Chemical Constituents and Pharmacological Properties of Frankincense: Implications for Anticancer Therapy

doi:10.1007/s11655-024-4105-x

Review

. 2024 Aug;30(8):759-767.

doi: 10.1007/s11655-024-4105-x. Epub 2024 May 31.

Chemical Constituents and Pharmacological Properties of Frankincense: Implications for Anticancer Therapy

Yong-Rong Wu¹, Wei Xiong², Ying-Jing Dong¹, Xin Chen³, Yuan-Yuan Zhong¹, Xin-Ling He¹, Yu-Jia Wang⁴, Qun-Fang Lin², Xue-Fei Tian^{4

5}, Qing Zhou^{6

7}

Affiliations

¹ College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 410208, China.
² Department of Andrology, the First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 41007, China.
³ College of Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 410208, China.
⁴ College of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 410208, China.
⁵ Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Prescription and Transformation, Changsha, 410208, China.
⁶ Department of Andrology, the First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 41007, China. 310094@hnucm.edu.cn.
⁷ Hunan Sexual and Reproductive Health Clinical Medical Research Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 410021, China. 310094@hnucm.edu.cn.

PMID: 38816637
DOI: 10.1007/s11655-024-4105-x

Review

Chemical Constituents and Pharmacological Properties of Frankincense: Implications for Anticancer Therapy

Yong-Rong Wu et al. Chin J Integr Med. 2024 Aug.

. 2024 Aug;30(8):759-767.

doi: 10.1007/s11655-024-4105-x. Epub 2024 May 31.

Authors

Yong-Rong Wu¹, Wei Xiong², Ying-Jing Dong¹, Xin Chen³, Yuan-Yuan Zhong¹, Xin-Ling He¹, Yu-Jia Wang⁴, Qun-Fang Lin², Xue-Fei Tian^{4

5}, Qing Zhou^{6

7}

Affiliations

¹ College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 410208, China.
² Department of Andrology, the First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 41007, China.
³ College of Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 410208, China.
⁴ College of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 410208, China.
⁵ Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Prescription and Transformation, Changsha, 410208, China.
⁶ Department of Andrology, the First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 41007, China. 310094@hnucm.edu.cn.
⁷ Hunan Sexual and Reproductive Health Clinical Medical Research Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 410021, China. 310094@hnucm.edu.cn.

PMID: 38816637
DOI: 10.1007/s11655-024-4105-x

Abstract

The discovery of novel antitumor agents derived from natural plants is a principal objective of anticancer drug research. Frankincense, a widely recognized natural antitumor medicine, has undergone a systematic review encompassing its species, chemical constituents, and diverse pharmacological activities and mechanisms. The different species of frankincense include Boswellia serrata, Somali frankincense, Boswellia frereana, and Boswellia arabica. Various frankincense extracts and compounds exhibit antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective properties and antioxidation, memory enhancement, and immunological regulation capabilities. They also have comprehensive effects on regulating flora. Frankincense and its principal chemical constituents have demonstrated promising chemoprophylactic and therapeutic abilities against tumors. This review provides a systematic summary of the mechanism of action underlying the antitumor effects of frankincense and its major constituents, thus laying the foundations for developing effective tumor-combating _targets.

Keywords: Chinese medicine; anticancer therapy; chemical constituents; frankincense; species.

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References

1. Hamidpour R, Hamidpour S, Hamidpour M, et al. Frankincense (r ǔ xi ā ng; Boswellia species): from the selection of traditional applications to the novel phytotherapy for the prevention and treatment of serious diseases. J Tradit Complement Med 2013;3:221–226. - PubMed - PMC - DOI
1. Afsharypuor S, Rahmany M. Essential oil constituents of two African Olibanums available in Isfahan commercial market. Iran J Pharmacol Sci 2005;1:167–170.
1. Decarlo A, ed. Sustainable frankincense production system in Somali-land—a management guide. Hargeisa, Somaliland: Conserve the CalMadow; 2017:3.
1. Frank MB, Yang Q, Osban J, et al. Frankincense oil derived from Boswellia carteri induces tumor cell specific cytotoxicity. BMC Complement Altern Med 2009;9:6. - PubMed - PMC - DOI
1. Rumgay H, Arnold M, Ferlay J, et al. Global burden of primary liver cancer in 2020 and predictions to 2040. J Hepatol 2022;77:1598–1606. - DOI - PubMed - PMC

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[1] Hamidpour R, Hamidpour S, Hamidpour M, et al. Frankincense (r ǔ xi ā ng; Boswellia species): from the selection of traditional applications to the novel phytotherapy for the prevention and treatment of serious diseases. J Tradit Complement Med 2013;3:221–226. - PubMed - PMC - DOI

[2] Hamidpour R, Hamidpour S, Hamidpour M, et al. Frankincense (r ǔ xi ā ng; Boswellia species): from the selection of traditional applications to the novel phytotherapy for the prevention and treatment of serious diseases. J Tradit Complement Med 2013;3:221–226. - PubMed - PMC - DOI

[3] Afsharypuor S, Rahmany M. Essential oil constituents of two African Olibanums available in Isfahan commercial market. Iran J Pharmacol Sci 2005;1:167–170.

[4] Afsharypuor S, Rahmany M. Essential oil constituents of two African Olibanums available in Isfahan commercial market. Iran J Pharmacol Sci 2005;1:167–170.

[5] Decarlo A, ed. Sustainable frankincense production system in Somali-land—a management guide. Hargeisa, Somaliland: Conserve the CalMadow; 2017:3.

[6] Decarlo A, ed. Sustainable frankincense production system in Somali-land—a management guide. Hargeisa, Somaliland: Conserve the CalMadow; 2017:3.

[7] Frank MB, Yang Q, Osban J, et al. Frankincense oil derived from Boswellia carteri induces tumor cell specific cytotoxicity. BMC Complement Altern Med 2009;9:6. - PubMed - PMC - DOI

[8] Frank MB, Yang Q, Osban J, et al. Frankincense oil derived from Boswellia carteri induces tumor cell specific cytotoxicity. BMC Complement Altern Med 2009;9:6. - PubMed - PMC - DOI

[9] Rumgay H, Arnold M, Ferlay J, et al. Global burden of primary liver cancer in 2020 and predictions to 2040. J Hepatol 2022;77:1598–1606. - DOI - PubMed - PMC

[10] Rumgay H, Arnold M, Ferlay J, et al. Global burden of primary liver cancer in 2020 and predictions to 2040. J Hepatol 2022;77:1598–1606. - DOI - PubMed - PMC

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Chemical Constituents and Pharmacological Properties of Frankincense: Implications for Anticancer Therapy

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Chemical Constituents and Pharmacological Properties of Frankincense: Implications for Anticancer Therapy

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