March 16, 2023
Frankincense has so many uses and is one of my favorite essential oils. It has a rich tradition of use that dates back centuries.Frankincense essential oil (FEO) is produced from trees of the genus Boswellia that are native to the Arabian Peninsula, northeast Africa, and India. The Boswellia genus contains about 20 different species. Popular types include B. carterii, B. sacra, B. serrata, or B. neglecta which occur in different locations and show different compositions of oils. Most of the Frankincense essential oils are obtained by steam distillation of an oleo gum resin of Boswellia species.
They contain volatile compounds that cause a characteristic woody and spicy aroma. The resin has a protective role in plants; thus, the essential oil also manifests many positive activities. Its good antimicrobial and anti-insect activity protects the tree from. Frankincense essential oil can inhibit the growth of human pathogens such as S. aureus or P. aeruginosa. Frankincense essential oil has good antimicrobial properties against bacterial (P. acnes) and fungal (C. albicans, Malassezia spp., and Trichophyton spp.) pathogens that cause skin-associated infections. Moreover, Frankincense essential oil prevents the formation of biofilms by Staphylococcus and Candida microorganisms. The antiparasitic activity of Frankincense essential oil against Leishmania was also reported. Frankincense has been used in traditional medicine due to its positive medicinal properties. The resin from Boswellia has a positive impact on patients with diseases of the gastrointestinal trac. Due to the specific aroma, Frankincense essential oil has stress-relieving properties. Frankincense essential oil also shows potential for beneficial effects in neurodegenerative disorders. Moreover, the anticancer activity of Frankincense essential oil towards pancreatic cancer cells was reported in in vitro studies. A recent preclinical study evaluated the antimicrobial, antioxidant, and insecticidal activities of frankincense (B. carterii) essential oil. Remarkably, the oil demonstrated greater antioxidant activity than the standard control (Trolox), often exceeded the control antibiotic and antifungal drug against microbes, and moderate insecticidal activity against the lime seed bug.