Molecular evidences on anti‐inflammatory, anticancer, and memory‐boosting effects of frankincense

Chemical diversity of natural products with drug‐like features has attracted much attention from medicine to develop more safe and effective drugs. Their anti‐inflammatory, antitumor, analgesic, and other therapeutic properties are sometimes more successful than chemical drugs in controlling disease due to fewer drug resistance and side effects and being more tolerable in a long time. Frankincense, the oleo gum resin extracted from the Boswellia species, contains some of these chemicals. The anti‐inflammatory effect of its main ingredient, boswellic acid, has been traditionally used to treat many diseases, mainly those target memory functions. In this review, we have accumulated research evidence from the beneficial effect of Frankincense consumption in memory improvement and the prevention of inflammation and cancer. Besides, we have discussed the molecular pathways mediating the therapeutic effects of this natural supplement.

• Publication year

  2022

• Venue

  Phytotherapy Research

• Publication date

  2022-02-10

• Fields of study

  Biology, Medicine, Chemistry

• Identifiers
  DOI 10.1002/ptr.7399PMID 35142408
• External record

  Open on Semantic Scholar

• Source metadata

  Semantic Scholar, PubMed

• No claims are published for this paper.

• No concepts are published for this paper.

• GR-mediated anti-inflammation of α-boswellic acid: Insights from in vitro and in silico studies.

  2021cited by this paper
• An engineered microfluidic blood‐brain barrier model to evaluate the anti‐metastatic activity of β‐boswellic acid

  2021cited by this paper
• β-Boswellic Acid Inhibits RANKL-Induced Osteoclast Differentiation and Function by Attenuating NF-κB and Btk-PLCγ2 Signaling Pathways

  2021cited by this paper
• Boswellia serrata suppress fipronil-induced neuronal necrosis and neurobehavioral alterations via promoted inhibition of oxidative/inflammatory/apoptotic pathways.

  2021cited by this paper
• 11-Keto-α-Boswellic Acid, a Novel Triterpenoid from Boswellia spp. with Chemotaxonomic Potential and Antitumor Activity against Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells

  2021cited by this paper
• Frankincense Upregulates the FMR1 Gene and Alleviates AlCl3-Induced Memory Impairment in Rats

  2021cited by this paper
• Dendrosome-encapsulated beta-Boswellic acid boosts expression of the memory-related genes in the B65 cell line

  2020cited by this paper
• Natural Products and Their Therapeutic Effect on Autism Spectrum Disorder.

  2020cited by this paper
• Boswellic acid sensitizes gastric cancer cells to Cisplatin-induced apoptosis via p53-mediated pathway

  2020cited by this paper
• The effects of the combination of Cyperus rotundus, Crocus sativus, Piper nigrum, and Boswellia serrata on learning and memory deficit and oxidative damage in brain tissue of hypothyroid rats.

  2020cited by this paper
• Acetyl-α-boswellic acid and Acetyl-β-boswellic acid protects against caerulein-induced pancreatitis via down-regulating MAPKs in mice.

  2020cited by this paper
• Acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid enhances the cisplatin sensitivity of non-small cell lung cancer cells through cell cycle arrest, apoptosis induction, and autophagy suppression via p21-dependent signaling pathway

  2020cited by this paper
• The effects of acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid on brain cytokines and memory impairment induced by lipopolysaccharide in rats.

  2020cited by this paper
• Acetyl-11-Keto-β-Boswellic Acid Exerts the Anti-Cancer Effects via Cell Cycle Arrest, Apoptosis Induction and Autophagy Suppression in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells

  2020cited by this paper
• A practical guide for transparent reporting of research on natural products in the British Journal of Pharmacology: Reproducibility of natural product research

  2020cited by this paper
• Memory-related process in physiological status and alzheimer’s disease

  2020cited by this paper
• Acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid ameliorates cognitive deficits and reduces amyloid-β levels in APPswe/PS1dE9 mice through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory pathways.

  2020influential reference
• Anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities of frankincense: Targets, treatments and toxicities.

