NUTRITIONAL NEWS Frankincense has been used in Indian natural medicine (Ayurveda) for thousands of years. The western pharmaceutical industry has also long been interested in the anti-inflammatory properties of olibanum. A German research team has now provided new findings.
"Oliba-what?" This is probably the reaction to the term olibanum. The subsequent explanation "frankincense" probably causes more confusion in the context of the dietary supplement: "The church scent?" Not quite.
Olibanum is a spicy, bitter, balsamic resin that is extracted from Boswellia trees. Over 20 species of this genus grow in Africa, Arabia and India. Boswellia sacra, the Arabian frankincense tree, thrives in Yemen and Oman, for example. The resin of this tree is considered to have the best scent and is the one that produces the smoky scent that one knows from visiting Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches, for example.
Olibanum indicum (resin), obtained from the Indian frankincense tree (Boswellia serrata), has been used in Ayurvedic naturopathy for 5000 years to treat a number of health problems due to the antiphlogistic (anti-inflammatory) effect of certain boswellic acids (see box).
Effects of Olibanum decoded
For over 50 years, Western medicine has also been researching frankincense and its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and immune system modulating effects .
Now a research team at the Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the University of Jena has deciphered the molecular mechanism of action of a specific boswellic acid. The tests showed that the frankincense ingredient reprograms a central, normally inflammatory enzyme so that it has an anti-inflammatory effect, as the German Medical Journal also reports.
The findings on the effect represent a possible new therapeutic approach for autoimmune diseases, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis or neurodermatitis in order to resolve inflammation and promote tissue regeneration - without the side effects of previous anti-inflammatory drugs, according to the scientists. They hope to be able to develop new active pharmaceutical ingredients based on the mode of action of boswellic acid.
Use and Effects of Olibanum
Olibanum has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties and is very effective in treating arthritic and rheumatic pain. It can also be used as a tonic for flu symptoms such as fever, cough and cold and as a digestive tonic for stomach upset.
In Indian Ayurvedic medicine, olibanum is used to treat wounds, arthritis, hormonal imbalance in women and for cleansing. This use is known as "dhoopan".
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