Summary
of Oklahoma University Study
Frankincense oil derived from Boswellic Acids induces tumor cell specific cytotoxicity
(http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6882/9/6)
(complete study)
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
2009
Frankincense
has been studied for its anti-tumor activity and signaling pathways in
cancer cells. The Health
Sciences departments at the University of Oklahoma found that one of the
main components of frankincense oil is boswellic acid, a component known
to have anti-neoplastic (anti-tumor) properties.
Although
initial testing was performed using one specific species of Boswellia,
all species of Frankincense were
shown (using Gas-Chomatography) to have the same unique boswellic acid
called 11-keto-β-boswellic acid, or KBA.
According
the this research, KBAs, the most potent anti-inflammatory component of
the resin, selectively blocks leukotriene biosynthesis (Leukotrienes are fatty molecules of the immune system that contribute
to inflammation),and
provides protective effects in ulcerative colitis. In addition,
boswellic acids have been shown to possess anti-cancer activities
through their cytostatic (Inhibiting or suppressing cellular growth and
multiplication) and
apoptotic (a genetically directed process of cell
self-destruction that is marked by the fragmentation of nuclear DNA)
effects in multiple human cancer cell lines including meningioma cells,
leukemia cells, hepatoma cells, melanoma cells, fibrosarcoma cells, and
colon cancer cells.
The
study of Frankincense
oil was shown to differentiate bladder cancer cells from normal bladder
cells and suppress cancer cell viability, and stop the ‘rapidly
multiplying process’ of the cells which ultimately might be
responsible for Frankincense oil-induced cell death in those cancerous cells.
Test results are
consistent with a news report that Frankincense
oil specifically targets
malignant melanoma but not normal skin cells in horses http://www.purepeace.com/press/press_frankincense.pdf
webcite.
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