Omnia SanaCommon names in 6 European languages →
The complete database record: 2 documented constituents, 3 pharmacological actions, 9 traditional / indicated uses, with 19 cited sources.
Botanical Description
Small to medium deciduous tree with thin, papery, peeling bark. The leaves are pinnately compound with numerous small, toothed leaflets, clustered toward the branch tips. Small, pale yellow to white flowers are borne in axillary racemes. When the bark is cut, it exudes a fragrant, resinous gum (oleo-gum-resin) that hardens into pale, waxy tears - the medicinal part.[12]
Habitat & Distribution
Native to dry, rocky, hilly terrain of India and parts of the Middle East and North Africa, where it is tapped for its resin much like frankincense (Boswellia sacra).[12]
Harvesting
The bark is deliberately incised and the exuded oleo-gum-resin is allowed to harden and is collected over several days to weeks, then cleaned and graded before use or extraction.[12]
Key Constituents
The principal anti-inflammatory compounds; AKBA inhibits 5-lipoxygenase. Absorption improves when taken with a high-fat meal.
Additional constituents of the oleo-gum-resin.
Pharmacological Actions
Anti-inflammatory (inhibits 5-lipoxygenase / leukotriene synthesis and NF-kB signalling); Reduces inflammatory markers (e.g. hs-CRP) and, in one RCT, improved knee joint-space and reduced osteophytes on radiograph
Boswellic acids, especially acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid (AKBA) from Boswellia serrata, induce cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis and inhibit proliferation, invasion and metastasis across lung, colorectal and prostate cancers (preclinical, incl. in vivo).
Traditional & Indicated Uses
Osteoarthritis: reduces joint pain and stiffness and improves function (over at least 4 weeks); Supports inflammatory arthritis including rheumatoid arthritis
Boswellia serrata resin and its triterpenoid AKBA arrest the cell cycle and induce apoptosis in non-small-cell lung cancer, suppress colitis-associated colorectal cancer (NF-kB, gut microbiota) and inhibit prostate cancer (IL-17 pathway) in vitro and in vivo (preclinical).
more plants for cancer (anticancer research) →detailed sources →
Supportive in inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease)
more plants for inflammatory bowel disease (ibd) →detailed sources →
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
Analgesic (pain relief); Osteoarthritis: reduces joint pain and stiffness and improves function (over at least 4 weeks)
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
Traditional Use & History
Boswellia resin (salai guggul) is a mainstay of Ayurvedic medicine for inflammatory joint and respiratory conditions, and has been burned as incense across many cultures. Modern standardised extracts, rich in boswellic acids, are used for osteoarthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and other inflammatory conditions, directly building on this traditional anti-inflammatory reputation.[12]
Preparations
Resin extract standardised to boswellic acid (often AKBA) content, taken as capsules or tablets, ideally with a fat-containing meal to aid absorption.
Dosage
Clinical trials in osteoarthritis commonly use extracts providing around 100-250 mg of boswellic acids (or several hundred mg of standardised extract) daily, in divided doses, taken with food. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
Generally well tolerated; the most commonly reported side effects are mild gastrointestinal symptoms, and allergic reactions are rare.
Boswellic acids can affect drug-metabolising enzymes, so caution is advised when taking other medicines; safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding is not established, so avoid medicinal doses.
Harvest Readiness
[13]
External Identifiers
References & Sources
- Siddiqui, M.Z (2011) 'Boswellia serrata, a potential antiinflammatory agent: an overview', Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 73(3), pp. 255-261. doi:10.4103/0250-474X.93507 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.4103/0250-474X.93507 - Majeed, M., Majeed, S., Narayanan, N.K. and Nagabhushanam, K (2019) 'A pilot, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to assess the safety and efficacy of a novel Boswellia serrata extract in the management of osteoarthritis of the knee', Phytotherapy Research, 33(5), pp. 1457--1468. doi:10.1002/ptr.6338 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.6338 - Karlapudi, V., Sunkara, K.B., Konda, P.R., Sarma, K.V. and Rokkam, M.P (2022) 'Efficacy and Safety of Aflapin, a Novel Boswellia serrata Extract, in the Treatment of Osteoarthritis of the Knee: A Short-Term 30-Day Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Study', Journal of the American Nutrition Association, 42(2), pp. 159-168. doi:10.1080/07315724.2021.2014370 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1080/07315724.2021.2014370 - Kirste, S., Treier, M., Wehrle, S.J., Becker, G., Abdel-Tawab, M., Gerbeth, K., Hug, M.J., Lubrich, B., Grosu, A.L. and Momm, F (2011) 'Boswellia serrata acts on cerebral edema in patients irradiated for brain tumors: a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind pilot trial', Cancer, 117(16), pp. 3788-3795. doi:10.1002/cncr.25945 