Boswellia Serrata extract research for osteoarthritis, cholesterol, inflammatory bowel disease, dosage for long term use
Boswellia sacra tree and Frankincense

Boswellia is an Ayurvedic plant that contains anti-inflammatory triterpenoids called boswellic acids. Boswellic acid and its derivatives have anti-carcinogenic, anti-tumor, and anti-hyperlipidemic activities. Dried extracts of the resin of the tree have been used since antiquity in India to treat inflammatory conditions.

Buy Boswellia Extract , 65% Boswellic Acids, Nature's Way

Boswellia Extract is standardized to 65% boswellic acids, with the researched clinical dose used to support joint health and mobility. This product is concentrated from the specially processed resins and gums of the Boswellia serratta tree. The benefits of boswellia are due to the presence of four triterpene acids, especially Beta boswellic acid. This Boswellia Extract is carefully standardized to contain at least 65% boswellic acids.


 

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Supplement Facts:
Boswellia serratta dried extract - 307 mg per pill
    Yielding 65% extract, yielding: 200 mg Boswellic Acids

Mechanism of Action of Boswellia
Boswellia may inhibit proinflammatory 5-lipoxygenase products and blockage of leukotriene synthesis. For more boswellia herbal information. Other herbs of interest include curcumin herbal extract and Cats-Claw, which has anti-inflammatory properties.

Potential Benefits of Boswellia herb and extract - boswellia studies
Asthma -- In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, the use of 300 mg of boswellia 3 times daily led to improvement in signs and symptoms of asthma, including a reduction in asthma attacks.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease -- In one study of 30 patients aged 18-48 with chronic colitis, 20 were given boswellia extract 300 mg 3 times a week for 6 weeks, and the other 10 were given sulfasalazine, 1 g three times a day. Of the 20 treated with boswellia, 14 went into remission, as did 4 of the 10 treated with the drug.   Patients were studied at the Department of Medicine, Medical College Jammu, J&K, India suffered from chronic colitis characterized by vague lower abdominal pain, bleeding per rectum with diarrhoea and palpable tender descending and sigmoid colon. The inflammatory process in colitis is associated with increased formation of leukotrienes causing chemotaxis, chemokinesis, synthesis of superoxide radicals and release of lysosomal enzymes by phagocytes. The key enzyme for leukotriene biosynthesis is 5-lipoxygenase. Boswellic acids were found to be non-redox, non-competitive specific inhibitors of the enzyme 5-lipoxygenase.

Osteoarthritis -- boswellia is helpful
An Ayurvedic herbal combination of ashwagandha, boswellia , and curcumin was evaluated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled, cross-over study in patients with osteoarthritis. Treatment with this formulation produced a significant drop in severity of pain.   

Boswellia and Osteoarthritis
Efficacy and tolerability of Boswellia serrata extract in treatment of osteoarthritis of knee--a randomized double blind placebo controlled trial.
Kimmatkar N. Phytomedicine. 2003 Jan;10(1):3-7. MS Orthopedics, Indira Gandhi Medical College, Nagpur, India.
Osteoarthritis is a common, chronic, progressive, skeletal, degenerative disorder, which commonly affects the knee joint. Boswellia serrata tree is commonly found in India. The therapeutic value of its gum (guggulu) has been known. It posses good anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic and analgesic activity. A randomized double blind placebo controlled crossover study was conducted to assess the efficacy, safety and tolerability of Boswellia serrata Extract in 30 patients of osteoarthritis of knee, 15 each receiving active drug or placebo for eight weeks. After the first intervention, washout was given and then the groups were crossed over to receive the opposite intervention for eight weeks. All patients receiving drug treatment reported decrease in knee pain, increased knee flexion and increased walking distance. The frequency of swelling in the knee joint was decreased. Radiologically there was no change. The observed differences between drug treated and placebo being statistically significant, are clinically relevant. Boswellia serrata Extractwas well tolerated by the subjects except for minor gastrointestinal ADRs. Boswellia serrata Extractis recommended in the patients of osteoarthritis of the knee with possible therapeutic use in other arthritis.

Boswellia and cholesterol
Extract of gum resins of Boswellia serrata L. inhibits lipopolysaccharide induced nitric oxide production in rat macrophages along with hypolipidemic property.
Indian J Exp Biol. 2005 Jun;43(6):509-16. Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India.
This study was planned to investigate the water-soluble fraction of the oleoresin gum of Boswellia serrata extract on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced nitric oxide (NO) production by macrophages under in vivo and in vitro conditions. In the previous condition, rats were fed on atherogenic diet (2.5% cholesterol, 1% cholic acid, 15.7 % saturated fat) along with the Boswellia serrata extract for 90 days. Under in vivo experiment, Boswellia serrata extract significantly reduced serum total cholesterol (38-48 %), increased serum high-density lipoprotein- cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol, 22-30%). Under in vitro experiments with thioglycolate activated macrophages, it inhibited LPS induced (NO) production with IC 50 value at 662 ng /ml. Further, this fraction, in the dose of 15 mg/100 g body wt for 90 days, did not show any increase in serum glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) and blood urea, in normal control animals. However, it significantly reversed the raised SGPT and blood urea in the atherogenic diet-fed animals. Transverse section of liver and kidney also supported its protective effect. Thus it may be concluded that water extract of Boswellia serrata possesses strong hypocholesterolemic property along with increase in serum HDL. It inhibits the LPS induced NO production by the activated rat peritoneal macrophages and show hepato-protective and reno-protective property.

Boswellia serrata herbal extract questions
I have purchased Nature's Way Boswellia (65% Boswellic acids) for my dog but am unsure of the dosage. I did read about it and still don't know how to convert it. The passage I read stated: The Boswellia resin extract (BSB108, product of Bogar AG) was administered with the regular food at a dose of 400 mg per 10 kg body weight once daily for 6 weeks. How do I convert the product I have for my dog who weighs about 70 lbs.? I am trying to ease her arthritis pain and don't know the proper dosage. Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated.
    Studies with the use of boswellia extract for dogs is very limited. The boswellia dosage for humans is still being reviewed and is not clear yet. As a general guideline, we would suggest for the time being using only one capsule a day of the Nature's Way boswellia extract, if her vet approves. Another product to consider in the future is Joint Power Rx at one or two capsules a day.

Frankincense, mentioned in the Bible, was probably an extract from the resin of the Boswellia tree, Boswellia sacra.

I take boswellia for cholesterol reduction and was wondering if the occasional use of yohimbe extract would interfere with the benefit of research boswellia?
   We doubt there would be any major interactions if the libido herb is used occasionally.