Boswellia
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2008-07-13T22:11:29Z
AllGloryToTheHypnotoad
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{{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 ==
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[[es:Boswellia]]
[[fa:کندر (گیاه)]]
[[fr:Boswellia]]
[[it:Boswellia]]
[[pt:Boswellia]]
[[fi:Boswellia]]