SynthesisBMJ (Clinical research ed.)2008
Frankincense: systematic review.
Synthesis in BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 2008. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 34 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
34 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Effects of uric acid-lowering therapy (ULT) on renal outcomes in CKD patients with asymptomatic hyperuricemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC nephrology · 2024Pooled it
- Effect ofNutrients · 2026Trial
- A pilot, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to assess the safety and efficacy of a novel Boswellia serrata extract in the management of osteoarthritis of the knee.Phytotherapy research : PTR · 2019Trial
- Efficacy and safety of curcumin and its combination with boswellic acid in osteoarthritis: a comparative, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.BMC complementary and alternative medicine · 2018Trial
- A randomized, double blind, placebo controlled, cross over study to evaluate the analgesic activity of Boswellia serrata in healthy volunteers using mechanical pain model.Indian journal of pharmacologyTrial
- Molecular structure of 3-Beilstein journal of organic chemistry · 2026Article
- Vinegar-processed frankincense extracts alleviate colorectal cancer by butyric acid mediating M1 tumor-associated macrophage pyroptosis.Chinese medicine · 2025Article
- Exploring herbal synergies in the management of rheumatoid arthritis: a multifaceted approach to inflammation and joint health.Inflammopharmacology · 2025Review
- The Potential Benefits of a Novel Food Supplement Based on Cannabis Sativa, Boswellia, and Fish Oil for Pain and Inflammation in Physical Activity: Unraveling the Role of Orexin-A Modulation.Sports (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Unphosphorylated STAT1 binds to the BST2 transcription promoter, promoting increased AKBA anchoring on HPMECs to alleviate ARDS.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Review
- Unlocking the Anticancer Potential of Frankincense Essential Oils (FEOs) Through Nanotechnology: A Review.Molecular biotechnology · 2024Review
- Therapeutic Potential of Plant-Derived Compounds and Plant Extracts in Rheumatoid Arthritis-Comprehensive Review.Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Review
- A novel film based on a cellulose/sodium alginate/gelatin composite activated with an ethanolic fraction ofFood science & nutrition · 2024Article
- Efficacy of Herbal Medicines on Lung Function in Asthma: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Journal of pharmacopuncture · 2023Review
- Possible role of frankincense in the treatment of benign essential blepharospasm.American journal of ophthalmology case reports · 2023Article
- Evaluation of anticancer effects of frankincense on breast cancer stem-like cells.Cancer reports (Hoboken, N.J.) · 2023Article
- Methanolic Extract of Boswellia serrata Gum Protects the Nigral Dopaminergic Neurons from Rotenone-Induced Neurotoxicity.Molecular neurobiology · 2022Article
- Article
- Potential therapeutic effects of boswellic acids/Boswellia serrata extract in the prevention and therapy of type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer's disease.Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology · 2021Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
1 author.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveTo assess evidence from randomised clinical trials about the effectiveness of extracts of Boswellia serrata (frankincense).
designSystematic review. DATA SOURCES: Electronic searches on Medline, Embase, Cinahl, Amed, and Cochrane Library. Hand searches of conference proceedings, bibliographies, and departmental files. REVIEW
methodsAll randomised clinical trials of B serrata extract as a treatment for any human medical condition were included and studies of B serrata preparations combined with other ingredients were excluded. Titles and abstracts of all retrieved articles were read and hard copies of all relevant articles were obtained. Selection of studies, data extraction and validation were done by the author. The Jadad score was used to evaluate the methodological quality of all included trials.
resultsOf 47 potentially relevant studies, seven met all inclusion criteria (five placebo controlled, two with active controls). The included trials related to asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, osteoarthritis, and collagenous colitis. Results of all trials indicated that B serrata extracts were clinically effective. Three studies were of good methodological quality. No serious safety issues were noted.
conclusionsThe evidence for the effectiveness of B serrata extracts is encouraging but not compelling.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.