also specifically inhibit the enzyme that is responsible for producing a main category of pro-inflammatory molecules.

Anti-inflammatory Protection
Maxi Boz II contains standardized Boswellia serrata to prevent and alleviate the damages caused by excessive inflammation and reduce the symptoms of inflammatory disorders such as arthritis, ulcerative colitis, and many others

who can benefit from Maxi-Boz?
People who suffer from the disorders that Boswellia may relieve

key benefits of Maxi-Boz
• can be beneficial for asthma
• can be beneficial for skin disorders
• can be beneficial for inflammatory bowel disease
• is an anti-inflammatory supplement

Boswellia serrata is a branching tree generally found in dry, hilly areas of India

background reading
Anti-inflammatory Activity
Ethanolic extracts of the resin demonstrated reduced carrageenan-induced paw edema in normal rats and mice as well as in adrenalectomized rats. Further, extracts showed anti-arthritic activity in formaldehyde and adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats and BSA-induced arthritis in the rabbit. In addition, the researchers found the above extract to be more beneficial, less toxic and more potent than the standard drug of choice, Ketoprofen, a widely used prescriptive Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). More recently, a number of researchers have identified the anti-inflammatory activity of the ethanolic extracts of the resin to be due to Boswellic Acids, in particular the alpha and beta isomers. Recently, a more purified compound standardized for 65% Boswellic Acids has shown potent anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activity without any of the adverse effects (e.g. gastro-intestinal, CNS and cardiovascular).

A study including 70 patients suffering from osteoarthritis of the knee has demonstrated the positive effects of Boswellic acids in humans. These patients received either 100mg or 250mg of boswellic acid containing extract, or a placebo, daily for 90 days. Patients receiving either dose of boswellic acids demonstrated significant improvements in both pain and functional ability of the knee joint. Even more impressive is that patients receiving the 250mg dose showed these improvements as early as 7 days following the start of treatment and required other pain medication 72% less often than patients taking placebos.

The mechanism of action of Boswellic Acids is similar to the action of NSAIDs. Prostaglandins and leukotrienes are two classes of arachidonic acid-derived mediators of inflammation. Leukotrienes, for which 5-lipooxygenase (5-LOx) is the key enzyme in synthesis, are considered to be involved in the initiation and maintenance of various inflammatory diseases, for example arthritis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, asthma etc. Boswellic Acids are potent inhibitors of 5-lipooxygenase product, including 5-hydroxyeiconatetraenoic acid (5HETE), and leukotriene B4 (LTB4), which cause: bronchoconstriction, chemotaxis, and increased vascular permeability. Other anti-inflammatory plant constituents, such as quercetin, also block this enzyme, but they do so in a more general fashion, as an antioxidant, whereas Boswellia seems to be a specific inhibitor of 5-LOx.

It is known that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can cause a disruption of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) synthesis that can accelerate the articular damage in arthritic conditions. A recent in-vivo study examined BSE and ketoprofen for their effects on glycosaminoglycan metabolism. BSE significantly reduced the degeneration of GAGs compared to controls, whereas ketoprofen caused a reduction in total tissue GAG content. Boswellic acids have also been shown to decrease the prevalence of matrix metalloproteinases in the synovial fluid. These enzymes are often over expressed in osteoarthritis patients, and have been implicated in the degredation of cartilage in the joints.

In addition, Boswellic Acids inhibited antibody production, as well as infiltration of polymorphonuclear leucocytes, thereby reducing inflammatory effect. In conclusion there is considerable research to support the highly beneficial properties of standardized Boswellic Acids in inflammatory conditions.

Anti-complement Activity
BSE also demonstrated a marked inhibitory effect on both the classical and alternate complement systems.

Analgesic Activity
An investigation of BSE's analgesic and psychopharmacologic effects noted that it "was found to exhibit marked sedative and analgesic effects" in animals.

Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Leukotrienes are suggested to play a role in the inflammatory process of ulcerative colitis (UC). BSE 350mg three times a day was comparable to sulfasalazine (at 1g three times a day), a standard prescriptive drug in UC.

Other biological activities
BSE has also been observed to inhibit human leukocyte elastase (HLE), which may be involved in the pathogenesis of emphysema. HLE also stimulates mucus secretion and thus may play a role in cystic fibrosis, chronic bronchitis, and acute respiratory distress syndrome.