Evidence Level
Moderate
Boswellia serrata has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries and now has substantial clinical evidence. A 2020 meta-analysis by Yu et al. (7 RCTs, n=545) confirmed significant improvements in pain and physical function for knee osteoarthritis. The patented Aflapin extract showed particularly rapid results, with significant improvements within 5-7 days (Sengupta et al., 2010). Mechanistically, AKBA directly inhibits 5-lipoxygenase, blocking leukotriene B4 and other pro-inflammatory mediators. Early research also supports benefits for inflammatory bowel disease and asthma. Boswellia is notable for its GI-sparing profile compared to NSAIDs, making it a promising alternative for long-term inflammatory condition management.