Review Article

Taxonomical Investigation, Chemical Composition, Traditional Use in Medicine, and Pharmacological Activities of Boswellia sacra Flueck

Table 1

The pharmacological profiles of B. sacra gum resin and its phytochemicals.

ActivityExtract/compoundsDose and treatment periodModelResultsMechanismReference

AnticancerEssential oil, 11-keto-b-boswellic acid100 μl, treat, 24 hT47D, MCF7, MDA-MB-231, MCF10-2AReduced cell viability, elevated cell death, suppressed cellular network formation, disrupted spheroid development of breast cancer cells, caused the breakdown of multicellular tumor spheroids (T47D), no cytotoxity on MCF10-2A, inhibited caspases in the MDA-MB-231, anti-invasive(+) cleaved caspase-3(−) caspase-8 p43/p41, caspase-9 p37/p35, pro-caspase-3, Akt, PARP, ERK1/2(Thr202/Tyr204), cdk4, cyclin D1[32, 35, 39]
Essential oil, 11-keto-b-boswellic acid100 μl, treat, 24 hMIA PaCa-2, Panc-28, BxPC-3, DANG[35, 40]
Essential oil30 μl, SQI, 3 daysHeterotopic xenograft mouseSuppressed viability, reduced cell growth, antiproliferative, antiapoptotic, induced cytotoxicity, reduced tumor volume, anti-tumor(+) Caspase-3 activation, apoptosis(−) cyclin D1, cdk4, caspase-8 p43/p41, caspase-9p37/p35, procaspase-3, PARP, Akt ser (473), ERK1/2(Thr202/Tyr204), proliferating[42]
3 mL daily, oral, 25 monthsA 52-year-old male with urothelial cell carcinoma(+) No(−) AST, ALT, bilirubin, creatinine, BUN
Methanolic extract, Boswellic acids6.25–100 μg/ml, incubated, 24 and 48 hHuman pancreatic (PANC1), colon (HCT116), lung adenocarcinoma (MOR), breast cancer MCF7 and MDA-MB-231, the human prostate cancer LNCaP, and SerBob cell linesInhibited tumor growth, anticancer, improved kidney and liver function, decreased tumor volume(+)-(−)-[55]
Anti-tumor cytotoxicity, inhibited cell viability
Anti-inflammatoryEssential oil0.3%, inhalation, 8 weeksOvalbumin-induced BALB/c mice allergic asthmaReduced eosinophils, decreased goblet cell hyperplasia, inhibited hyperresponsiveness, anti-inflammatory, immunity(+) Th1, IFN-γ, (−) Th2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, CD4+, CD3+/CCR3+, B220+/CD23+[51]
AnalgesicMethanolic extract, essential oils, subfractions300 mg/kg, orallyAcetic acid-induced writhes and formalin-induced pain in miceAnalgesic, inhibited writhes, inhibited licking, and biting response(+) No(−) No[32]
AntimicrobialEssential oil0.1 ml, treat, 24 hStaphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923; ATCC 6538), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 15442; ATCC 9027), Candida albicans (ATCC 10231), Malassezia furfur (ATCC 14521)Antifungal, antimicrobial(+) No(−) No[2]
Resin essential oil2.5, 5, 7.5, 10 g/100 ml1, 2, 3, 4 ml/100 ml, incubated, 15 daysAspergillus flavus (SQU21), Aspergillus parasiticus (CBS921.7)Inhibited microbial and aflatoxins, enhanced fungal growth, inhibited aflatoxin biosynthesis and secretion pathway(+) Mycelial dry weights(−) Inhibited fungal growth and aflatoxins production[4]
Anti-AlzheimerEssential oil, (+) pinene0.5 mg/ml, incubated, 15 minAChE, Jack bean ureaseAnti-Alzheimer’s disease, protected stomach ulcers(+) No(−) AChE, urease enzyme[50]
Diterpenoids of ethanolic extract10 μM, incubated,1 hGlutamate-induced toxicity rat cortical neurons, human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cellsAChE modelNeuroprotection(+) No(−) No[26]
Boswellic acids, ethyl acetate fraction0.75 mM, 0.23, 0.46,0.93 mg/ml, incubated, 20 minAnti-Alzheimer’s disease(+) No(−) AChE[18]
HepatoprotectiveDiterpenoids of ethanolic extract10 μM, incubated,1 hParacetamol-induced HepG2 cellsHepatoprotective, inhibited damage(+) No(−) No[25, 26]
Methanolic extract250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg, oraly, 28-daySafety and toxicological studies on ratReduced mean cellular hemoglobin (MCH), induced hypochromic normocytic anemia, may not be safe to use(+)-(−)-[55]
Wound healingMethanolic extracts10–20 μg/ml, incubated, 24 hH2O2- induced injury on adult human dermal fibroblastsImproved proliferation, migration, and wound healing process(+) pERK/ERK(−) ROS[56]

Note. (+): increased or activated; (−): decreased or inhibited.