Marmara University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology
"Boswellia Serrata: A silent miracle of nature, offering countless healing properties from inflammation to cancer, from diabetes to spiritual purification, with its thousands of years old ancient resin."
Title:
| What is Boswellia Serrata?
| Where did Boswellia Serrata get its name?
| Where does the Boswellia Serrata grow?
| What were the traditional applications of Boswellia Serrata?
| What are the products obtained from Boswellia Serrata?
| How is the oleo gum-resin of Boswellia serrata manufactured?
| What is the composition of Boswellia serrata resin?
| Anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties of Boswellia Serrata
| Antidiabetic properties of Boswellia Serrata
| Antimicrobial properties of Boswellia Serrata
| Antiviral properties of Boswellia Serrata
| Anti-tumor properties of Boswellia Serrata
| Effects on the digestive system of Boswellia Serrata
| The benefits of frankincense as incense
| How to use frankincense gum?
What is Boswellia Serrata?
Boswellia serrata (Olibanum Indicum), commonly known as the Indian frankincense tree, belongs to the Burseraceae family. Boswellia serrata (Salai/Salai guggul) is a moderate to large-sized branching tree. The tree is used for fodder, timber, medicinal, religious, and cosmetic purposes. The plant is a good source of oleo-gum-resin, which shows medicinal properties.
Where did Boswellia Serrata get its name?
The genus Boswellia was named in honor of Johann Boswell (1719-80), who described 25 species of Boswellia; some of them, however, now appear as synonyms of the 21 known species.
Where does the Boswellia Serrata grow?
The genus Boswellia is mostly found in Africa (Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Kenya), southern Arabia (Oman and Yemen), and India. There is no record of its presence in Turkey.
What were the traditional applications of Boswellia Serrata?
Boswellia serrata is one of the most ancient and valued herbs in Ayurveda. “Gajabhakshya”, a Sanskrit name sometimes used for Boswellia, suggests that elephants enjoy this herb as part of their diet. In traditional Ayurvedic and Unani medical systems; it is used for arthritis as well as diarrhea, dysentery, roundworms, boils, fever, skin and blood diseases, cardiovascular diseases, mouth sores, sore throat, bronchitis, asthma, cough, vaginal discharge, hair loss, jaundice, hemorrhoids, syphilis, irregular menstruation and to stimulate the liver. B. serrata is used by the public in the treatment of abdominal pain, asthma, cough, dysentery, fever, jaundice, kidney stones, acne, wounds, and stomach diseases. It is also used against snake venom and to increase menstrual bleeding. It is also recorded that B. serrata oleo-gum-resin, used in the treatment of peptic ulcers in traditional Iranian medicine, has wound-healing, cell-protective, secretion-reducing, antacid, and prostaglandin production-regulating effects.
What are the products obtained from Boswellia Serrata?
Boswellia serrata extracts and its oleo-gum-resin are the most pharmaceutically important products. The resin has been used for centuries in traditional Ayurvedic medicine to treat inflammatory conditions. More recently, Boswellia serrata extracts have been marketed as helpful for arthritis, colitis, and asthma. Boswellia extract is also used as a perfume and an aroma (frankincense). Boswellia serrata extracts are available over the counter in varying concentrations.
How is the oleo gum-resin of Boswellia serrata manufactured?
It is tapped from an incision made on the trunk of the tree, which is then stored in a specially made bamboo basket. The semi-solid gum-resin is allowed to remain in the basket for about a month, during which its fluid content, locally known as ‘ras’, keeps flowing out. The residue, a semi-solid to solid part, is the gum-resin that hardens slowly into amorphous, tear-shaped products with an aromatic scent. Then, it is broken into small pieces by wooden mallet or chopper, and during this process, all impurities, including bark pieces, etc., are removed manually. The gum-resin is then graded according to its flavor, color, shape, and size. Generally, four grades (i.e., Superfine, Grade I, Grade II, and Grade III) are available in the market. The fresh gum obtained from the tree is hot, with a pleasant flavor and slightly bitter taste. The resin is harvested throughout the summer and into the fall after the tree is wounded, usually in March or April. It was the ‘frankincense’ of ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans, who used it as a prized incense, fumigant, and multipurpose aromatic. It is generally used in making incense powder and sticks.
What is the composition of Boswellia serrata resin?
The oleo-gum-resins contain 30-60% resin, 5-10% essential oils (which are soluble in organic solvents), and the rest is made up of polysaccharides. The resinous part of Boswellia serrata possesses monoterpenes, diterpenes, triterpenes, tetracyclic triterpenic acids, and four major pentacyclic triterpenic acids (i.e., β-boswellic acid, acetyl-β-boswellic acid, 11-keto-β-boswellic acid, and acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid), which are responsible for the inhibition of pro-inflammatory enzymes. Of these four boswellic acids, acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid is the most potent inhibitor of 5-lipoxygenase, an enzyme responsible for inflammation.
Anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties of Boswellia Serrata
Boswellic acid-containing gum provides strong anti-inflammatory effects by suppressing inflammation. This feature relieves pain in chronic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis while increasing mobility. Its potential to protect joint health in the long term becomes even more evident with regular use.
Antidiabetic properties of Boswellia Serrata
The periclinal evidence against antidiabetic effects of Boswellia serrata gum resin. They evaluated the antihyperglycemic and lipid-lowering effects of Boswellia serrata gum resin in type 2 diabetic patients. The anti-diabetic effects of β-Boswellic acid (β-BA) and 11-keto-β-boswellic acid (β-KBA) are produced by the inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) enzyme. Thus, these anti-diabetic, antioxidant, and anti-hyperlipidemic effects of β-BA and β-KBA suggest these compounds as potential therapeutics for diabetic conditions.
Antimicrobial properties of Boswellia Serrata
Boswellia serrata extract exhibits anti-bacterial and anti-fungal activities. It can be used to prevent bacterial-infested diseases caused by the studied bacterial strains and in drug development.
Antiviral properties of Boswellia Serrata
Boswellia Serrata shows antiviral activity. The β-boswellic acids (BA) are important active constituents of the Boswellia serrata oleo-gum-resin (BSE), which has been used in treating diverse skin infections. To utilize its medicinal potential, the antiviral property of β-boswellic acid against Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV-1) was investigated. Their obtained results support the ethnomedicinal use of Boswellia serrata oleo-gum-resin in skin infections caused by HSV-1.
Anti-tumor properties of Boswellia Serrata
The triterpenoidal fraction present in Boswellia serrata, which contains boswellic acid, is responsible for the anti-tumor properties.
Effects on the digestive system of Boswellia Serrata
The benefits of frankincense gum, which has relaxing effects on the digestive system, play a protective role in diseases such as gastritis and ulcers by balancing stomach acid. It also supports intestinal health by alleviating the symptoms of inflammatory bowel diseases.
The benefits of frankincense as incense
When used as incense, frankincense calms the mind and aids meditation and has been part of spiritual purification rituals throughout history. It is also used in modern aromatherapy to reduce stress and calm the mind.
How to use frankincense gum?
Frankincense gum is a versatile herbal product that can be used in different forms.
- In traditional medicine, frankincense gum can be used by chewing it directly. When chewed as gum, it has positive effects on oral and dental health. It helps relieve gum problems and eliminate bad breath. It also contributes to digestive system health with its stomach-soothing effect. Another common use is to burn it as incense.
- In modern medicine, frankincense gum is usually found in capsule, tablet, or powder form. The capsules are used to treat inflammatory diseases, support joint health, and strengthen the immune system.
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