SynthesisBMC complementary medicine and therapies2020
Effectiveness of Boswellia and Boswellia extract for osteoarthritis patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in BMC complementary medicine and therapies, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 49 papers, 3 of them syntheses 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
49 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Comparative Effectiveness of Nutritional Supplements in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Network Meta-Analysis.Nutrients · 2025Pooled it
- Efficacy of botanical extracts for knee osteoarthritis: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2025Pooled it
- Efficacy of Extracts of Oleogum Resin of Boswellia in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Phytotherapy research : PTR · 2024Pooled it
- Effect ofNutrients · 2026Trial
- Efficacy ofNutrients · 2023Trial
- Effect of Ultrasonic Penetration with Volatile Oil of Olibanum and Chuanxiong Rhizoma on Acute Knee Synovitis Induced by Sports Training: An Open-Label Randomized Controlled Study.Pain research & management · 2022Trial
- Reframing Nutraceuticals in Knee Osteoarthritis with Sarcopenia: A Muscle-Joint-Centered Narrative Review.Nutrients · 2026Review
- Amelioration of Disease Manifestations by Saffron Extract in a Mouse Model of Collagenase-Induced Osteoarthritis.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Article
- Phytochemicals in arthritis management: insight into pharmacodynamic potency with pharmacokinetic profile.Inflammopharmacology · 2026Review
- Exploring the nexus between inflammation and mobility through the lens of healthy aging: current scenario and future perspectives.Aging clinical and experimental research · 2026Review
- Harnessing phytochemicals for engineering health solutions.Human genomics · 2026Review
- Formulation Progress, Challenges, and Perspectives of Anti-Inflammatory Natural Products.Drug design, development and therapy · 2026Review
- Glycosaminoglycans in osteoarthritis cartilage promote inflammation by preferential activation of the lipoxygenase rather than the cyclooxygenase pathway.Advances in rheumatology (London, England) · 2025Article
- 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
- A full-spectrumFrontiers in pharmacology · 2025Article
- Triterpenoid Compounds and their Derivatives: Emerging Pharmacological Agents for Arthritis Treatment.Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry · 2025Review
- Phytochemical-based therapeutics from traditional eastern medicine: analgesic effects and ion channel modulation.Frontiers in pain research (Lausanne, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Ten days of supplementation with a standardizedFrontiers in sports and active living · 2025Article
- Recent advances in the management of knee osteoarthritis: a narrative review.Frontiers in medicine · 2025Review
- A randomized, double-blind, controlled study on the efficacy of an oral dietary supplement containing fish oil, ASU and phytotherapeutic extracts in canine osteoarthritis.Frontiers in veterinary science · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundOsteoarthritis (OA) is the commonest form of inflammatory joint disease. Unfortunately, to date, there is no appropriate treatment for OA. Boswellia serrata was considered as a potent anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic and analgesic agent that may be a drug for OA.
methodsIn this meta-analysis, data from randomized controlled trials were obtained to assess the effects of Boswellia or its extract versus placebo or western medicine in patients with OA. The primary outcomes included visual analogue score (VAS), WOMAC pain, WOMAC stiffness, WOMAC function and lequesne index.
resultSeven trials involving 545 patients were included. Compared with the control group, Boswellia and its extract may relieve the pain [VAS: (WMD -8.33; 95% CI -11.19, - 5.46; P<0.00001); WOMAC pain: (WMD -14.22; 95% CI -22.34, - 6.09; P = 0. 0006)] and stiffness [WOMAC stiffness: (WMD -10.04; 95% CI -15.86, - 4.22; P = 0. 0007)], and improve the joint's function [WOMAC function: (WMD -10.75; 95% CI -15.06, - 6.43; P<0. 00001); lequesne index: (WMD -2.27; 95% CI -3.08, - 1.45; P<0. 00001)].
conclusionBased on current evidence, Boswellia and its extract may be an effective and safe treatment option for patient with OA, and the recommended duration of treatment with Boswellia and its extract is at least 4 weeks.
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.