Boswellia

taxobox
name = "Boswellia"


regnum = Plantae
unranked_divisio = Angiosperms
unranked_classis = Eudicots
unranked_ordo = Rosids
ordo = Sapindales
familia = Burseraceae
genus = "Boswellia"
genus_authority = Roxb. ex Colebr.
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = see text|

"Boswellia" is a genus of trees known for their fragrant resin which has many pharmacological uses particularly as anti-inflammatories. The Biblical incense frankincense was probably an extract from the resin of the tree, "Boswellia sacra".

There are four main species of "Boswellia" which produce true frankincense and each type of resin is available in various grades. The grades depend on the time of harvesting, and the resin is hand sorted for quality. Anyone interested in frankincense would be well advised to first obtain a small sample of each type from a reputable dealer in order to ascertain the difference between each resin.

Medicinal uses

"Boswellia" has long been used in Ayurvedic medicine. Recently, the boswellic acids that are a component of the resin it produces have shown some promise as a treatment for asthma and various inflammatory conditions (Gupta I, Gupta V, Parihar A, "et al." Effects of Boswellia serrata gum resin in patients with bronchial asthma: results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled, 6-week clinical study. European Journal of Herbal Medicine 1998; 3:511-14.) In West Africa, the bark of "Boswellia dalzielii" is used to treat fever, rheumatism and gastrointestinal problems. [Arbonnier 2002. Arbres, arbustes et lianes des zones sèches de l'Afrique de l'Ouest] Boswellia incense may even relieve depression. [ [http://www.fasebj.org/cgi/content/abstract/fj.07-101865v1] "Incensole acetate, an incense component, elicits psychoactivity by activating TRPV3 channels in the brain", "The FASEB Journal", 20 May, 2008.]

pecies include:

*"Boswellia ameero"
*"Boswellia bullata"
*"Boswellia carterii"
*"Boswellia dalzielii"
*"Boswellia dioscorides"
*"Boswellia elongata"
*"Boswellia frereana"
*"Boswellia nana"
*"Boswellia neglecta"
*"Boswellia ogadensis"
*"Boswellia pirottae"
*"Boswellia papyrifera"
*"Boswellia popoviana"
*"Boswellia rivae"
*"Boswellia sacra"
*"Boswellia serrata"
*"Boswellia socotrana"

Notes