https://openjournals.ljmu.ac.uk/JNPD/issue/feed 2024-01-31T17:18:00+00:00 Dr Jose M. Prieto-Garcia j.m.prietogarcia@ljmu.ac.uk Open Journal Systems <p>JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS DISCOVERY (JNPD) is devoted to the publication of original articles The Journal publishes papers describing significant novelty in the analysis, isolation of metabolites, biological and pharmacological&nbsp;properties of natural products (including whole plants, marine organisms, terrestrial animals, fungi, bacteria and viruses, their cells, tissues and organs. The derived extracts and isolates should have characteristics or activities relevant for either basic biological sciences (botany, ecology, biochemistry, pharmacology, etc.) or use in the food, agrochemical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and related industries. All forms of physical, chemical, biochemical, spectroscopic, radiometric, electrometric, chromatographic, metabolomic and chemometric investigations of plant products are also within the scope of the journal. Papers dealing with novel methods relating to areas such as data handling / data mining in plant sciences will also be welcomed.</p> https://openjournals.ljmu.ac.uk/JNPD/article/view/2180 2023-12-16T18:30:22+00:00 Martín Dadé martindade26@hotmail.com Jose Prieto-Garcia j.m.prietogarcia@ljmu.ac.uk Flavio Fancini f_francini@yahoo.com Guillermo Raúl Schinella schinell@gmail.com

<p>Neutrophil activation is required for the initiation of the defence mechanisms which include phagocytosis. Paradoxically, neutrophils also represent one of the main mediators of tissue injury in various human diseases. The resolution of inflammation requires getting rid of excess inflammatory cells through natural cell death and phagocyte clearance. Frankincense, an oleogum resin of different species of the genus <em>Boswellia </em>(<em>Burseraceae</em>)<em>, </em>has long been used in eastern countries' traditional medicine to alleviate pain and inflammation. Although it was demonstrated that boswellic acids are potent activators of polymorphonuclear cells, little is known about the effects of the total extract on the human phagocytes’ apoptosis.</p> <p>We here undertake a characterization of the <em>Boswellia carteri </em>resin extract (BCE) effects on human neutrophils activity and viability in vitro.<strong> </strong>Oxidative burst after stimulation with BCE was evaluated by reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) colorimetric method for superoxide anion radical in the the presence of different compounds (N-ethyl maleimide, diltiazem, chelerythrine and wortmannin). Neutrophils viability was assessed by MTT. Flow analyses were performed with propidium iodide (PI) and annexin V-FITC.</p> <p>Our results show that BCE induces the release reactive species of oxygen in human neutrophils in a dose dependent manner. The superoxide anion radical is principally produced via NADPH oxidase since inhibitors of the enzyme may prevent it. Ca⁺² depletion reduce the magnitude of activation and PKC and PI3-K are also apparently involved in the process. The BCE has also cytotoxic activity revealed by the MTT assay. This effect seems to be produced by an apoptotic process as shown by the exclusion of the dye propidium iodide and the annexin V-FITC binding.</p> <p>The capacity of the <em>Boswellia carterii </em>extract to accelerate the cellular death by an apoptotic process suggest that either the extract or its active compounds could have applications for the resolution of some inflammatory conditions.</p>

2024-01-31T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2023 Guillermo Raúl Schinella, José María Prieto, Flavio Fancini, Martín Dadé