  2020cited by this paper
• Human hippocampal CA3 damage disrupts both recent and remote episodic memories

  2020cited by this paper
• Comparative Study

  2020cited by this paper
• Acetyl‐11‐keto‐β‐boswellic acid triggers premature senescence via induction of DNA damage accompanied by impairment of DNA repair genes in hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo

  2020cited by this paper
• Botanical drugs and supplements affecting the immune response in the time of COVID‐19: Implications for research and clinical practice

  2020cited by this paper
• Boswellic acids and their derivatives as potent regulators of glucocorticoid receptor actions.

  2020cited by this paper
• Best practice in research - Overcoming common challenges in phytopharmacological research.

  2020cited by this paper
• Boswellic Acid Composition of Frankincense Dietary Supplements and Correlation to Cytotoxic Efficacy against Treatment‐Resistant Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells

  2019influential reference
• Herbal medicinal products for inflammatory bowel disease: A focus on those assessed in double‐blind randomised controlled trials

  2019cited by this paper
• Comparative Investigation of Frankincense Nutraceuticals: Correlation of Boswellic and Lupeolic Acid Contents with Cytokine Release Inhibition and Toxicity against Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells

  2019cited by this paper
• Acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid (AKBA) Attenuates Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, Complement Activation and Cell Death in Brain Endothelial Cells Following OGD/Reperfusion

  2019cited by this paper
• α-Pinene Induces Apoptotic Cell Death via Caspase Activation in Human Ovarian Cancer Cells

  2019cited by this paper
• Effect of 4 weeks of frankincense consumption on explicit motor memory and serum BDNF in elderly men

  2019influential reference
• Frankincense essential oil suppresses melanoma cancer through down regulation of Bcl-2/Bax cascade signaling and ameliorates heptotoxicity via phase I and II drug metabolizing enzymes

  2019influential reference
• Comparative Analysis of Pentacyclic Triterpenic Acid Compositions in Oleogum Resins of Different Boswellia Species and Their In Vitro Cytotoxicity against Treatment-Resistant Human Breast Cancer Cells

  2019cited by this paper
• Beta-Boswellic Acid and Ethanolic Extract of Olibanum Regulating the Expression Levels of CREB-1 and CREB-2 Genes

  2019cited by this paper
• Natural products in licorice for the therapy of liver diseases: Progress and future opportunities.

  2019cited by this paper
• Effect of the Ethanolic Extract of Olibanum on the Expression of CaMKIIα Gene in B65 and PC12 Cells

  2019cited by this paper
• New derivatives of 11-keto-β-boswellic acid (KBA) induce apoptosis in breast and prostate cancers cells

  2019cited by this paper
• Boswellic acid has anti‐inflammatory effects and enhances the anticancer activities of Temozolomide and Afatinib, an irreversible ErbB family blocker, in human glioblastoma cells

  2019cited by this paper
• A pilot, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial to assess the safety and efficacy of a novel Boswellia serrata extract in the management of osteoarthritis of the knee

  2019cited by this paper
• Polyphenol-rich Boswellia serrata gum prevents cognitive impairment and insulin resistance of diabetic rats through inhibition of GSK3β activity, oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory cytokines.

  2019influential reference
• Aqueous extract of Frankincense increases the expression of Camk4 gene in PC12 and B65 cell lines

  2018cited by this paper
• Chemoprevention of inflammation-related colorectal cancer by silymarin-, acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid-, curcumin- and maltodextrin-enriched dietetic formulation in animal model

  2018cited by this paper
• Natural compounds and combination therapy in colorectal cancer treatment.

  2018cited by this paper
• CD8+ T cells mediate the antitumor activity of frankincense and myrrh in hepatocellular carcinoma

  2018influential reference
• Frankincense upregulates the hippocampal calcium/calmodulin kinase II‐α during development of the rat brain and improves memory performance

  2018influential reference
• Boswellia frereana suppresses HGF-mediated breast cancer cell invasion and migration through inhibition of c-Met signalling

  2018cited by this paper
• Acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid suppresses docetaxel-resistant prostate cancer cells in vitro and in vivo by blocking Akt and Stat3 signaling, thus suppressing chemoresistant stem cell-like properties

  2018cited by this paper
• Natural Products for the Treatment of Autoimmune Arthritis: Their Mechanisms of Action, Targeted Delivery, and Interplay with the Host Microbiome

  2018cited by this paper
• The effect of tablet containing Boswellia serrata and Melisa officinalis extract on older adults' memory: A randomized controlled trial.

