Boswellia serrata Roxb. ex Colebr.Family: Burseraceae
Synonyms: Boswellia balsamifera Spreng., Boswellia glabra Roxb., Boswellia thurifera Roxb. ex Fleming, Chloroxylon dupada Buch.-Ham., Libanotus asiaticus Stackh.
Libanus thuriferus Colebr.
Common name: Indian Olibanum, Indian frankincense
Gujarati: સાલેડી saaledi, સલાઈ ગૂગળ salaai gugul
Hindi: शल्लकी shallaki, kundur, luban
Kannada: ಗುಗ್ಗುಳ ಮರ guggula mara
Malayalam: കുങ്ങില്യം kungilyam
Marathi: धुपाळी dhupali, धूपसाळी dhupasali, कुरुंद kurunda, सालफळी salaphali, साळई salai, साळी sali
Oriya: salai
Punjabi: Salai gonda
Sanskrit: भीषण bhishan, गुग्गुल guggula, हस्तिनशना hastinashana, पालंक palank, पार्वती parvati, ऱ्हादिनी hradini, कुरुन्द kurunda, सल्लकी sallaki, शल्लकी shallaki, स्रुवा sruva
Tamil: பறங்கிச்சாம்பிராணி paranki-c-campi-rani, வெள்ளிக்கீரை vellai-k-kirai
Telugu: పరంగి సాంబ్రాణిచెట్టు parangi-sambrani-chettu, సల్లకి sallaki
Arabic: kundur
Finnish: Salaiolibaani
Urdu: kundur, lobana
Description: Deciduous trees, to 20 m high, bark yellowish-white with dark blotches, exfoliations thin, papery, smooth flakes; blaze red; exudation white gum-resin; branchlets pubescent. Leaves imparipinnate, alternate, apically clustered, estipulate; rachis 11-44 cm, slender, pubescent, swollen at base; leaflets 15-31, sessile or subsessile, opposite or subopposite; lamina 0.8-9.5 x 0.5-3.5 cm, elliptic-oblong, oblong-lanceolate, oblong-ovate, base oblique, acute, apex obtuse, margin entire or crenate, chartaceous, glabrous; lateral nerves 8-14 pairs, pinnate, faint, intercostae reticulate, faint. Flowers bisexual, small, white, in axillary or subterminal fascicled racemes; calyx pubescent, tube broadly campanulate, short; lobes 5-7, persistent; petals 5-7, 7 x 2.5-4 mm, white, ovate-oblong, shortly clawed, inflexed at apex pubescent out side except margin; disc annular, crenate, free from calyx; stamens 10, free, filaments alternately longer and shorter connective produced beyond the anther lobe; ovary sessile, superior, ovoid, 3-celled, ovules 2 in each cell; style to 3 mm, grooved; stigma 3-lobed. Fruit a drupe, ovoid, trigonous; pyrenes 3; seed 3.
Ayurvedic uses: Jvara, Pradara, Svasa, pittabhishyanda, Sarkarameha, Vrushana sula, Mukha roga [API Vol-4]
Used in Ayurveda, Unani and Sidha. Resin diuretic, stimulant, demulcent, emmenagogue, hypoglycemic, astringent, antiinflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal, used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, rehumatism, joint pain, toothache, Crohn’s disease, chronic ulcers, asthma, backpain, other inflammatory diseases; resin mixed with rice water applied for skin eruptions; a mixture of gum and red ochre consumed to check the nocturnal emissions. Bark and gum-resin to treat bronchitis, asthma, cough, chronic laryngitis, stomatitis, dysentery, ulcers, hemorrhoid, skin diseases, fever, convulsions, syphilitic diseases, jaundice, arthritis, rheumatism, conjunctivitis; stem bark decoction to relieve body aches and to treat dysuria, in small doses given internally to cure chronic cough and cold; stem bark paste given for indigestion; stem bark paste applied to wounds; stem bark powder made into a paste and applied on forehead to relieve headache; stem bark pounded together with Curcuma longa and applied in traumatic pain. Resin used as incense, dry gum burns easily. Bark with root of Leea asiatica made into a paste and used in snakebite. Aromatic leaves and twigs used as repellent for flies, termites and insects. Veterinary medicine, bark juice for fracture of limb; pounded bark juice applied on the broken part of the limb. Sacred plant [CRC World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants]
In traditional and Ayurvedic medicine the Boswellia gum resin has been extensively used to treat a variety of conditions. Dried extracts of the resin of the Boswellia serrata tree have been used since antiquity in India to treat inflammatory conditions. The resin of Boswellia serrata is used as an anti-inflammatory agent when applied externally. Internally, besides being antiarthritic, it has expectorant effect and improves immunity and hence has immunomodulating properties. One of the principal constituents in the gum resin is boswellic acid which exhibits anti-inflammatory activity. The gum resin is used as an ointment for sores and has anti-inflammatory, antiatherosclerotic and antiarthritic activities. The nonphenolic fraction of the gum resin had marked sedative and analgesic action. [Herbal Cures Traditional Approach]
Boswellia serrata is used for inflammatory disorders including collagenous colitis (a cause of chronic diarrhoea), peritumoral oedema, rheumatoid arthritis and other chronic conditions. There is mounting clinical evidence to support its use. The boswellic acids have immunomodulatory effects and are anti-inflammatory via a number of mechanisms. [Stockley's Herbal Medicines Interactions ]
Boswellia is fast becoming one of the most commonly taken medicines for arthritic problems. Concerns over the safety of conventional anti-inflammatories have increased interest in herbal alternatives, and in boswellia’s case, there is a significant and growing body of research that indicates both its safety and effectiveness. The specific anti-inflammatory action of the resin makes it an important remedy for chronic inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and gout. It can also prove valuable in relieving pain and stiffness in osteoarthritis. other uses Boswellia is also indicated in other inflammatory conditions such as asthma, ulcerative colitis, and multiple sclerosis. It has recently been used to treat brain tumors and Alzheimer’s disease—in both cases, it should be used only under professional supervision. [Herbal Remedies]
In Ayurveda the gum is considered anti-dysentric, anti-pyretic, and is used mainly in rheumatism and convulsions, but also in various nervous diseases. It is an astringent and anti-inflammatory agent when applied externally. It is not a constituent of important Ayurvedic products. It is sometimes used as a substitute for guggal gum. [Rasayana: Ayurvedic herbs for longevity and rejuvenation]
