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2007-09-09T15:19:53Z

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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| 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]]'' 
''[[Boswellia dalzielii]]'' 
''[[Boswellia frereana]]'' 
''[[Boswellia neglecta]]'' 
''[[Boswellia papyrifera]]'' 
''[[Boswellia rivae]]'' 
''[[Boswellia sacra]]'' 
''[[Boswellia serrata]]'' 
''[[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 harvesting, 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 [[Ayurveda|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, rhumatism and gastro-intestinal problems (Arbonnier 2002. Arbres , arbustes et lianes des zones sèches de l'Afrique de l'Ouest)

[[Category:Burseraceae]]

Boswellia - Revision history

MediaWiki default at 15:19, 9 September 2007