Potential Benefits of Boswellia Serrata - Arthritis, Crohn's, IBS, etc..

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Potential Benefits of Boswellia Serrata in Arthritis, Crohn's, IBS

JoAnn Guest

Sep 02, 2006 13:53 PDT

 

 

 

http://www.raysahelian.com/boswellia.html

 

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 diarrhea 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 inhibitors of the enzyme 5-lipoxygenase. (see

research update below)

 

Osteoarthritis -- boswellia has been studied in combination with

other herbs (see research update below). 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 Dosage

No guidelines have been established as to the ideal dosage of

boswellia.

One option is to take boswellia 300 to 500 mg 2 or 3 times a day of

an

extract standardized to contain 30 to 40% boswellic acids. The full

effect may take several weeks.

 

Boswellia Serrata Human Research Update

Efficacy and tolerability of Boswellia serrata extract in treatment

of

osteoarthritis of knee--a randomized double blind placebo controlled

trial.

Phytomedicine. 2003 Jan;10(1):3-7.

 

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 has been known. It possesses 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 boswellia 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 extract was well tolerated by the

subjects

except for minor gastrointestinal symptoms.

 

Boswellia serrata extract is recommended in the patients of

osteoarthritis of the knee with possible therapeutic use in other

arthritis.

 

Effects of gum resin of Boswellia serrata in patients with chronic

colitis.

Planta Med. 2001 Jul;67(5):391-5.

 

Patients studied here 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. We studied the gum resin of

Boswellia serrata for the treatment of this disease. Thirty

patients, 17

males and 13 females in the age range of 18 to 48 years with chronic

colitis were included in this study.

 

Twenty patients were given a preparation of the gum resin of

Boswellia

serrata (900 mg daily divided in three doses for 6 weeks) and ten

patients were given sulfasalazine (3 gm daily divided in three doses

for

6 weeks) and served as controls.

 

Out of 20 patients treated with Boswellia gum resin 18 patients

showed

an improvement in one or more of the parameters: including stool

properties, histopathology as well as scanning electron microscopy,

besides haemoglobin, serum iron, calcium, phosphorus, proteins,

total

leukocytes and eosinophils.

 

In the control group 6 out of 10 patients showed similar results

with

the same parameters. Out of 20 patients treated with Boswellia gum

resin

14 went into remission while in case of sulfasalazine remission rate

was

4 out of 10.

 

In conclusion, this study shows that a gum resin preparation from

Boswellia serrata could be effective in the treatment of chronic

colitis

with minimal side effects.

 

Therapy of active Crohn disease with Boswellia serrata extract H 15]

Z Gastroenterol. 2001 Jan;39(1):11-7.

 

The purpose of this clinical trial was to compare efficacy and

safety of

the Boswellia serrata extract H15 with mesalazine for the treatment

of

active Crohn's disease. Randomised, double-blind, verum-controlled,

parallel group comparison for which 102 Patients were randomised.

The

population included 44 patients treated with Boswellia and 39

patients

treated with mesalazine.

 

As primary outcome measure the change of the Crohn Disease Activity

Index (CDAI) between the status of enrolment and end of therapy was

chosen. Boswellia was tested on non-inferiority compared to standard

treatment with mesalazine. RESULTS: The CDAI between the status of

enrolment and end of therapy after treatment with Boswellia was

reduced

by 90 and after therapy with mesalazine by 53 scores.

The difference between both treatments could not be proven to be

statistically significant in favor to Boswellia for the primary

outcome

measure. The secondary efficacy endpoints confirm the assessment of

the

comparison of Boswellia and mesalazine.

 

The proven tolerability of Boswellia completes the results of the

shown

clinical efficacy.

