Boswellia
Boswellia [Salai guggal, Boswellia serrata] has been used in Indian or
Ayurvedic medicine for thousand years. Its gummy exudate, containing
boswellic acids, has been believed to benefit various conditions including
diarrhea, dysentery, pulmonary disease, ringworm, osteoarthritis and
rheumatoid arthritis. [1] Some studies do show benefits of boswellic acids on
inflammation including arthritis and colitis. [2-6].
A typical extract contains 37.5-65% ob boswellic acids.
Biswellia may benefit inflammatory conditions.
Researchers demonstrated the anti-inflammatory effects of ethanolic extracts
of the gum resin exudate of Boswellia serrata in rat peritoneal neutrophils. [8]
And also, other researchers found mixed acetylboswellic acids, pentacyclic
triterpenes extracted from the gum resin of Boswellia serrata significantly
inhibited the ionophore-stimulated release of the leukotrienes B4 and C4 from
intact human polymorphonuclear neutrophil leukocytes. [14]
In other experiments, researchers isolated isomers of boswellic acids (BAs),
11-keto-beta-boswellic acid and acetyl derivatives from the gum resin of
Boswellia serrata. They found that boswellic acids and derivatives decreased
the formation of leukotriene B4 in rat peritoneal neutrophils. [9] This
experiment together with other experiments showed that boswellic acids are
specific, non-reducing-type inhibitors of the leukotriene synthesis either
interacting directly with the 5-lipoxygenase or blocking its translocation. [9,11]
A study of sheep erythrocytes showed the anti-complementary activity of
boswellic acid. It inhibits the in vitro immunohaemolysis of antibody-coated
sheep erythrocytes by pooled guinea-pig serum via inhibition of C3-
convertase of the classical complement pathway. Boswellic acid also exhibited
weak inhibitory effects on individual components of the complement system.
[10]
Arthritis
Indian researchers evaluated a formula containing Boswellia serrata, Withania
somnifera, Curcuma longa and zinc complex in a study of patients with
osteoarthritis. They found that treatment with this formula produced a
significant drop in severity of pain and disability score. However, they also
observed side effects during the treatments. [7]
Asthma
The gum resin of Boswellia serrata, known in Indian Ayurvedic system of
medicine as Salai guggal, contains boswellic acids, which have been shown to
inhibit leukotriene biosynthesis. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study
forty patients, 23 males and 17 females in the age range of 18 - 75 years
having mean duration of illness, bronchial asthma, of 9.58 +/- 6.07 years were
treated with a preparation of gum resin of 300 mg thrice daily for a period of 6
weeks. 70% of patients showed improvement of disease as evident by
disappearance of physical symptoms and signs such as dyspnoea, number of
attacks as well as decrease in eosinophilic count and ESR. [15]
Ulcerative Colitis
In patients suffering from ulcerative colitis grade II and III the effect of
Boswellia serrata gum resin preparation (350 mg thrice daily for 6 weeks) on
stool properties, histolopathology and scan microscopy of rectal biopsies,
blood parameters including Hb, serum iron, calcium, phosphorus, proteins,
total leukocytes and eosinophils was studied. Patients receiving sulfasalazine
(1 g thrice daily) served as controls. All parameters tested improved after
treatment with Boswellia serrata gum resin, the results being similar compared
to controls: 82% out of treated patients went into remission; in case of
sulfasalazine remission rate was 75%. [12]
Liver Protection
With very limited studies, Indian researchers proposed that hexane extract of
oleo-gum-resin of Boswellia serrata might benefit liver injury induced by
carbon tetrachloride, paracetamol or thioacetamide. [17]
Boswellia may have benefits of cutting cancer risks
Researchers found four major triterpene acids from the gum resin of
Boswellia serrata inhibited the synthesis of DNA, RNA and protein in human
leukemia HL-60 cells in a dose dependent manner. Among them, 3-O-acetyl-
11-keto-beta-boswellic acid significantly inhibited the cellular growth of HL-60
cells. [13]
On the other hand, boswellic acid acetate, a compound isolated from the herb
Boswellia carterii Birdw, can also induce differentiation and apoptosis of
leukemia cells. In one study, boswellic acid acetate failed to induce erythroid
leukemia DS-19 and K562 cells differentiation. However, only 20 microg/ml of
boswellic acid acetate decreased viable cell number of myeloid leukemia HL-
60 cells by 60% within 24 h. Morphologic and DNA fragmentation analysis
proved that boswellic acid acetate induced cell apoptosis. [16]
SIDE EFFECTS
Side effects of Boswellia are mild, including diarrhea, dysentery, pulmonary
disease, and ringworm.
