A restored archive review of laboratory studies investigating Boswellia essential oils, boswellic acids, and resin-derived compounds.

By Eric R. Cêch | Edited by Anita Felice
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Research interest in Frankincense has expanded dramatically over the last several decades, and some of the most intriguing studies have involved cancer-related laboratory research.

Researchers investigating Boswellia essential oils, resin extracts, and isolated compounds have reported a wide range of biological activity in cultured cancer cells. breast cancer cells, pancreatic cancer cells, bladder cancer cells, leukemia cells, melanoma cells, and others have all appeared in the published literature.

The findings are interesting, yet the interpretations, require some care.  As the research expanded, one thing became increasingly clear: Before evaluating the findings, it helps to know exactly what material was being studied.

One of the more interesting observations to emerge from the literature is that researchers have reported cancer-related biological activity across multiple Boswellia species and preparations.

Studies involving Boswellia sacra, Boswellia carterii, Boswellia serrata, boswellic acids, and other Boswellia-derived materials have all contributed to the growing body of research.

At the same time, these studies remind us that "Frankincense" is not a single material.

A distilled Frankincense essential oil differs chemically from a resin extract. A resin extract differs from isolated boswellic acids. Even among essential oils, species and preparation methods can influence the chemistry of the finished material.

These distinctions have become increasingly important as Boswellia research has expanded.

Readers interested in the differences between species and extraction methods may wish to explore our companion articles on Frankincense species and CO₂ extracts versus essential oils.

What follows is a review of several of the studies that helped generate scientific interest in Boswellia and cancer-related research, along with an important distinction that continues to shape modern discussions of Frankincense today.

What Kind of Research Was This?

Most of the studies discussed below were laboratory investigations conducted using cultured cancer cells.

These studies are often described as in vitro research, meaning they were performed outside the human body under controlled laboratory conditions.

Laboratory studies are valuable because they help researchers identify biological activity and generate hypotheses for future investigation. They do not, however, demonstrate clinical effectiveness in humans.

Understanding this distinction is essential when interpreting research on Frankincense or any other botanical.

What Material Was Studied?

One of the challenges in reviewing Boswellia research is that the term "Frankincense" may refer to several different materials.

Researchers have investigated:

• Boswellia essential oils

• Boswellia resin extracts

• Boswellic acids

• Acetyl-boswellic acids

• Other resin-derived compounds

These preparations are chemically distinct and should not be assumed to produce identical biological effects.  As modern Boswellia research expanded, this became one of the most important distinctions in the entire Frankincense discussion.

Early Studies That Attracted Scientific Interest

Several laboratory studies helped draw attention to Boswellia preparations and cancer-related research.

Breast Cancer Cell Research
Researchers investigating Boswellia sacra essential oil reported that the oil demonstrated activity against cultured human breast cancer cells and induced apoptosis, often described as programmed cell death.

The study attracted attention because the researchers observed differing responses between cancerous and non-cancerous cells under laboratory conditions.

Pancreatic Cancer Cell Research
A subsequent study investigated Boswellia sacra essential oil derived from gum resin and reported activity against cultured pancreatic cancer cells.

As with the breast cancer research, these findings were generated in laboratory models and served primarily as a basis for further investigation.

Colorectal Cancer Cell Research
Researchers also investigated boswellic acids, compounds found within Boswellia resin but not present in meaningful quantities within distilled essential oils.

In laboratory models, certain boswellic acids demonstrated activity against colorectal cancer cells.

This distinction is important because the material being studied was not Frankincense essential oil, but rather isolated resin constituents.

Bladder Cancer Cell Research
Research involving Boswellia carterii essential oil reported selective cytotoxic activity against cultured bladder cancer cells.

This study would later become one of the most frequently cited investigations involving Frankincense essential oil and cancer-related research.

Leukemia Cell Research
Additional laboratory studies examined acetyl-boswellic acids and their effects on leukemia cell lines.

Again, these studies involved isolated resin-derived compounds rather than distilled essential oils.

Melanoma and Fibrosarcoma Cell Research
Researchers also investigated boswellic acid acetate in melanoma and fibrosarcoma models, observing effects on cellular differentiation and apoptosis under laboratory conditions.

These findings further contributed to growing scientific interest in Boswellia-derived compounds.

