Borage oil reduction of rheumatoid arthritis activity may be mediated by increased cAMP that suppresses tumor necrosis factor-alpha

Recent double blind studies have shown some benefit of borage oil in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha has been shown to be a central mediator of inflammatory and joint destructive processes in rheumatoid arthritis. In this paper, evidence from published research is revi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International immunopharmacology 2001-11, Vol.1 (12), p.2197-2199
Main Author: Kast, Richard E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abortion, Spontaneous - chemically induced
Alprostadil - biosynthesis
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal - pharmacology
Antirheumatic Agents - adverse effects
Antirheumatic Agents - pharmacology
Antirheumatic Agents - therapeutic use
Arthritis, Rheumatoid - drug therapy
Biological and medical sciences
Borage oil
Borago - chemistry
Borago officinalis
Contraindications
Cyclic adenosine monophosphate
cyclic AMP
Cyclic AMP - physiology
Dinoprostone - biosynthesis
Diseases of the osteoarticular system
Double-Blind Method
Drug Interactions
Female
gamma-Linolenic Acid - pharmacology
gamma-Linolenic Acid - therapeutic use
Humans
Immunomodulators
Inflammation
Inflammatory joint diseases
Medical sciences
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
Phytotherapy
Plant Oils - adverse effects
Plant Oils - pharmacology
Plant Oils - therapeutic use
Pregnancy
Prostaglandin E
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
Rheumatoid arthritis
Second Messenger Systems - drug effects
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - antagonists & inhibitors
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - biosynthesis
Tumor necrosis-alpha
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Summary:Recent double blind studies have shown some benefit of borage oil in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha has been shown to be a central mediator of inflammatory and joint destructive processes in rheumatoid arthritis. In this paper, evidence from published research is reviewed that indicates gamma linolenic acid component of borage oil increases prostaglandin E levels that increase cAMP levels that in turn suppress tumor necrosis factor-alpha synthesis. If this biochemical path of borage oil is correct then (1) concomitant non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use would tend to undermine borage oil effects, and (2) borage oil would be contraindicated in pregnancy given the teratogenic and labor inducing effects of prostaglandin E agonists.
ISSN:1567-5769
1878-1705
DOI:10.1016/S1567-5769(01)00146-1