ABSTRACT
The species of the genus Boswellia (Family: Burseraceae) are well known to humankind as Frankincense or Olibanum, which is used in sacred ceremonies and rituals in African and Asian countries. It has become a commercially traded related value-addition product and is used as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic drug in rheumatoid arthritis. The oleo-gum resin of the species, such as B. sacra (global source for frankincense), B. serrata, B. dalzielii, etc., became a source of local people’s livelihood as they collected it from their natural locations. The essential oils and gum resins were widely investigated, and explored the occurrence of wide-ranging secondary metabolites that are also being developed as new medicaments for human ailments, including arthritis and analgesics. Moreover, Boswellia is an interesting taxon due to its habit, endemism, and unbelievable medicinal effects. Several researchers have explored the phytoconstituents of Boswellia species from different parts of the world, and more than 300 phytochemicals are being isolated and characterized. The major phytochemicals include monoterpenes, diterpenes, complex tri/tetra terpenoids, flavonoids/phenolics, etc.
