Boswellia
Boswellia serrata
Also known as: Indian Frankincense, Salai Guggul, Shallaki
Overview
The resin of the Boswellia tree, used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. Its best-studied compound, AKBA, blocks 5-LOX — an enzyme that helps drive inflammation — in laboratory studies, though how much AKBA actually reaches the bloodstream from a capsule is still debated. The human evidence is more direct: in randomized trials, Boswellia extract eased knee osteoarthritis pain and stiffness compared with placebo, though results varied by study and formulation.
Proposed mechanism
AKBA inhibits 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX), blocking leukotriene synthesis — the best-studied part of how Boswellia works, though this has been shown mainly in isolated cells, not in whole blood or at ordinary supplement doses. Standardized extracts also lower MMP-3, a joint-degrading enzyme, in synovial cells and in small human trials, nearly all of them manufacturer-funded and not independently replicated. Boswellia has been well tolerated in the trials done so far, with mild digestive complaints the most common side effect, but it has never been tested head-to-head against an NSAID, and laboratory studies show boswellic acids do inhibit COX-1 — so do not assume it is easier on the stomach.
Mechanisms describe how researchers think a compound may act, often from laboratory work — a proposed mechanism is not proof of a clinical effect in people.
Traditional & studied uses
Related pathways
Pathway tags are a research aid for browsing the glossary — they are not a claim that this ingredient treats any condition.