%0 Journal Article %A Efferth, Thomas %A Greten, Henry Johannes %D 2011 %I Begell House %K apoptosis, cancer, inflammation, frankincense, natural products, olibanum, in vitro, in vivo, clinical trial %N 4 %P 303-313 %R 10.1615/ForumImmunDisTher.2012004432 %T Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Cancer Activity of Boswellic Acids from Frankincense (Boswellia serrata Roxb. et Colebr, B. carterii Birdw.) %U https://www.dl.begellhouse.com/journals/2c6306423483e001,0f258d164f94b823,7dad334131e14b8d.html %V 2 %X The oleo-resinous gum of Boswellia trees has been used for religious rituals, but also for medical purposes in different civilizations for ages. The active principles of the gum resin are boswellic acids. The ethnopharmacology of frankincense indicate activity towards inflammatory diseases and cancer. There is compelling evidence from experimental investigations that boswellic acids reveal anti-inflammatory activity, and the results of clinical trials confirm that Boswellia extracts are also clinically effective. No serious side effects were recorded. Occasional side effects included fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea, unspecific skin rash, azoospermia, and neutropenia. Several investigations using Boswellia extracts or isolated boswellic acids demonstrated growth inhibition of tumors in mice and rats, and increased survival time of animals. The treatment effects were associated with inhibition of AKT, reduced NF-κB activation, and down-regulation of anti-apoptotic proteins. Clinical application in glioblastoma patients showed an improvement of clinical symptoms in terms of edema reduction, but no reduction of tumor size. %8 2012-04-25