Botanical Name
Boswellia serrata
Plant Part used
Oleo-Gum -Resin
Specification (Marker compound)
Boswellia acid (50% – 85% w/w) by Gravimetry.
Description
Salai gum or Indian olibanum is the gum-resin obtained from the species of Boswellia of which Boswellia serrata Roxb. ocuurs in India. It is a moderate to large branching tree, found in dry deciduous forests, being common in dry hills throughout India. Bark is very thin, greyish-green, ashy or reddish peeling off in thin, papery flakes. The leaves are like those of neem plant and have small white flowers. The tree occurs mainly in Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan and Gujarat and to a lesser extent in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and in other dry and tropical regions of the country.
In Ayurvedic medicine Indian frankincense (Boswellia serrata) has been used for hundreds of years for treating arthritis. Extracts of Boswellia serrata have been clinically studied for osteoarthritis and joint function, particularly for osteoarthritis of the knee. Positive effects of Boswellia in some chronic inflammatory diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, bronchial asthma, osteoarthritis, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease have been reported. Boswellic acid and other pentacyclic triterpene acids are present. Beta-boswellic acid is the major constituent.
Therapeutic Applications:
- Analgesic,
- Anti-Inflammatory,
- Anti-Arthritic
- Anti-Pyretic activity.
- The reduction of Asthma, Chronic colitis.
- Application in Anti-Atherosclerotic and Anti-Cancer.