Reference 1. Safayhi H, Sailer ER, Amnon HPT. 5-lipoxygenase inhibition by
acetyl-11-keto-b-boswellic acid. Phytomed 1996;3:71–2. 2. Safayhi H, Mack
T, Saieraj J, et al. Boswellic acids: Novel, specific, nonredox inhibitors of 5-
lipoxygenase. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 1992;261:1143–6. 3. Singh GB, Atal
CK. Pharmacology of an extract of salai guggal ex-Boswellia serrata, a new
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent. Agents Actions 1986;18:407–12. 4.
Gupta I, Parihar A, Malhotra P, et al. Effects of Boswellia serrata gum resin in
patients with ulcerative colitis. Eur J Med Res 1997;2:37–43. 5. Etzel R.
Special extract of Boswellia serrata (H15) in the treatment of rheumatoid
arthritis. Phytomed 1996;3:91–4. [6] Reddy GK, et al, Studies on the
metabolism of glycosaminoglycans under the influence of new herbal anti-
inflammatory agents. Biochem Pharmacol. 1989 Oct 15;38(20):3527-34. [7]
Kulkarni RR, et al, Treatment of osteoarthritis with a herbomineral formulation:
a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study. J Ethnopharmacol. 1991
May-Jun;33(1-2):91-5. [8] Ammon HP, et al, Inhibition of leukotriene B4
formation in rat peritoneal neutrophils by an ethanolic extract of the gum resin
exudate of Boswellia serrata. Planta Med. 1991 Jun;57(3):203-7. [9] Safayhi
H, et al, Boswellic acids: novel, specific, nonredox inhibitors of 5-lipoxygenase.
J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1992 Jun;261(3):1143-6. [10] Kapil A, Moza N.
Anticomplementary activity of boswellic acids--an inhibitor of C3-convertase of
the classical complement pathway. Int J Immunopharmacol. 1992 Oct;14(7):
1139-43. [11] Ammon HP, et al, Mechanism of antiinflammatory actions of
curcumine and boswellic acids. J Ethnopharmacol. 1993 Mar;38(2-3):113-9.
[12] Gupta I, et al, Effects of Boswellia serrata gum resin in patients with
ulcerative colitis. Eur J Med Res. 1997 Jan;2(1):37-43. [13] Shao Y, et al,
Inhibitory activity of boswellic acids from Boswellia serrata against human
leukemia HL-60 cells in culture. Planta Med. 1998 May;64(4):328-31. [14]
Wildfeuer A, et al, Effects of boswellic acids extracted from a herbal medicine
on the biosynthesis of leukotrienes and the course of experimental
autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Arzneimittelforschung. 1998 Jun;48(6):668-
74. [15] Gupta I, et al, Effects of Boswellia serrata gum resin in patients with
bronchial asthma: results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled, 6-week
clinical study. Eur J Med Res. 1998 Nov 17;3(11):511-4. [16] Jing Y, et al,
Boswellic acid acetate induces differentiation and apoptosis in leukemia cell
lines. Leuk Res. 1999 Jan;23(1):43-50. [17] Y J, et al Effect of hexane extract
of Boswellia serrata oleo-gum resin on chemically induced liver damage. Pak
J Pharm Sci. 2006 Apr;19(2):129-33.
Boswellia [Salai guggal, Boswellia serrata] has been used in Indian or
Ayurvedic medicine for thousand years. Its gummy exudate, containing
boswellic acids, has been believed to benefit various conditions including
diarrhea, dysentery, pulmonary disease, ringworm, osteoarthritis and
rheumatoid arthritis. [1] Some studies do show benefits of boswellic acids on
inflammation including arthritis and colitis. [2-6].
A typical extract contains 37.5-65% ob boswellic acids.
Biswellia may benefit inflammatory conditions.
