The bibliographic citations are derived from Medline databases through the National Library of Medicine.
Note: Most of this research involves gum resin extract, also known as guggals. Up to 16% of this extract is made up of essential oils.
Effects on inflammation-uses for joint function
Singh GB, Atal CK (1986). Pharmacology of an extract of salai guggal ex-Boswellia serrata, a new non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent. Agents Actions 18(3-4):407-12.
Summary:
An alcoholic extract of frankincense gum resin (AESG) was studied in rats and
mice with induced localized inflammation and arthritis. AESG showed marked
anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activity. No analgesic (pain relief) effects
were noted.
Reddy GK, Chandrakasan G, Dhar SC (1989). Studies on the metabolism of glycosaminoglycans under the influence of new herbal anti-inflammatory agents. Biochem Pharmacol, 38(20):3527-34.
Summary:
Common non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs used for arthritic conditions can
cause joint damage by disrupting glycosaminoglycan synthesis. This study
compares the effects of frankincense gum resin extract with ketoprofen (an over-the
counter anti-inflammatory drug) on glycosaminoglycan in rats. A significant
reduction in glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis was observed in rats treated with
all of the drugs. The frankincense extract showed significantly less disruption
of glycosaminoglycan degradation compared with the control group.
Kulkarni RR, Patki PS, Jog VP, Gandage SG, Patwardhan B (1991). Treatment of osteoarthritis with a herbomineral formulation: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study. J Ethnopharmacol, 33(1-2): 91-5.
Summary:
This randomized, controlled clinical trial studied the usefulness of an herbomineral
formulation containing roots of Withania somnifera, the stem of Boswellia
serrata, rhizomes of Curcuma longa and a zinc complex in 42 patients with osteoarthritis.
The results showed a significant drop in pain severity and disability.
Radiological assessment showed no significant changes.
Duwiejua M, Zeitlin IJ, Waterman PG, Chapman J, Mhango GJ, Provan GJ (1993). Anti-inflammatory activity of resins from some species of the plant family Burseraceae. Planta Med, 59(1):12-6.
Summary:
Localized anti-inflammatory actions of various species of frankincense and myrrh
were studied in rats. Both the whole plant extract and isolated compounds
from the extracts were used and compared. Both had significant anti-inflammatory
effects, and an isolate, mansumbinoic acid, significantly reduced joint
swelling. The authors concluded that this compound warrants more extensive
investigation as an anti-inflammatory agent.
Sander O, Herborn G, Rau R (1998). Is H15 (resin extract of Boswellia serrata, "incense") a useful supplement to established drug therapy of chronic polyarthritis? Results of a double-blind pilot study. Z Rheumatol, 57(1):11-6.
Summary:
This clinical trial involved 78 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, divided into
two groups. For twelve weeks, one group ingested a placebo and the other group
ingested a resin extract of frankincense. Out of 37 patients available
for evaluation, no difference in swelling, pain, and other parameters were noted
at the
end of the study. The researchers concluded that studies with a greater patient
population were necessary to form conclusions about the use of ingesting
this resin extract for rheumatoid arthritis.
Effects
on inflammation-uses for respiratory function
Safayhi H, Mack T, Sabieraj J, Anazodo MI, Subramanian LR, Ammon HP (1992). Boswellic acids: novel, specific, nonredox inhibitors of 5-lipoxygenase. J Pharmacol Exp Ther, 261(3):1143-6.
Summary:
Boswellic acids were isolated from the gum resin of Boswellia serrata. The study
found that boswellic acids are inhibitors of 5-lipoxygenase formation.
(This may play a role in inhibiting mucus formation, which may be of help for
conditions such as cystic fibrosis, chronic bronchitis, and acute respiratory
distress.)
Gupta I, Gupta V, Parihar A, Gupta S, Ludtke R, Safayhi H, Ammon HP (1998). 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, 3(11):511-4.
Summary:
This is a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of eighty patients with chronic
bronchial asthma. Half were treated with a frankincense gum resin preparation
for 6 weeks. The other half were treated with a placebo for six weeks.
70% of the gum resin group showed improvement, compared with 27% of patients
in
the control group. The researchers conclude that frankincense gum resin has
a role in the treatment of bronchial asthma.
Effects on inflammation-intestinal disorders
Gupta I, Parihar A, Malhotra P, Singh GB, Ludtke R, Safayhi H, Ammon HP (1997). Effects of Boswellia serrata gum resin in patients with ulcerative colitis. Eur J Med Res, 2(1):37-43.