  2018cited by this paper
• Cytotoxicity and apoptosis enhancement in breast and cervical cancer cells upon coadministration of mitomycin C and essential oils in nanoemulsion formulations.

  2018cited by this paper
• Boswellic acid exerts potent anticancer effects in HCT-116 human colon cancer cells mediated via induction of apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, cell migration inhibition and inhibition of PI3K/AKT signalling pathway.

  2018cited by this paper
• Transcriptomic Profiling of MDA-MB-231 Cells Exposed to Boswellia Serrata and 3-O-Acetyl-B-Boswellic Acid; ER/UPR Mediated Programmed Cell Death.

  2017cited by this paper
• A Combined Water Extract of Frankincense and Myrrh Alleviates Neuropathic Pain in Mice via Modulation of TRPV1

  2017cited by this paper
• CA1 and CA3 differentially support spontaneous retrieval of episodic contexts within human hippocampal subfields

  2017cited by this paper
• Acetyl-lupeolic acid inhibits Akt signaling and induces apoptosis in chemoresistant prostate cancer cells in vitro and in vivo

  2017cited by this paper
• Phytochemistry and potential therapeutic actions of Boswellic acids: A mini-review

  2017cited by this paper
• Boswellic Acid Improves Cognitive Function in a Rat Model Through Its Antioxidant Activity

  2017cited by this paper
• Boswellia serrata resin extract alleviates azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colon tumorigenesis.

  2017cited by this paper
• Frankincense, pine needle and geranium essential oils suppress tumor progression through the regulation of the AMPK/mTOR pathway in breast cancer

  2017cited by this paper
• Methanolic extract of Boswellia serrata exhibits anti-cancer activities by targeting microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 in human colon cancer cells.

  2017cited by this paper
• Reversal of the multidrug resistance of human ileocecal adenocarcinoma cells by acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid via downregulation of P-glycoprotein signals.

  2016cited by this paper
• Effects of Mild and Severe Oxidative Stress on BACE1 Expression and APP Amyloidogenic Processing.

  2016cited by this paper
• Beneficial effect of Boswellia serrata gum resin on spatial learning and the dendritic tree of dentate gyrus granule cells in aged rats

  2016cited by this paper
• A Randomized Pilot Study of Inositol in Association with Betaine and Boswellia in the Management of Mastalgia and Benign Breast Lump in Premenopausal Women

  2016cited by this paper
• The Effects of Alpha Boswellic Acid on Reelin Expression and Tau Phosphorylation in Human Astrocytes

  2016cited by this paper
• Cancer Chemopreventive Effects of Boswellia sacra Gum Resin Hydrodistillates on Invasive Urothelial Cell Carcinoma: Report of a Case

  2016cited by this paper
• Boswellia serrata gum resin aqueous extract upregulatesBDNF but not CREB expression in adult male rat hippocampus.

  2016cited by this paper
• Therapeutic effect of frankincense in a rat model of Alzheimer’s disease

  2016cited by this paper
• Aqueous Extract of Frankincense Impedes Aluminum Chloride-Induced Memory Impairment in Adult Male Rats -

  2016cited by this paper
• The Traditional Medicine and Modern Medicine from Natural Products

  2016cited by this paper
• Comparing the Effects of Rivastigmin and Aqueous Extract of Olibanum on Gene Expression of Amyloid Precursor Protein in Rats Treated with Aluminum Chloride

  2016influential reference
• A Critical Approach to Evaluating Clinical Efficacy, Adverse Events and Drug Interactions of Herbal Remedies

  2016cited by this paper
• Frankincense improves memory retrieval in rats treated with Lipopolysaccharide

  2016cited by this paper
• Improved efficacy of cisplatin in combination with a nano-formulation of pentacyclic triterpenediol.

  2016cited by this paper
• Combined Administration of Melissa officinalis and Boswellia serrata Extracts in an Animal Model of Memory

  2016cited by this paper
• Marine Natural Products as Models to Circumvent Multidrug Resistance

  2016cited by this paper
• Clinical evaluation of safety and efficacy of Boswellia-based cream for prevention of adjuvant radiotherapy skin damage in mammary carcinoma: a randomized placebo controlled trial.

