Written by Gabriele Dennert and the CAM-Cancer Consortium.
Updated October 27, 2011

Boswellia spp

Abstract and key points

  • Boswellia subspecies are branching trees found in Asia and Africa. For medicinal purposes mainly the resin is used.
  • No firm conclusions can be drawn on the effect of orally administered Boswellia extracts on peritumoural brain oedema, brain tumours, brain metastases or any other cancer in women, men or children.
  • Reported adverse effects mainly affected the gastrointestinal system and the skin.

Boswellia subspecies are trees in Asia and Africa. Medicinal dry extracts of different Boswellia trees are traded as phytopharmaceuticals for oral administration. Boswellia extracts are claimed to be inhibitors of inflammation processes, with efficacy against perifocal oedema in brain tumour patients and antitumour activity.

No certain conclusions can be drawn on the effect of orally administered Boswellic acids or Boswellia extracts on peritumoural brain oedema or brain tumours in humans. Findings from two clinical trials and two case series suggest a beneficial effect for Boswellia extracts on perifocal brain oedema in some of the study participants. The applicability of these findings to other patients, however, is limited due to methodological constraints.

In-vitro experiments have found an anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative effect at high concentrations in some animal and human malignant cell lines. However, the opposite effect was seen for low concentrations of Boswellia extracts. Only very little pharmacokinetic data is available for humans to date.

Adverse effects mainly affected the gastrointestinal system and the skin.

Citation

Gabriele Dennert, CAM-Cancer Consortium. Boswellia spp [online document]. http://www.cam-cancer.org/CAM-Summaries/Herbal-products/Boswellia-spp. October 27, 2011.

Document history

Last updated and revised in October 2011 by Gabriele Dennert.
Fully updated and revised in November 2009 by Gabriele Dennert.
First published in November 2005, authored by Gabriele Dennert.

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