Boswellia
Summary
Boswellia resin extracts are studied for osteoarthritis. A 2020 pooled analysis of 7 trials (545 people) found lower pain and stiffness scores than control (grade B), and a 2018 review of 20 supplements ranked boswellia among those with short-term pain benefit. Trials were small and many used branded, industry-funded extracts.
Key facts
- Gum resin of Boswellia serrata; extracts are standardised to boswellic acids, often AKBA[3]
- Osteoarthritis pain and stiffness (7 trials, 545 people; grade B)[1]
- 100 mg/day of AKBA-enriched extracts in small trials; other trials used several hundred milligrams[3][1]
- Small trials, short follow-up and branded extracts make results hard to generalise[2]
- 2 graded human outcomes on this page
- October 11, 2026
How it works
ProposedBoswellic acids, especially AKBA, inhibit 5-lipoxygenase and other inflammatory pathways in laboratory studies; an AKBA-enriched extract also lowered cartilage-degrading MMP-3 in vitro.[3]
What the human research says
Human trials only, one row per outcome. The form column shows what each trial actually tested. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.
| Outcome | Effect | Grade | Best evidence | PMID |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Osteoarthritis pain and stiffness | Improved | Grade B | Meta-analysis · n = 545 · 2020 People with osteoarthritis in 7 trials Form: Boswellia or Boswellia extract · Dose: Varied across trials · Duration: Varied across trials VAS and WOMAC pain, stiffness and function scores improved versus placebo or comparator. | 32680575 (opens PubMed)Source [1] |
| Knee osteoarthritis pain and function | Improved | Grade D | RCT · n = 60 · 2010 Adults with knee osteoarthritis Form: 5-Loxin or Aflapin (AKBA-enriched extracts) · Dose: 100 mg/day · Duration: 90 days Pain and function improved with both extracts versus placebo, from as early as 7 days with Aflapin. | 21060724 (opens PubMed)Source [3] |
Forms
| Form | Elemental % | Absorption (human data) | GI tolerance | Studied for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AKBA-enriched extracts (5-Loxin, ApresFlex, Aflapin) | Varies | No head-to-head human absorption data in the sources cited here. | Tolerated in the 90-day trial cited here.[3] | Knee osteoarthritis trials |
| Standard Boswellia serrata resin extract | Varies | No head-to-head human absorption data in the sources cited here. | No serious adverse events reported in the pooled trials.[1] | Several osteoarthritis trials |
Studied doses
Doses studied in human trials ranged from 100 mg/day of AKBA-enriched extracts for 90 days to higher doses of standard extracts, which varied across the pooled trials.[3][1]
Interactions
Published interactions only: each row cites a source. No row means none was found in our sources, not that a combination is safe.
None found in our sources.
Who should be careful
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- The trials cited here did not enrol pregnant or breastfeeding people.[1]
Talk to your pharmacist or clinician before starting a supplement, especially if you take prescription medicines.
Where to buy Boswellia
Products from brands we partner with that contain Boswellia. Listing a product is not a claim that it works; check the amount per serving against the doses studied above, and the label for other ingredients.
- SupersmartPaid linkSuper Boswellia1 capsule: 100 mg ApresFlex Boswellia serrata extract standardised to 20% AKBA; 60 servingsShop at Supersmart (opens in new tab)Price and label checked 2026-10-11 on the brand’s site.
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Frequently asked questions
Does boswellia help knee pain?
Pooled trials found lower pain and stiffness scores in osteoarthritis; the trials were small.[1]
What is AKBA?
Acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid, the boswellic acid many branded extracts are standardised to.[3]
How fast does it work?
One trial reported improvement within 7 days with an AKBA-enriched extract; most trials ran 1–3 months.[3]
Boswellia or turmeric?
Both were among supplements with short-term pain benefit in a 2018 review; no head-to-head trial is cited here.[2]
Sources
- [1]Effectiveness of Boswellia and Boswellia extract for osteoarthritis patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.. BMC Complement Med Ther, 2020. meta-analysis
- [2]Dietary supplements for treating osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.. Br J Sports Med, 2018. meta-analysis
- [3]Comparative efficacy and tolerability of 5-Loxin and AflapinAgainst osteoarthritis of the knee: a double blind, randomized, placebo controlled clinical study.. Int J Med Sci, 2010. RCT
What changed
- Corrected the effect arrow (↑ improved, ↓ worsened for participants) on: Osteoarthritis pain and stiffness; Knee osteoarthritis pain and function.
- First draft. Every PMID checked against NCBI E-utilities (title, journal and year taken from the PubMed record) and each evidence row written from its PubMed abstract.