English name: Olibanum, Frankincense
Family : Burseraceae
Part used : Gum
Traditional uses1,2: The gum is credited with astringent, stimulant, expectorant, diuretic, diaphoretic, antipyretic, stomachic, emmenagogue and antiseptic properties. It is reported to be useful in ulcers, tumours, goitre. It is used in the preparation of an ointment for sores and is used with butter in syphilis. The gum resin is sweet, bitter, astringent, antipyretic, antidysenteric, expectorant, diaphoretic, diuretic, stomachic, and emmenagogue. It is useful in fevers, diaphoresis, convulsions, dysentery, urethrorrhea, orchiopathy, bronchitis, asthma, cough, stomatitis, syphilitic diseases, chronic laryngitis, jaundice and arthritis.
Phytochemistry: The major bioactive constituents of Boswellia serrata are pentacyclic triterpene acids3 viz., boswellic acid, acetyl,boswellic acid, 11-keto-boswellic acid, acetyl-11-keto-boswellic acid and tetracylic triterpene acids4 viz. elemolic acid and elemonic acid. The gum contains sugars viz. D-galactose, D-arabinose, D-xylose and D-mannose. It also contains volatile oil and uronic acids1.
Pharmacology: Boswellia serrata a gum resin has been reported to have analgesic5, antiinflammatory6,7, antiarthritic8 and antipyretic9-11 activity. The other activity studied are antihyperlipidimic6,7, antiatherosclerotic6,7 and anticancer12.
Marker constituents :Boswellic acid, Acetyl,boswellic acid, 11-keto boswellic acid,
Main uses: Anti-inflammatory, Antiarthritic.
References:
1. Anonymous. (1998) The Wealth of Asia, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. New Delhi.
2. Warrier PK, Nambiar VPK, Raman Kutty C. (1993) Indian Medicinal Plants a Compendium of 500 species, Orient Longman Ltd., Madras, India. 1: 267-270.
3. Pardhy RS, Bhattacharyya SC. (1978) Indian J. Chem. 16(B): 176-178.
4. Pardhy RS, Bhattacharyya SC. (1978) Indian J. Chem. 16(B): 174-175.
5. Kar A, Menon MK. (1969) Life Sciences, 8(1): 1023-1028.
6. Atal CK, Singh GB, Batra S, Sharma S, Gupta OP. (1980) Indian J. Pharmacol. 12: 59.
7. Atal CK, Gupta OP, Singh GB. (1981) Br. J.Pharmacol. 74: 203.
8. Singh GB, Singh B, Atal CK. (1984) Indian J. Pharmacol, 16: 51.
9. Singh GB, Gupta OP, Kour S, Singh B, Atal CK.(1981) Indian J. Pharm. 13,97.
10. Atal CK, Sharma ML, Koil A, Khajuria A, Singh GB. (1983) Indian J. Pharm, 15,58.
11. Pachnanda VK, Kant S, Singh D, Singh GB, Gupta OP, Atal CK. (1981) Indian J. Pharmacol. 13: 63.
12. Shao Y, HO CT, Chin CK, Badmaev V, Ma W, Haung MT. (1998) Planta Med. 64: 328-331.