Summary:
Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory disease of the colon. Boswellic
acids have been shown to inhibit an enzyme that mediates this inflammation.
In this study,
patients with ulcerative colitis were given frankincense gum resin preparation
orally for six weeks. They were than compared with patients receiving sulfasalazine,
an appropriate prescription drug. 82% of patients receiving the frankincense
preparation went into remission, compared with 75% on the sulfasalazine
group.
Effects on inflammation-general
Michie CA, Cooper E (1991). Frankincense and myrrh as remedies in children. J R Soc Med, 84(10):602-5.
Summary: This historical article presents two cases of therapeutic use of frankincense and myrrh for children's ailments.
Kapil A, Moza N (1992). Anticomplementary activity of boswellic acids--an inhibitor of C3-convertase of the classical complement pathway. Int J Immunopharmacol,14(7):1139-43.
Summary: Boswellic acids were found to inhibit the inflammatory process in vivo (in a test tube) by inhibiting immune response (B cell mediated).
Ammon HP, Safayhi H, Mack T, Sabieraj J (1993). Mechanism of antiinflammatory actions of curcumine and boswellic acids. J Ethnopharmacol, 38(2-3):113-9.
Summary:
This paper investigates the mechanism of anti-inflammatory action of boswellic
and curcumine acids. Their results suggest that boswellic acids inhibit leukotriene
synthesis, a chemical mediator of the inflammatory process.
Safayhi H, Rall B, Sailer ER, Ammon HP (1997). Inhibition by boswellic acids of human leukocyte elastase. J Pharmacol Exp Ther, 281(1):460-3.
Summary:
This study researched the pathways of the anti-inflammatory effects of frankincense
extract and its biologically active component, boswellic acid. They found
substantial inhibition of two proinflammatory enzymes by boswellic acids.
Wildfeuer A, Neu IS, Safayhi H, Metzger G, Wehrmann M, Vogel U, Ammon HP (1998). Effects of boswellic acids extracted from a herbal medicine on the biosynthesis of leukotrienes and the course of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Arzneimittelforschung, 48(6):668-74.
Summary:
This study found that boswellic acids were potent inhibitors of leukotrienes,
chemical mediators of the inflammatory process and powerful bronchial constrictors.
Injection of boswellic acids in guinea pigs with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
(inflammation of the brain and spinal cord) resulted in a significant
reduction in clinical symptoms.
Jing Y, Xia L, Han R (1992). Growth inhibition and differentiation of promyelocytic cells (HL-60) induced by BC-4, and active principle from Boswellia carterii Birdw. Chin Med Sci J, 7(1):12-5.
Summary:
This study investigated the effect of a component of frankincense (Bc-4) on
human leukemia cells (HL-60), both in the test tube and in mice. They found
that
HL-60 cell proliferation was inhibited by Bc-4.
Shao Y, Ho CT, Chin CK, Badmaev V, Ma W, Huang MT (1998). Inhibitory activity of boswellic acids from Boswellia serrata against human leukemia HL-60 cells in culture. Planta Med, 64(4):328-31.
Summary: Four different boswellic acids were investigated as anti-tumor agents. All inhibited cellular growth of leukemia cells in the lab in a dose dependent manner.
Lis-Balchin, M. Hart, S. (1997). A preliminary study of the effect of essential oils on skeletal and smooth muscle in vitro. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 58(3):183-7.
Summary: Frankincense was shown to inhibit the twitch response to nerve stimulation in mammalian skeletal muscle.
al-Awadi FM, Gumaa KA (1987). Studies on the activity of individual plants of an antidiabetic plant mixture. Acta Diabetol Lat, 24(1):37-41.
Summary:
Five plants used by Kuwaiti diabetics were studied in order to identify the
active components. The extracts of myrrh and aloe increased glucose tolerance
in rats.
Nigella sativa seeds (Roman coriander), Gum olibanum, and gum assafoetida had
no effect on blood glucose.
al-Awadi F, Fatania H, Shamte U (1991). The effect of a plant mixture extract on liver gluconeogenesis in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Diabetes Res 18(4):163-8.
Summary:
The authors previously reported on the blood glucose lowering effect of a plant
mixture extract comprised of Nigella sativa (Roman coriander), Myrrh, Gum
Olibanum, Gum Asafoetida and Aloe. This study looked at the mechanism of action
of this mixture, and found that the mixture may decrease the production
of the precursors of glucose by the liver. The authors suggested that the extracts
may be a useful therapy in treating non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.
Last updated 03.23.05
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