Boswellia carterii resin extract is the extract of Boswellia carterii, a large plant native to India, the Middle East and Pakistan, belonging to the Burseraceae family, famous for providing the incense obtained from its wood and with a long tradition in traditional medical medicine as an anti-inflammatory remedy.

Name breakdown and function of the components

• Boswellia carterii - This is the scientific name for a species of plant from which frankincense is derived. It's native to the arid regions of northeastern Africa and the Arabian peninsula.
• Resin - Refers to the aromatic resin that is tapped from the bark of the Boswellia tree.
• Extract - Indicates that the product is a concentrated extract of a particular substance, in this case, the resin.

Description and function of the raw materials used in production

• Boswellia carterii resin - An aromatic gum-resin that is tapped and collected from the bark of the Boswellia tree.

Summary of the extraction process step by step

• Tapping - The bark of the Boswellia trees is tapped to release the resin.
• Collection - The resin hardens upon air exposure and is then manually collected.
• Cleaning - The collected resin is cleaned from impurities.
• Extraction - The cleaned resin undergoes an extraction process (often with solvents) to obtain the concentrated extract.
• Purification - The extract is purified to remove any remaining solvents and other impurities.

It appears in the form of a whitish powder.

What it is used for and where

Boswellia carterii resin extract is known for its anti-inflammatory properties and is often used in cosmetic and therapeutic products.

Medical

The phytochemical composition of Boswellia carterii resin shows mixtures of triterpenoids, linoleic acid and polysaccharides that have been shown to inhibit the proliferation of physiologically relevant human T lymphocyte inflammatory mediators (1). Boswellia extract together with propolis-derived polyphenols can reduce pain in prostatitis-like symptoms (2). The latest studies confirm that Boswellia carterii not only has anti-inflammatory properties, but also antioxidant, antitumour, antiviral and antimalarial properties and has a protective effect on the liver and nerves (3).

The bioactive fraction of Boswellia carterii in clinical studies showed higher anti-inflammatory activity and prolonged efficacy on the skin (4).

Cosmetics

Fragrance. It plays a very important role in the formulation of cosmetic products as it provides the possibility of enhancing, masking or adding fragrance to the final product, increasing its marketability. It is able to create a perceptible pleasant odour, masking a bad smell. The consumer always expects to find a pleasant or distinctive scent in a cosmetic product. 

Skin conditioning agent. It is the mainstay of topical skin treatment as it has the function of restoring, increasing or improving skin tolerance to external factors, including melanocyte tolerance. The most important function of the conditioning agent is to prevent skin dehydration, but the subject is rather complex and involves emollients and humectants that can be added in the formulation.

Smoothing. The function of this product is to make the surface of the skin more even, reducing roughness and irregularities.

Tonic. This product is used to treat the hair when the scalp is clean or after shampooing. It stimulates hair growth, revitalises the scalp for healthy hair growth and reduces hair loss. It provides a feeling of well-being on skin and hair.

CAS   89957-98-2   8050-07-5

EC number       289-620-2   232-474-1

Commercial applications

Cosmetic and Skincare Products: Due to its anti-inflammatory and regenerative properties, frankincense is incorporated into creams, lotions, and serums to promote younger-looking skin.

Perfumery: Owing to its unique, enveloping scent, frankincense is often a key ingredient in many perfumes.

Traditional Medicine: It has been traditionally used to treat various ailments like arthritis, inflammations, and respiratory issues.

Spiritual Rituals: Frankincense has been employed in religious and meditative rituals to purify the air and aid concentration.

Properties

Anti-inflammatory: Assists in reducing skin inflammation.

Regenerative: Promotes cell turnover and aids in diminishing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.

Antioxidant: Protects the skin from free radical damage.

As always, when considering products with Boswellia carterii resin extract or any other ingredient, especially for those with sensitive skin or known allergies, it's advisable to perform a patch test or consult with a dermatologist.

For more details:

Boswellia carterii studies

Bibliografia_____________________________________________________________________

(1) Zimmermann-Klemd AM, Reinhardt JK, Nilsu T, Morath A, Falanga CM, Schamel WW, Huber R, Hamburger M, Gründemann C. Boswellia carterii extract and 3-O-acetyl-alpha-boswellic acid suppress T cell function. Fitoterapia. 2020 Oct;146:104694. doi: 10.1016/j.fitote.2020.104694. 

(2) Sibona M, Destefanis P, Agnello M, Lillaz B, Giuliano M, Cai T, Gontero P. The association of Boswellia resin extract and propolis derived polyphenols can improve quality of life in patients affected by prostatitis-like symptoms. Arch Ital Urol Androl. 2020 Jan 14;91(4):251-255. doi: 10.4081/aiua.2019.4.251. 

(3) Huang K, Chen Y, Liang K, Xu X, Jiang J, Liu M, Zhou F. Review of the Chemical Composition, Pharmacological Effects, Pharmacokinetics, and Quality Control of Boswellia carterii. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2022 Jan 13;2022:6627104. doi: 10.1155/2022/6627104. 

(4) Huang K, Chen Y, Liang K, Xu X, Jiang J, Liu M, Zhou F. Review of the Chemical Composition, Pharmacological Effects, Pharmacokinetics, and Quality Control of Boswellia carterii. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2022 Jan 13;2022:6627104. doi: 10.1155/2022/6627104.