Ethnopharmacological review of boswellia serrata for anticancer activity

Abstract

Boswellic acid is an Ursane group compound belonging to triterpenoids. It is the major constituents of the gum derived from plant Roxb. It belongs to Family Burseraceae. It is also known as and commonly known as the Salai guggal, white guggal, Indian olibanum. is medium-sized tree widely distributed in the India and Africa. B. Serrata is highly medicinal as well as economically potential. Currently, it is has the potential use in various herbal and ayurvedic formulations for the treatment of various disorders which include inflammation and other types of disorders. Since ancient and centuries anti-cancer drugs discovered from herbal medicines have been used in clinical practice. The active constituent of such formulations being vincristine, vinblastine and the camptothecene derivatives, topotecan, irinotecan and etoposide. There is current need for herbal and ethnopharmacological therapeutics to develop the novel anti-cancer drugs which is safe with effective mechanism. The new discoveries of developing combined ingredients from effective traditional formula or single ingredient as per the traditional medicine theory should be focused. This new approach will promote the academic research and the industry development of traditional medicine. This ethnopharmacological review is mainly focused on anticancer activity of