Boswellia serrata

**Semantic type:** Plant

**Definition:** B. serrata is a tree from the Burseraceae family commonly found in India, northern Africa and the Middle East. Strips of its bark yield a gummy oleoresin which contains oils, terpenoids and gum. Its active principle consists of 4 pentacyclic triterpenes, beta-boswellic acid being the major one. Extracts of this oleoresin have been used as a folk medicine for centuries in Ayurdevic medicine in India. Boswellic acids have anti-inflammatory properties inhibiting leukotriene biosynthesis via non-competitive inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase. Boswellia extract tablets have been employed for asthma, arthritic conditions and ulcerative colitis and other chronic inflammatory diseases.

**Synonyms:** - BOSWELLIA SERRATA WHOLE - Boswellia - Frankincense - frankincense tree