Medicinal Benefits of Frankincense: Future Approach to Effective Drug Design

Frankincense is obtained from the tree, which belongs to the Bowellia family. Frankincense is found in China, India, Middle-East Asia, the Arabian Peninsula, and different parts of Africa. Incisions are given on the tree trunk to obtain the gum, which hardens to form frankincense. It has been used as a traditional medicine to treat diarrhea, infection, tuberculosis, asthma, arthritis, cancer, wounds, gingivitis, psoriasis, and other inflammatory conditions. Frankincense gum is used for its aromatic properties and fragrance. Frankincense contains essential oils, gum resins, alcohol, and water-soluble resins. The chemical compounds present in the natural product and their yield depend on various factors such as geographical location, the surface area of the wood, climatic conditions in which it is grown, the age of the tree, and the methods of collection. Among the active compounds, unique pentacyclic triterpene acids such as boswellic acid (BA) are present. The phytochemicals include β-boswellic acid, acetyl-β-boswellic acid (ABA), 11-keto-β-boswellic acid (KBA), and 3-acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid (AKBA) form the major components. BA possesses anti-inflammatory action due to its control of cytokine production. The active compounds in frankincense act on 5-lipooxygenase and cyclooxygenase, thereby producing an anti-inflammatory effect. We discuss the role of frankincense on the integumentary, nervous, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, endocrine, musculoskeletal, and immune systems with special emphasis on the molecular basis of action and signaling pathways. Recent approaches in therapeutics by designing new nanoformulations of frankincense may be beneficial for better drug delivery to the desired site, help in controlled release, increase solubility and bioavailability, and reduce toxicity.