Chapter 1 - Taxonomy of Boswellia Tree, Traditional Medicinal Uses of Frankincense and Historical Aspects of Boswellic Acids

Abstract

The genus Boswellia belongs to the Burseraceae family, with approximately 700 species originating from 18 genera. The genus Boswellia, with 21 species, has its principal center of endemism in eastern Africa (Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Kenya), southern Arabia (Oman and Yemen), and India. Boswellic acid contents vary remarkably from one species to another. They are reported in significantly large amounts in Boswellia sacra, Boswellia serrata, Boswellia carterii, and Boswellia papyrifera. Parts of the Boswellia tree, in particular the resins, have been used in the traditional medicines of Arabia, India, Africa, and China for millennia. Interestingly, most of these traditional uses are strongly supported by recent findings. The known antiinflammatory activity of frankincense is likely due to Boswellic acids, as supported by several recent reports. Boswellic acids have received remarkable attention due to their potential therapeutic power. Since 1892, when Alexander Tschirch and Oscar Halbey performed the first extraction of the frankincense resin to separate it into neutral and basic fractions, this interest has continued to date.