 

CONCLUSIONS: The study confirms that therapy with Boswellia is not

inferior to mesalazine. This can be interpreted as evidence for the

efficacy of Boswellia according to the state of art in the treatment

of

active Crohn's disease with Boswellia serrata extract, since the

efficacy of mesalazine for this indication has been approved by the

health authorities. Considering both safety and efficacy of

Boswellia

serrata extract H15 it appears to be superior over mesalazine in

terms

of a benefit-risk-evaluation.

 

Effects of Boswellia serrata gum resin in patients with bronchial

asthma: results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled, 6-week

clinical

study.

Eur J Med Res. 1998 Nov 17;3(11):511-4.

 

The gum resin of Boswellia serrata, known in Indian Ayurvedic system

of

medicine as Salai guggal, contains boswellic acids, which have been

shown to inhibit leukotriene biosynthesis.

 

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study forty patients, 23 males

and 17 females in the age range of 18 - 75 years having mean

duration of

illness, bronchial asthma, of 9.58 +/- 6.07 years were treated with

a

preparation of Boswellia gum resin of 300 mg thrice daily for a

period

of 6 weeks.

 

70% of patients showed improvement of disease as evident by

disappearance of physical symptoms and signs such as dyspnoea,

rhonchi,

number of attacks, increase in FEV subset1, FVC as well as decrease

in

eosinophilic count and ESR.

In the control group of 40 patients 16 males and 24 females in the

age

range of 14-58 years were treated with lactose 300 mg thrice daily

for 6

weeks. Only 27% of patients in the control group showed improvement.

 

The data show a definite role of gum resin of Boswellia serrata in

the

treatment of bronchial asthma. boswellia curcumin

 

Allergic contact dermatitis from Boswellia serrata extract in a

naturopathic cream.

Contact Dermatitis. 2004 Aug;51(2):91-2.

Department of Dermatology, Hospital de Cruces, Bilbao, Spain.

 

Boswellia Animal Research

Dietary support with Boswellia resin in canine inflammatory joint

and

spinal disease.

Schweiz Arch Tierheilkd. 2004 Feb;146(2):71-9.

 

An open multi-centre veterinary clinical trial, comparing conditions

before and after treatment with a herbal dietary supplement

consisting

of a natural resin extract of Boswellia serrata, was conducted by 10

practicing veterinarians in Switzerland.

 

This traditional plant-based supplement is known for its anti-

rheumatic

and anti-inflammatory properties.

 

29 dogs with manifestations of chronic joint and spinal disease were

enrolled. Osteoarthritis and degenerative conditions were confirmed

radiologically in 25 of 29 cases. The Boswellia resin extract

(BSB108,

product of Bogar AG) was administered with the regular food at a

dose of

400 mg/10 kg body weight once daily for 6 weeks.

 

Already after two weeks of treatment, an overall efficacy of

Boswellia

was evident in 71% of 24 eligible dogs. A statistically significant

reduction of severity and resolution of typical clinical signs in

individual animals, such as intermittent lameness, local pain and

stiff

gait, were reported after 6 weeks.

 

Because quality and stability of the Boswellia resin extract were

ensured, these data suggest that a standardized preparation can be

recommended as a herbal dietary supplement providing symptomatic

support

in canine osteoarthritic disease.

 

Boswellia Laboratory Research

Pharmacokinetic study of 11-Keto beta-Boswellic acid.

Phytomedicine. 2004 Feb;11(2-3):255-60.

 

Boswellia serrata has been used in traditional medicine for

treatment of

inflammatory diseases since antiquity. However human kinetic studies

are

lacking for this. Twelve healthy adult men volunteers were given

capsule

Wok Vel containing 333 mg of Boswellia Serrata Extract, orally,

after a

seven days washout period.

 

CONCLUSION: Elimination half life of nearly six hours suggests that

the

drug needs to be given orally at the interval of six hours. The

plasma

concentration will attain the steady state after approximately 30

hours.

Boswellia is a safe drug and well tolerated on oral administration.

No

adverse effects were seen with this drug when administered as single

dose in 333 mg.