  2015cited by this paper
• An α-Acetoxy-Tirucallic Acid Isomer Inhibits Akt/mTOR Signaling and Induces Oxidative Stress in Prostate Cancer Cells

  2015cited by this paper
• The Role of IL-17 and Th17 Lymphocytes in Autoimmune Diseases

  2015cited by this paper
• 11-Keto-boswellic acid derived amides and monodesmosidic saponins induce apoptosis in breast and cervical cancers cells.

  2015cited by this paper
• Phytochemical Analysis and Anti-cancer Investigation of Boswellia serrata Bioactive Constituents In Vitro.

  2015cited by this paper
• Inhibition of Microsomal Prostaglandin E2 Synthase 1: focused design of new anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer drugs

  2015cited by this paper
• Differential effects of selective frankincense (Ru Xiang) essential oil versus non-selective sandalwood (Tan Xiang) essential oil on cultured bladder cancer cells: a microarray and bioinformatics study

  2014influential reference
• A Case of Metastatic Bladder Cancer in Both Lungs Treated with Korean Medicine Therapy Alone

  2014influential reference
• The Effect of Aqueous Extract of Boswellia on Spatial Learning and Memory in Adult Male Rats

  2014cited by this paper
• Genes and signaling pathways involved in memory enhancement in mutant mice

  2014cited by this paper
• Caspase Mediated Synergistic Effect of Boswellia serrata Extract in Combination with Doxorubicin against Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma

  2014cited by this paper
• The comparative study of acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid (AKBA) and aspirin in the prevention of intestinal adenomatous polyposis in APC(Min/+) mice.

  2014cited by this paper
• Genes and signaling pathways involved in memory enhancement in mutant mice

  2014cited by this paper
• Effect of Boswellia serrata gum resin on the morphology of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells in aged rat

  2014influential reference
• Boswellia ovalifoliolata abrogates ROS mediated NF-κB activation, causes apoptosis and chemosensitization in Triple Negative Breast Cancer cells.

  2014cited by this paper
• Rutin improves spatial memory in Alzheimer's disease transgenic mice by reducing Aβ oligomer level and attenuating oxidative stress and neuroinflammation.

  2014cited by this paper
• Boswellic acids reduce Th17 differentiation via blockade of IL‐1β‐mediated IRAK1 signaling

  2014influential reference
• Analgesic effects of crude extracts and fractions of Omani frankincense obtained from traditional medicinal plant Boswellia sacra on animal models.

  2014cited by this paper
• The effects of aqueous extract of Boswellia Serrata on hippocampal region CA1 and learning deficit in kindled rats

  2014influential reference
• Effect of Boswellia papyrifera on cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis

  2014influential reference
• Effect of Boswellia Thurifera Gum Methanol Extract on Cytotoxicity and P53 Gene Expression in Human Breast Cancer Cell Line

  2014cited by this paper
• Frankincense (乳香 Rǔ Xiāng; Boswellia Species): From the Selection of Traditional Applications to the Novel Phytotherapy for the Prevention and Treatment of Serious Diseases

  2013influential reference
• Management of basal cell carcinoma of the skin using frankincense (Boswellia sacra) essential oil: a case report

  2013cited by this paper
• Chemoprevention of intestinal adenomatous polyposis by acetyl‐11‐keto‐beta‐boswellic acid in APCMin/+ mice

  2013cited by this paper
• Extraction of biologically active compounds by hydrodistillation of Boswellia species gum resins for anti- cancer therapy

  2013cited by this paper

• Frankincense improves motor symptoms and attenuates the progression of Paraquat (PQ)-induced Parkinson's disease in mice by attenuating oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptotic cell death and improving nerve growth factor gene expression.

  2026cites this paper
• Effect of Supplementing Milk Replacer with Boswellia serrata Resin on Growth Performance, Serum Biochemical Profile, and Meat Quality of Suckling Lambs.

