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

Chin J Integr Med. 2024 Aug;30(8):759-767. doi: 10.1007/s11655-024-4105-x. Epub 2024 May 31.

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.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Frankincense* / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Frankincense
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Plant Extracts