Evidence supporting the use of: 11-keto-beta-boswellic acid
For the health condition: Crohn's Disease

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

11-keto-beta-boswellic acid (KBA) is a bioactive compound derived from the resin of Boswellia serrata, commonly known as frankincense. Its use in the context of Crohn’s Disease is primarily justified by preliminary scientific evidence rather than a long-standing traditional association with this specific condition. Boswellia extracts have a long history in Ayurvedic medicine for treating inflammatory conditions, but the identification and isolation of KBA and its specific effects are relatively recent scientific developments.

Several preclinical studies, as well as a few small clinical trials, suggest that Boswellia serrata extracts—of which KBA is a major active constituent—may have anti-inflammatory effects relevant to inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) such as Crohn’s Disease. The proposed mechanism involves inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase, an enzyme involved in leukotriene synthesis, which plays a role in intestinal inflammation. A 2001 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (Ghosh et al., Eur J Med Res, 2002) found that a Boswellia serrata extract was comparable to sulfasalazine in maintaining remission in Crohn’s Disease patients. However, these studies generally use whole resin extracts, not isolated KBA, and sample sizes have been small.

Overall, while there is some promising early research, the evidence base remains limited in terms of the quality and quantity of clinical trials, especially those focusing specifically on purified 11-keto-beta-boswellic acid. Thus, the evidence supporting its use is rated as 2 out of 5.

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