Why Preparation Matters

One of the most important lessons from the Boswellia literature is that different preparations contain different chemistry.  A distilled Frankincense essential oil is composed primarily of volatile aromatic compounds.  Boswellic acids, by contrast, are heavy non-volatile resin constituents.

This means that many studies frequently cited in discussions of "Frankincense and cancer" may actually be investigating entirely different materials.

When reviewing Boswellia research, it is therefore important to ask:

• Which Boswellia species was studied?

• Which preparation was studied?

• Was the material an essential oil, resin extract, or isolated compound?

• Was the study conducted in cultured cells, animals, or humans?

These questions often matter as much as the results themselves.

Why Researchers Remain Interested

The significance of this body of research is not that it provides clinical answers.  Rather, it demonstrates that Boswellia species contain compounds worthy of scientific investigation.

Over the past several decades, researchers have explored Boswellia preparations for their potential roles in inflammation, immune signaling, neurological function, and cancer-related laboratory models.

The growing number of publications has helped transform Frankincense from a historical aromatic material into a continuing subject of scientific inquiry.  At the same time, the deeper researchers looked, the more distinctions emerged between species, preparations, and individual compounds.  Understanding those distinctions remains one of the keys to understanding modern Frankincense research.

Archive Restoration Note

This article was originally published as "Research Update on Frankincense's Cancer Fighting Potential."

The original article reflected a period of rapidly expanding interest in Boswellia research and highlighted several early laboratory studies involving cancer-related cell models.

During restoration, promotional content, anecdotal reports, and treatment-oriented language were removed. Additional context was added to distinguish between essential oils, resin extracts, boswellic acids, and other Boswellia-derived preparations while preserving the educational purpose of the original article.

The information presented in this article is intended for educational purposes only and should not be interpreted as medical advice. The statements discussed herein have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Frankincense products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Further Reading from the Ananda Apothecary™ Library:

Frankincense CO2 Extracts vs. Essential Oils
Explore why Frankincense became one of the most discussed CO₂ extracts in aromatherapy and how extraction method changes the chemistry of the finished material.

Frankincense: A Resin Worth More Than Gold
Explore how a resin harvested from Boswellia trees became one of the ancient world's most valuable commodities, shaping trade routes, religious traditions, and centuries of human use.

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The Ananda Apothecary™ Library is in the process of restoring the Ananda archive—more than fifteen years of research, education, and practical experience working with aromatic plants, essential oils, CO₂ extracts, and botanical medicine. Additional articles continue to be restored and republished as part of this ongoing stewardship project.

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References

Ni X, Suhail MM, Yang Q, et al. Boswellia sacra Essential Oil Induces Tumor Cell-Specific Apoptosis and Suppresses Tumor Aggressiveness in Cultured Human Breast Cancer Cells.

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2012.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22171782/

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Suhail MM, Wu W, Cao A, et al. Boswellia sacra Essential Oil Induces Tumor Cell Death in Cultured Human Pancreatic Cancer Cells.

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2013.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23237355/

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Park B, Prasad S, Yadav V, et al. Boswellic Acid Suppresses Growth and Metastasis of Human Colorectal Cancer Cells.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22983985/

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Frank MB, Yang Q, Osban J, et al. Frankincense Oil Derived from Boswellia carterii Induces Tumor Cell-Specific Cytotoxicity.

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2009.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18281494/

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Hostanska K, Daum G, Saller R. Boswellic Acid Acetate Induces Apoptosis Through Caspase-Mediated Pathways in Myeloid Leukemia Cells.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15767547/

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Hostanska K, Reichling J, Bommer S, et al. Boswellic Acid Acetate Induces Differentiation and Apoptosis in Highly Metastatic Melanoma and Fibrosarcoma Cells.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12600419/

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Al-Harrasi A, Al-Saidi S, et al. The Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of Boswellia Species.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8776457/

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Tisserand Institute. Does Frankincense Oil Contain Boswellic Acid?

https://tisserandinstitute.org/frankincense-boswellic-acid/

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Dozmorov MG, Yang Q, Wu W, et al. Differential Effects of Selective Frankincense Essential Oil Versus Sandalwood Essential Oil on Cultured Bladder Cancer Cells.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4084971/

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Chen Y, Zhou C, Ge Z, et al. Composition and Potential Anticancer Activities of Essential Oils Obtained from Myrrh and Frankincense.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3796374/