Boswellia 1898813 225477453 2008-07-13T22:11:29Z AllGloryToTheHypnotoad 3425501 /* Medicinal uses */ make into a footnoted reference {{Taxobox | name = ''Boswellia'' | image = Koeh-022.jpg | image_width = 250px | regnum = [[Plant]]ae | divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]] | classis = [[Magnoliopsida]] | ordo = [[Sapindales]] | familia = [[Burseraceae]] | genus = '''''Boswellia''''' | genus_authority = [[William Roxburgh|Roxb.]] ex [[Henry Thomas Colebrooke|Colebr.]] | subdivision_ranks = [[Species]] | subdivision = ''[[Boswellia carterii]]''<br/> ''[[Boswellia dalzielii]]''<br/> ''[[Boswellia frereana]]''<br/> ''[[Boswellia neglecta]]''<br/> ''[[Boswellia papyrifera]]''<br/> ''[[Boswellia rivae]]''<br/> ''[[Boswellia sacra]]''<br/> ''[[Boswellia serrata]]''<br/> ''[[Boswellia socotrana]]'' }} '''''Boswellia''''' is a [[genus]] of [[tree]]s known for their fragrant [[resin]] which has many [[pharmacological]] uses particularly as [[anti-inflammatory|anti-inflammatories]]. The [[Bible|Biblical]] [[incense]] [[frankincense]] was probably an extract from the resin of the tree, ''Boswellia sacra''. There are four main [[species]] of ''Boswellia'' which produce true frankincense and each type of resin is available in various grades. The grades depend on the time of [[harvest]]ing, and the resin is hand sorted for quality. Anyone interested in frankincense would be well advised to first obtain a small sample of each type from a reputable dealer in order to ascertain the difference between each resin. ==Medicinal uses== ''Boswellia'' has long been used in [[Ayurvedic medicine]]. Recently, the [[boswellic acid]]s that are a component of the [[resin]] it produces have shown some promise as a treatment for [[asthma]] and various [[inflammatory]] conditions (Gupta I, Gupta V, Parihar A, ''et al.'' Effects of Boswellia serrata gum resin in patients with bronchial asthma: results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled, 6-week clinical study. European Journal of Herbal Medicine 1998; 3:511-14.) In [[West Africa]], the [[bark]] of ''Boswellia dalzielii'' is used to treat [[fever]], [[rheumatism]] and [[gastrointestinal]] problems <ref>Arbonnier 2002. Arbres, arbustes et lianes des zones sèches de l'Afrique de l'Ouest</ref>. Boswellia incense may even relieve [[major depressive disorder|depression]]. <ref> [http://www.fasebj.org/cgi/content/abstract/fj.07-101865v1] "Incensole acetate, an incense component, elicits psychoactivity by activating TRPV3 channels in the brain", ''The FASEB Journal'', 20 May, 2008.</ref> {{Sapindales-stub}} [[Category:Burseraceae]] [[Category:Medicinal plants]] == Notes == <references/> [[es:Boswellia]] [[fa:کندر (گیاه)]] [[fr:Boswellia]] [[it:Boswellia]] [[pt:Boswellia]] [[fi:Boswellia]]