Researchers demonstrated the anti-inflammatory effects of ethanolic extracts
of the gum resin exudate of Boswellia serrata in rat peritoneal neutrophils. [8]
And also, other researchers found mixed acetylboswellic acids, pentacyclic
triterpenes extracted from the gum resin of Boswellia serrata significantly
inhibited the ionophore-stimulated release of the leukotrienes B4 and C4 from
intact human polymorphonuclear neutrophil leukocytes. [14]
In other experiments, researchers isolated isomers of boswellic acids (BAs),
11-keto-beta-boswellic acid and acetyl derivatives from the gum resin of
Boswellia serrata. They found that boswellic acids and derivatives decreased
the formation of leukotriene B4 in rat peritoneal neutrophils. [9] This
experiment together with other experiments showed that boswellic acids are
specific, non-reducing-type inhibitors of the leukotriene synthesis either
interacting directly with the 5-lipoxygenase or blocking its translocation. [9,11]
A study of sheep erythrocytes showed the anti-complementary activity of
boswellic acid. It inhibits the in vitro immunohaemolysis of antibody-coated
sheep erythrocytes by pooled guinea-pig serum via inhibition of C3-
convertase of the classical complement pathway. Boswellic acid also exhibited
weak inhibitory effects on individual components of the complement system.
[10]
Arthritis
Indian researchers evaluated a formula containing Boswellia serrata, Withania
somnifera, Curcuma longa and zinc complex in a study of patients with
osteoarthritis. They found that treatment with this formula produced a
significant drop in severity of pain and disability score. However, they also
observed side effects during the treatments. [7]
Asthma
The gum resin of Boswellia serrata, known in Indian Ayurvedic system of
medicine as Salai guggal, contains boswellic acids, which have been shown to
inhibit leukotriene biosynthesis. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study
forty patients, 23 males and 17 females in the age range of 18 - 75 years
having mean duration of illness, bronchial asthma, of 9.58 +/- 6.07 years were
treated with a preparation of gum resin of 300 mg thrice daily for a period of 6
weeks. 70% of patients showed improvement of disease as evident by
disappearance of physical symptoms and signs such as dyspnoea, number of
attacks as well as decrease in eosinophilic count and ESR. [15]
Ulcerative Colitis
In patients suffering from ulcerative colitis grade II and III the effect of
Boswellia serrata gum resin preparation (350 mg thrice daily for 6 weeks) on
stool properties, histolopathology and scan microscopy of rectal biopsies,
blood parameters including Hb, serum iron, calcium, phosphorus, proteins,
total leukocytes and eosinophils was studied. Patients receiving sulfasalazine
(1 g thrice daily) served as controls. All parameters tested improved after
treatment with Boswellia serrata gum resin, the results being similar compared
to controls: 82% out of treated patients went into remission; in case of
sulfasalazine remission rate was 75%. [12]
Liver Protection
With very limited studies, Indian researchers proposed that hexane extract of
oleo-gum-resin of Boswellia serrata might benefit liver injury induced by
carbon tetrachloride, paracetamol or thioacetamide. [17]
Boswellia may have benefits of cutting cancer risks
Researchers found four major triterpene acids from the gum resin of
Boswellia serrata inhibited the synthesis of DNA, RNA and protein in human
leukemia HL-60 cells in a dose dependent manner. Among them, 3-O-acetyl-
11-keto-beta-boswellic acid significantly inhibited the cellular growth of HL-60
cells. [13]
On the other hand, boswellic acid acetate, a compound isolated from the herb
Boswellia carterii Birdw, can also induce differentiation and apoptosis of
leukemia cells. In one study, boswellic acid acetate failed to induce erythroid
leukemia DS-19 and K562 cells differentiation. However, only 20 microg/ml of
boswellic acid acetate decreased viable cell number of myeloid leukemia HL-
60 cells by 60% within 24 h. Morphologic and DNA fragmentation analysis
proved that boswellic acid acetate induced cell apoptosis. [16]
SIDE EFFECTS
Side effects of Boswellia are mild, including diarrhea, dysentery, pulmonary
disease, and ringworm.
