OLIBANUM GUM AND IT’S MEDICAL APPLICATIONS

Abstract

Frankincense is resinous exudate obtained from trees of genus Boswella belonging to family Burseraceae. Widely distributed in regions of Africa, Arabian Peninsula and India. It was used in ancient religious ceremonies for its incense or to perform burial rituals. Historically it was used in Chinese medical tradition as well as in Indian ayurveda for treatment of inflammatory diseases. This article aims at evaluation of the effects of frankincense on major

inflammatory diseases like asthma, diabetes and cancer and focusses on the need to incorporate frankincense into a novel drug delivery formulation so as to achieve the maximum therapeutic potential of frankincense.