The evidence for the effectiveness of B serrata extracts is encouraging but not compelling
OBJECTIVE To assess evidence from r and omised clinical trials about the effectiveness of  extracts of Boswellia serrata ( frankincense ) .
Boswellia serrata extract for the treatment of collagenous colitis. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial
Background and aims The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of Boswellia serrata extract ( BSE ) on symptoms , quality of life , and histology in patients with collagenous colitis . Material s and methods Patients with chronic diarrhea and histologically proven collagenous colitis were r and omized to receive either oral BSE 400 mg three times daily for 6 weeks or placebo . Complete colonoscopy and histology were performed before and after treatment . Clinical symptoms and quality of life were assessed by st and ardized question naires and SF-36 . The primary endpoint was the percentage of patients with clinical remission after 6 weeks ( stool frequency ≤3 soft /solid stools per day on average during the last week ) . Patients of the placebo group with persistent diarrhea received open-label BSE therapy for a further 6 weeks . Results Thirty-one patients were r and omized ; 26 patients were available for per- protocol - analysis . After 6 weeks , the proportion of patients in clinical remission was higher in the BSE group than in the placebo group ( per protocol 63.6 % ; 95%CI , 30.8–89.1 vs 26.7 % , 95%CI , 7.7–55.1 ; p = 0.04 ; intention-to-treat 43.8 % vs 26.7 % , p = 0.25 ) . Compared to placebo , BSE treatment had no effect on histology and quality of life . Five patients discontinued BSE treatment prematurely . Discontinuation was due to adverse events ( n = 1 ) , unwillingness to continue ( n = 3 ) , or loss to follow-up for unknown reasons ( n = 1 ) . Seven patients received open-label BSE therapy , five of whom achieved complete remission . Conclusions Our study suggests that BSE might be clinical ly effective in patients with collagenous colitis . Larger trials are clearly necessary to establish the clinical efficacy of BSE
The evidence for the effectiveness of B serrata extracts is encouraging but not compelling
OBJECTIVE To assess evidence from r and omised clinical trials about the effectiveness of  extracts of Boswellia serrata ( frankincense ) .