Reference 1. Safayhi H, Sailer ER, Amnon HPT. 5-lipoxygenase inhibition by
acetyl-11-keto-b-boswellic acid. Phytomed 1996;3:71–2. 2. Safayhi H, Mack
T, Saieraj J, et al. Boswellic acids: Novel, specific, nonredox inhibitors of 5-
lipoxygenase. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 1992;261:1143–6. 3. Singh GB, Atal
CK. Pharmacology of an extract of salai guggal ex-Boswellia serrata, a new
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent. Agents Actions 1986;18:407–12. 4.
Gupta I, Parihar A, Malhotra P, et al. Effects of Boswellia serrata gum resin in
patients with ulcerative colitis. Eur J Med Res 1997;2:37–43. 5. Etzel R.
Special extract of Boswellia serrata (H15) in the treatment of rheumatoid
arthritis. Phytomed 1996;3:91–4. [6] Reddy GK, et al, Studies on the
metabolism of glycosaminoglycans under the influence of new herbal anti-
inflammatory agents. Biochem Pharmacol. 1989 Oct 15;38(20):3527-34. [7]
Kulkarni RR, et al, Treatment of osteoarthritis with a herbomineral formulation:
a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study. J Ethnopharmacol. 1991
May-Jun;33(1-2):91-5. [8] Ammon HP, et al, Inhibition of leukotriene B4
formation in rat peritoneal neutrophils by an ethanolic extract of the gum resin
exudate of Boswellia serrata. Planta Med. 1991 Jun;57(3):203-7. [9] Safayhi
H, et al, Boswellic acids: novel, specific, nonredox inhibitors of 5-lipoxygenase.
J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1992 Jun;261(3):1143-6. [10] Kapil A, Moza N.
Anticomplementary activity of boswellic acids--an inhibitor of C3-convertase of
the classical complement pathway. Int J Immunopharmacol. 1992 Oct;14(7):
1139-43. [11] Ammon HP, et al, Mechanism of antiinflammatory actions of
curcumine and boswellic acids. J Ethnopharmacol. 1993 Mar;38(2-3):113-9.
[12] Gupta I, et al, Effects of Boswellia serrata gum resin in patients with
ulcerative colitis. Eur J Med Res. 1997 Jan;2(1):37-43. [13] Shao Y, et al,
Inhibitory activity of boswellic acids from Boswellia serrata against human
leukemia HL-60 cells in culture. Planta Med. 1998 May;64(4):328-31. [14]
Wildfeuer A, et al, Effects of boswellic acids extracted from a herbal medicine
on the biosynthesis of leukotrienes and the course of experimental
autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Arzneimittelforschung. 1998 Jun;48(6):668-
74. [15] Gupta I, et al, Effects of Boswellia serrata gum resin in patients with
bronchial asthma: results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled, 6-week
clinical study. Eur J Med Res. 1998 Nov 17;3(11):511-4. [16] Jing Y, et al,
Boswellic acid acetate induces differentiation and apoptosis in leukemia cell
lines. Leuk Res. 1999 Jan;23(1):43-50. [17] Y J, et al Effect of hexane extract
of Boswellia serrata oleo-gum resin on chemically induced liver damage. Pak
J Pharm Sci. 2006 Apr;19(2):129-33.
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Supplements
Acetyl-L Carnitine
Acidophilus
Bladderwrack
Bilberry
Chromium
CLA
Cod Liver Oil
Coenzyme Q
Colostrum
Dandelion
EGCG
Echinacea
Eleuthero
Ellagic Acid
Eve. Primrose Oil
Fish Oil
Flaxseed
Garlic
Ginger
Ginseng
Ginkgo Biloba
Glucosamine
Gotu Kola
Guar Gum
Hyaluronic acid
Lecithin
Lycopene
Milk Thistle
Nattokinase
Passion Flower
Probiotics
Policosanol /
Polycosanol
Pycnogenol
Reishi / Lingzhi
Resveratrol
Rhodiola
Royal Jelly
Stevia
Whey
Xylitol
Discuss with your doctor before taking any alternative medicine. This article is for
reference only, it is not a medical advice. All rights reserved. Do not copy this article to
other website or blog.
reference only, it is not a medical advice. All rights reserved. Do not copy this article to
other website or blog.
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Health Benefits and Side Effects of Boswella