Boswellic acids as an adjunct therapy in Parkinson's disease: a double-blind clinical trial investigating on its effects on motor symptoms and inflammatory markers.

BACKGROUND

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by postural instability, rigidity, bradykinesia, and resting tremors. Neuroinflammation has been implicated in PD pathogenesis, with inflammatory cytokines serving as potential biomarkers for disease progression and therapeutic monitoring. This study aimed to assess the effects of boswellic acids' supplementation (the main active component of Strowell®) on motor and cognitive function in PD patients, as well as its impact on inflammatory biomarkers.

METHODS

In a 6-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 58 PD patients were assigned to receive either boswellic acids or a placebo. Clinical assessments included the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), with comparisons to baseline scores. Inflammatory biomarkers were measured at baseline and after 1 month.

RESULTS

After 6 months, UPDRS scores remained stable in the boswellic acids group but significantly worsened in the placebo group (p = 0.0008). MoCA scores showed a slight but non-significant improvement in the treatment group, while no improvement was observed in the placebo group. In addition, 1 month of boswellic acids' supplementation led to a significant reduction in plasma levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-4, IL-1A, IL-12p70, INF-γ, IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, and PGE2.

CONCLUSION

The findings suggest that boswellic acids' supplementation may help mitigate motor function decline in PD patients while exerting significant anti-inflammatory effects. These results support the potential role of boswellic acids as an adjunctive therapy for Parkinson's disease.