 

Immunomodulatory activity of boswellic acids of Boswellia serrata

Roxb.

Indian J Exp Biol. 2003 Dec;41(12):1460-2.

 

Extract of gum resin of B. serrata containing 60% acetyl 11-keto

beta

boswellic acid (AKBA) along with other constituents such as 11-keto

beta-boswellic acid (KBA), acetyl beta-boswellic acid and beta-

boswellic

acid has been evaluated for antianaphylactic and mast cell

stabilizing

activity using passive paw anaphylaxis and compound 48/80 induced

degranulation of mast cell methods. The extract inhibited the

passive

paw anaphylaxis reaction in rats in dose-dependant manner (20, 40

and 80

mg/kg, po). However, the standard dexamethasone revealed maximum

inhibition of edema as compared to the boswellia extract. A

significant

inhibition in the compound 48/80 induced degranulation of mast cells

in

dose-dependant manner (20, 40 and 80 mg/kg, po) was observed thus

showing mast cell stabilizing activity. The standard disodium

cromoglycate was found to demonstrate maximum per cent protection

against degranulation as compared to the boswellia extract

containing

60% AKBA.

 

The results suggest promising anti-anaphylactic and mast cell

stabilizing activity of the boswellia extract.

 

Cytostatic and apoptosis-inducing activity of boswellic acids toward

malignant cell lines in vitro.

Anticancer Res. 2002 Sep-Oct;22(5):2853-62.

 

Boswellic acids from frankincense were indentified as the active

compounds which inhibit leukotriene biosynthesis, 5-lipoxygenase and

exert antiproliferative activity toward a variety of malignant

cells.

Because of the relevance for the clinical application, we tested the

ethanolic extract of Boswellia serrata gum resin containing a

defined

amount of boswellic acids for its cytotoxic, cytostatic and

apoptotic

activity on five leukemia and two brain tumor cell lines.

 

The Boswellia serrata extract induced dose-dependent

antiproliferative

effects on all human malignant cells tested.

 

The results of this study suggest the effectiveness of Boswellia

serrata extract with defined content of boswellic acids.

 

Inhibitory activity of boswellic acids from Boswellia serrata

against

human leukemia HL-60 cells in culture.

Planta Med. 1998 May;64(4):328-31.

 

 

Four major triterpene acids including beta-boswellic acid were

isolated

from the gum resin of Boswellia serrata and examined for their in

vitro

antitumor activity. They inhibited the synthesis of DNA, RNA and

protein

in human leukemia HL-60 cells in a dose dependent manner.

 

Boswellia emails

 

Q. I have read that Boswellis should be taken for no more than 8-12

weeks. Do you agree? I've started taking it recently for tendonitis

at

my bottom left knee. It helps reduce inflammation from IBS and upper

respiratory problems I encounter.

A. We have not come across long term human trials with

boswellia to

know its long term safety and how often breaks are needed. Plus,

each

person has a different medical condition, and the length of

boswellia

use could depend on the dosage used, and how potent a boswellia

extract

is being taken, and also what other medicines or herbs are being

used at

the same time.

 

Q. I was wondering if you have heard of dogs being given Boswellia

and

Metacam. I give her Metacam in the evenings, and I was wondering if

Boswellia could be given in the morning, as an adjunct for

arthritis.

Any anectodal information would be helpful and appreciated.

A. I am not familiar with treating dogs with medicines or

herbs,

but we have had some owners say that their dog's arthritis seemed to

improve with Joint Power Rx, although we don't have first had

knowledge

of this. Joint Power Rx has boswellia.

 

Q. What data is there regarding reaction(s) between Boswellia and

Atacand (for HBP), Zetia, Wellbutrin, Celexa and Tylenol?

A. Boswellia has not been studied in relation to these drugs,

so

little is known about interactions.

http://www.raysahelian.com/boswellia.html

 

JoAnn Guest

mrsjo-

www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Diets