AKBA (3-acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid)

AKBA is a pentacyclic triterpene and the standardized marker used to define the potency of a Boswellia serrata extract. Its mechanism of action is well characterized: it inhibits 5-lipoxygenase through a non-redox, non-competitive mechanism, binding an allosteric site distinct from the substrate (arachidonic acid) binding site — which sets it apart from conventional anti-inflammatories. By curbing 5-LOX it reduces the production of leukotrienes such as LTB4, potent recruiters of neutrophils.

Complementarily, AKBA is a natural inhibitor of NF-κB, the transcriptional master switch of inflammation: suppressing it lowers the expression of pro-inflammatory genes (TNF-α, IL-6, adhesion molecules). In atherosclerosis models in LPS-challenged ApoE-/- mice, AKBA reduced NF-κB activity within the plaque. It also shows neuroprotective activity, partly through modulation of miR-155 in LPS-induced neuroinflammation.

It is relevant to longevity because inflammaging —chronic low-grade inflammation— is a hallmark of aging that accelerates cardiovascular, joint and neurodegenerative disease. AKBA's oral bioavailability is low, so standardized extracts and optimized formulations are typically used.