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.25945 - Abdel-Tawab, M., Werz, O. and Schubert-Zsilavecz, M (2011) 'Boswellia serrata: an overall assessment of in vitro, preclinical, pharmacokinetic and clinical data', Clinical Pharmacokinetics, 50(6), pp. 349-369. doi:10.2165/11586800-000000000-00000 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.2165/11586800-000000000-00000 - Gomaa, A.A., Mohamed, H.S., Abd-Ellatief, R.B. and Gomaa, M.A (2021) 'Boswellic acids/Boswellia serrata extract as a potential COVID-19 therapeutic agent in the elderly', Inflammopharmacology, 29(4), pp. 1033-1048. doi:10.1007/s10787-021-00841-8 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10787-021-00841-8 - Khan, M.A., Ali, R., Parveen, R., Najmi, A.K. and Ahmad, S (2016) 'Pharmacological evidences for cytotoxic and antitumor properties of Boswellic acids from Boswellia serrata', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 191, pp. 315-323. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2016.06.053 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2016.06.053 - Ammon, H.P.T (2010) 'Modulation of the immune system by Boswellia serrata extracts and boswellic acids', Phytomedicine, 17(11), pp. 862-867. doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2010.03.003 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2010.03.003 - Alluri, V.K., Kundimi, S., Sengupta, K., Golakoti, T. and Kilari, E.K (2020) 'An Anti-Inflammatory Composition of Boswellia serrata Resin Extracts Alleviates Pain and Protects Cartilage in Monoiodoacetate-Induced Osteoarthritis in Rats', Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2020, pp. 7381625. doi:10.1155/2020/7381625 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/7381625 - Henrotin, Y., Dierckxsens, Y., Delisse, G., Maes, N. and Albert, A (2022) 'Curcuma and Boswellia serrata extract combination for hand osteoarthritis: an open-label pre-post trial', Pharmaceutical Biology, 60(1), pp. 2295-2299. doi:10.1080/13880209.2022.2147550 Clinical study
https://doi.org/10.1080/13880209.2022.2147550 - Cherepanova, M.O. and Subotyalov, M.A (2023) 'Component Composition and Biological Activity of Oleo-Gum Resin from Boswellia serrata (Burseraceae)', Doklady Biological Sciences, 512(1), pp. 336-342. doi:10.1134/S0012496623700643 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1134/S0012496623700643 - Ammon, H.P.T (2016) 'Boswellic Acids and Their Role in Chronic Inflammatory Diseases', Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-41334-1_13 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-41334-1_13 - Banyan Botanicals 'The Benefits of Boswellia (Boswellia serrata)'. Available at: https://www.banyanbotanicals.com/pages/plants-the-benefits-of-boswellia Traditional / reference
https://www.banyanbotanicals.com/pages/plants-the-benefits-of-boswellia - Yu, G., Xiang, W., Zhang, T., Zeng, L., Yang, K. and Li, J (2020) 'Effectiveness of Boswellia and Boswellia extract for osteoarthritis patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis', BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies. doi:10.1186/s12906-020-02985-6 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-020-02985-6 - Lv, M. and Shao, S. and Zhang, Q. and Zhuang, X. and Qiao, T (2020) 'Acetyl-11-Keto-beta-Boswellic Acid Exerts the Anti-Cancer Effects via Cell Cycle Arrest, Apoptosis Induction and Autophagy Suppression in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells', OncoTargets and Therapy, 13, pp. 733-744. doi:10.2147/OTT.S236346 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.2147/OTT.S236346 - Xu, F. and Li, W. and Zheng, X.-J. and Hao, Y. and Yang, Y.-H. and Yang, H. and Zhang, S. and Cao, W.-X. and Li, X.-X. and Zhang, X. and Du, G.-H. and Ji, T.-F. and Wang, J.-H (2025) '3-O-Acetyl-11-Keto-beta-Boswellic Acid Suppresses Colitis-Associated Colorectal Cancer by Inhibiting the NF-kB Signaling Pathway and Remodeling Gut Microbiota', Oncology Research, 33(8), pp. 1969-1989. doi:10.32604/or.2025.062386 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.32604/or.2025.062386 - Zou, B. and Liu, Q. and Long, Y. and Dai, X. and Tian, X. and Zhou, Q (2025) 'Network Pharmacology Combined with Proteomics Reveals That 3-Acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic Acid Inhibits the Progression of Prostate Cancer by Regulating the IL-17 Signaling Pathway', ACS Omega, 10(21), pp. 21813-21822. doi:10.1021/acsomega.5c01683 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.5c01683 - Ragab, E.A. and Abd El-Wahab, M.F. and Doghish, A.S. and Salama, R.M. and Eissa, N. and Darwish, S.F (2023) 'The journey of boswellic acids from synthesis to pharmacological activities', Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology, 397(3), pp. 1477-1504. doi:10.1007/s00210-023-02725-w Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00210-023-02725-w - Liu, X., Machado, G.C., Eyles, J.P., Ravi, V. and Hunter, D.J (2018) 'Dietary supplements for treating osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis', British Journal of Sports Medicine, 52(3), pp. 167--175. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2016-097333 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2016-097333
Selected studies & references
All 18 studies in the Knowledge Finder →
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