Boswellia Sacra Flueck. Oleo-Gum-Resin Nanophytosome: Development, Standardization, and Cholinesterase Inhibitory Potential Publisher

Summary: Can phytosomes boost a plant extract in lab tests? Boswellia phytosomes boosted enzyme inhibition in vitro; benefits in people are unknown. #DrugDelivery #Phytosomes

Mirimoghaddam M ; Saeedi M ; Delnavazi M R ; Moraffah F ; Iraji A ; Javar H A ; Khanavi M
Source: Jundishapur Journal of Natural Pharmaceutical Products Published:2026

Abstract

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder associated with cholinergic dysfunction. The limited efficacy of current acetylcholinesterase inhibitors underscores the need for novel therapeutic approaches. Objectives: This study evaluated the acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity of Boswellia sacra extracts and their phytosomal formulations. Methods: The methanolic extract of B. sacra was fractionated using potassium hydroxide (KOH) and ethyl acetate to obtain a boswellic acid-enriched fraction, which was further purified by silica gel chromatography to yield two derivatives identified by 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. A phytosomal formulation was prepared using soy lecithin and cholesterol via high-shear homogenization followed by ultrasonication. The optimized nanophytosome was characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Entrapment efficiency, stability, the in vivo release profile, cholinesterase inhibitory activity was assessed using Ellman’s method. Results: Phytochemical analysis yielded 3-acetyl-11-keto-boswellic acid (1) and 11-keto-boswellic acid (2), and compound 1 was used for standardization. The optimized phytosome exhibited a mean particle size of 112 ± 12.28 nm, a polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.23 ± 0.1, a zeta potential of -53 ± 5.87 mV, and an entrapment efficiency of 75.3 ± 1.47%. FTIR and DSC confirmed molecular interactions between lecithin and the extract, whereas TEM and SEM revealed spherical morphology. The optimized phytosomal formulation demonstrated a gradual release profile, reaching 92% after 12 hours, and increased acetylcholinesterase inhibition to 61.0 ± 10.7% (half-maximal inhibitory concentration [IC50], 177.9 ± 26.8 µg/mL) compared with the non-formulated extract. It also showed moderate butyrylcholinesterase inhibition (42 - 48%) and selectivity for acetylcholinesterase inhibition. Conclusions: The optimized phytosomal formulation enhanced in vitro acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity compared with the non-formulated extract, indicating the potential of this delivery system to improve the biological activity of Boswellia constituents in cell-free enzyme assays. However, these findings are preliminary and limited to in vitro experiments. Further Copyright © 2026, Mirimoghaddam et al.