Frankincense
<p>For therapy trials in ulcerative colitis, asthma and rheumatoid arthritis there are only isolated reports and pilot studies from which there is not yet sufficient evidence of safety and efficacy. Similarly, the long-term effects and side effects of taking frankincense has not yet been scientifically investigated. Nonetheless, several preliminary studies have been published.
A 2008 study reported that frankincense smoke was a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychoactive_drug" title="Psychoactive drug">psychoactive drug</a> that relieves depression and anxiety in mice.<sup id="cite_ref-fasebj_20-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankincense#cite_note-fasebj-20">[20]</a></sup> The researchers found that the chemical compound incensole acetate<sup id="cite_ref-21" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankincense#cite_note-21">[21]</a></sup> was responsible for the effects.<sup id="cite_ref-fasebj_20-1" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankincense#cite_note-fasebj-20">[20]</a></sup>
In a different study, an enriched extract of "Indian Frankincense" (usually <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boswellia_serrata" title="Boswellia serrata">Boswellia serrata</a></i>) was used in a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study of patients with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osteoarthritis" title="Osteoarthritis">osteoarthritis</a>. </p>
<p>
Patients receiving the extract showed significant improvement in their arthritis in as little as seven days. </p>
<p>
The compound caused no major adverse effects and, according to the study authors, is safe for human consumption and long-term use.<sup id="cite_ref-laila_22-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankincense#cite_note-laila-22">[22]</a></sup></p>
<p>
In a study published in 2009, it was reported that "Frankincense oil appears to distinguish cancerous from normal bladder cells and suppress cancer cell viability."<sup id="cite_ref-23" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankincense#cite_note-23">[23]</a></sup></p>
<p>
A 2012 study in healthy volunteers determined that exposure to 11-keto-β-boswellic acid (KBA), a lead boswellic acid in the novel solubilized frankincense extract <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Boswelan&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Boswelan (page does not exist)">Boswelan</a>, is increased when taken with food. However, simulations based on a two-compartment pharmacokinetic model with single first-order absorption phase proposed that the observed food interaction loses its relevance for the simulated repeated-dose scenario.<sup id="cite_ref-24" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankincense#cite_note-24">[24]</a></sup></p>
<p>
In a 2012 study, researchers found that the "behavioral effect [of insensole actetate] was concomitant to reduced serum corticosterone levels, dose-dependent down-regulation of corticotropin releasing factor and up-regulation of brain derived neurotrophic factor transcripts IV and VI expression in the hippocampus. </p>
<p>
These data suggest that IA modulates the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and influences hippocampal gene expression, leading to beneficial behavioral effects supporting its potential as a novel treatment of depressive-like disorders."<sup id="cite_ref-25" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankincense#cite_note-25">[25]</a></sup></p>