  2026cites this paper
• Topical formulation of a skin-natural wound healing remedy based on Traditional Persian Medicine

  2025cites this paper
• Methods for Strengthening Memorization Based on Ta’lim al-Muta’allim and Their Scientific Relevance

  2025cites this paper
• Frankincense from Boswellia: A review of species, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology

  2025cites this paper
• Dual distal insertions drive pimarane-to-miltiradiene rearrangement with enhanced enzymatic activity

  2025cites this paper
• Anti-Tumor Potential of Frankincense Essential Oil and Its Nano-Formulation in Breast Cancer: An In Vivo and In Vitro Study

  2025cites this paper
• Phytochemical Analysis and Pharmaceutical Applications of Monoterpenoids Present in the Essential Oil of Boswellia sacra (Omani Luban)

  2025cites this paper
• Exploring the mechanism of Xiaohuoluo Pill in the treatment of ischemic stroke based on GEO dataset combined with network pharmacology and molecular docking technology

  2025cites this paper
• Aroma of Genius Essential Oil Blend Significantly Enhances Cognitive Performance and Brain Metabolism in Healthy Adults

  2025cites this paper
• Assessment of Lavender, Frankincense and Peppermint Oils Trans-dermal Nano Spray Formulation Effect on Wound Healing Activity in Rat Model

  2024cites this paper
• Chemical Constituents and Pharmacological Properties of Frankincense: Implications for Anticancer Therapy

  2024cites this paper
• Optimization of supercritical CO2 fluid extraction process, component analysis, and antioxidant spectral activity correlation of Huoluo Xiaoling Dan

  2024cites this paper
• Frankincense: Art and Science of Resin

  2024cites this paper
• Formulation and Evaluation of Herbal Capsules Containing Gum Resin of Boswellia serrata.

  2024cites this paper
• Triterpenoids from Frankincense and Boswellia: A Focus on their Pharmacology and 13C-NMR Assignments.

  2024cites this paper
• Proective Effect of Frankincense Extract on the Histological Structure of Hippocampus and Cerebellum of Rats Exposed to Acrylamide

  2024cites this paper
• Improved antimicrobial activities of Boswellia sacra essential oils nanoencapsulated into hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrins

  2023cites this paper
• Ameliorative effects of frankincense oil on rats treated with a minimum toxic dose of paracetamol

  2023cites this paper
• Potent pigmentation inhibitory activity of incensole‐enriched frankincense volatile oil‐identification, efficacy and mechanism

  2023cites this paper
• Acetyl‐11‐keto‐β‐boswellic Acid Confers Protection in DSS‐Induced Colitis via the JNK–p38 MAPK and NF‐κB Signaling Pathways

  2023cites this paper
• Research Progress of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Foot Bath in the Treatment of Diabetic Foot

  2023cites this paper
• A Comprehensive Review of Essential Oils and Their Pharmacological Activities in Neurological Disorders: Exploring Neuroprotective Potential.

  2023cites this paper
• Neuroprotective effects of a combination of Boswellia papyrifera and Syzygium aromaticum on AlCl3 induced Alzheimer's disease in male albino rat.

  2023cites this paper
• Targeted delivery of genistein for pancreatic cancer treatment using hyaluronic-coated cubosomes bioactivated with frankincense oil.

  2023cites this paper
• The clinical efficacy of Olibanum gum chewing in patients with Mild‐to‐Moderate Alzheimer disease: A randomized Parallel‐Design controlled trial

  2023cites this paper
• How Should the Worldwide Knowledge of Traditional Cancer Healing Be Integrated with Herbs and Mushrooms into Modern Molecular Pharmacology?

  2022cites this paper
• Boswellia: systematically scoping the in vitro, in vivo and clinical research

  2022cites this paper
• The Effect of Treatment with Frankincense on Gentamicin-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Rats

  2022cites this paper
• Plasma lncRNA profiling identified BC200 and NEAT1 lncRNAs as potential blood-based biomarkers for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease

  2022cites this paper
• Glycyrrhizin and boswellic acids, the golden nutraceuticals: multitargeting for treatment of mild–moderate COVID-19 and prevention of post-COVID cognitive impairment

  2022cites this paper
• Carbon dots derived from frankincense soot for ratiometric and colorimetric detection of lead (II)

  2022cites this paper
• Natural and Engineered Nanomaterials for the Identification of Heavy Metal Ions—A Review

  2022cites this paper
• Essential Oils Extracted from Boswellia sacra Oleo Gum Resin Loaded into PLGA–PCL Nanoparticles: Enhanced Cytotoxic and Apoptotic Effects against Breast Cancer Cells

  2022cites this paper
• Review Paper Investigating Anti-cancer, Anti-oxidant and Immunomodulatory Effects of Essential Oils: Focusing on Oliveria Decumbens and Zataria Multiflora Essential Oils

  year unknowninfluential citation