Investigation of the effects of alcoholic frankincense extract on oxidative stress and inflammatory parameters in C57BL/6 mice with induced autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Tane, Abdolghader; Mohammadi, Yaser; Naseri, Mohsen; Anani Sarab, Gholamreza; Safari, Hamidreza; Honari, Niloofar

doi:10.22038/ajp.2026.27390

Investigation of the effects of alcoholic frankincense extract on oxidative stress and inflammatory parameters in C57BL/6 mice with induced autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors

Abdolghader Tane ¹

Yaser Mohammadi ²

Mohsen Naseri ³

Gholamreza Anani Sarab ⁴

Hamidreza Safari ⁵

Niloofar Honari ¹

¹ Student Research Committee, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran.

² Student Research Committee, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

³ Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran.

⁴ Department of Medical Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran

⁵ Department of Immunology, Torbat Jam Faculty of Medical Sciences, Torbat Jam, Iran.

10.22038/ajp.2026.27390

Abstract

Objective: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by neuroinflammation and demyelination. Frankincense, a natural oleo-gum-resin obtained from the genus Boswellia (family Burseraceae), possesses anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of alcoholic frankincense extract in an experimental model of MS.
Materials and Methods: Female C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to three groups (n = 5). Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) was induced by subcutaneous immunization with MOG₃₅–₅₅/CFA and intraperitoneal injection of pertussis toxin. Mice were treated orally with alcoholic frankincense extract (200 mg/kg) for 33 days. Serum levels of IL-17A, IL-23, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were measured, and brain tissues were examined histopathologically.
Results: EAE induction caused significant weight loss, severe clinical symptoms, increased IL-17A and IL-23 levels, reduced TGF-β and TAC, and marked neuroinflammation with myelin damage. Frankincense treatment significantly improved clinical scores and body weight, decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines, enhanced antioxidant capacity, and attenuated inflammatory infiltration and myelin degradation in brain tissue.
Conclusion: Alcoholic frankincense extract ameliorated EAE-associated inflammation and oxidative stress and exerted a protective effect on myelin integrity, suggesting its potential as a complementary therapeutic approach for MS. Further studies are warranted to confirm its clinical applicability.

Keywords

Multiple sclerosis

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE)

Frankincense extract

Neuroinflammation

Inflammation

Subjects