Boswellia serrata

Boswellia serrata, commonly called Indian frank‑tree or Indian frankincense, is a resin‑producing tree native to the Indian subcontinent and parts of the Middle East. The dried, milky resin (often called “frankincense”) is harvested and processed into extracts that are widely used as a dietary supplement for its anti‑inflammatory and analgesic properties.

• Source: Boswellic acids are pentacyclic triterpenic acids derived from the resin.
• Active Component: The principal active component, 3‑acetyl‑11‑keto‑β‑boswellic acid (AKBA), has the formula C₃₁H₄₈O₅, molecular weight 512.71 g mol⁻¹.
• IUPAC: (3S,5R,6S,8S)-3‑acetyl‑11‑oxo‑5‑hydroxy‑6‑methyl‑2‑(4‑hydroxymethyl‑2‑methyl‑4‑oxocyclopent-1‑enyl)‑1‑[1‑(3‑hydroxymethyl‑2‑methyl‑2‑cyclopentenyl)‑2‑hydroxy‑1‑pyrrolo[1,2‑b]indol‑3‑yl]‑1‑oxopropane‑2‑carboxylic acid (simplified).
• Key Structural Features:
  • A pentacyclic oleanane backbone
  • A keto‑group at C‑11
  • An acetyl group at C‑3
  • A carboxylic acid at C‑30
• Mechanism: The presence of the α‑β unsaturated carbonyl (keto‑enol) confers the ability to covalently modify enzyme active sites (e.g., 5‑LOX).
• Solubility: The lipophilic nature of the triterpene backbone underlies its poor water solubility, prompting the use of standardized extracts and lipid‑based carriers in supplements.

• Source: Boswellia serrata resin is harvested from wild or cultivated trees in India, Nepal, and parts of the Arabian Peninsula.
• Harvesting: The resin is collected by making shallow incisions in the bark and allowing the exudate to harden into “tears”.
• Extraction: Extraction typically uses ethanol or super‑critical CO₂ to concentrate boswellic acids; the latter yields higher purity and avoids solvent residues.
• Quality Standards: Quality standards focus on boswellic‑acid content (≥ 30 % total, ≥ 65 % AKBA) and absence of heavy metals, pesticide residues, and microbial contamination.
• Manufacturing Practices: Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and third‑party testing (e.g., USP, NSF) are essential to assure batch‑to‑batch consistency.
• Sustainability: Sustainable harvesting practices (e.g., limited tapping per tree, re‑planting) are increasingly required to protect the species, which is listed as “vulnerable” in some regions.
• Synergistic Benefits: Selecting products with full‑spectrum extracts (including both boswellic acids and minor terpenes) may provide synergistic benefits.