boswellia serrate

A multifactorial metabolic disorder, diabetes mellitus (DM) is characterized by chronic hyperglycemia. According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), this condition is expected to be among the most critical global health concerns in 2045. Despite the recent developments in medications for patients living with type 2 diabetes (T2D), there is still no definitive cure. As nearly all medications have their own complications, some herbs seem beneficial as alternatives. From this perspective, the present study investigated the effects of the coadministration of Eryngium billardieri (EB) and Boswellia serrata (BS) extracts on biochemical indices in patients with T2D.
Sixty patients with T2D, aged 35–55, were selected and randomly assigned to two groups: experiment and control. For four weeks, the experimental group was given a combination of the EB (14 cc) and BS (7 cc) extracts in addition to the routine medications. However, the controls only received routine care and medications.
A significant reduction was observed in fasting blood sugar (FBS), homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and triglyceride (TG) levels. There was a substantial upsurge in disposition index (DI), homeostasis model assessment of β-cell function (HOMA-β), and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) levels in the patients in the experimental group. The serum insulin levels showed no major changes.
The study results revealed that the EB and BS coadministration could be a therapeutic approach or a supplement for patients with DM.

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women. Several native Iranian herbs used in traditional medicine are proven to have cytotoxic effects.
The present study was designed to compare the anticancer effects of three medicinal herbs, Peganum harmala L., Curcuma longa L., and Boswellia serrata, on a cervical cancer cell line (HeLa).
HeLa cells were exposed to different doses of hydroalcoholic extracts of the three plants (12.5, 25, 50, 100, and 200 µg/mL) for 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours. After the incubation period, the modified colorimetric MTT assay was used to determine cytotoxicity.
The highest percentage of cell death for P. harmala was observed after 72 hours of incubation, and 50% growth inhibitory concentration (IC50) at 24 hours was 12.5 μg/mL. For B. serrata, the highest percentage of cell death was observed after 72 hours of incubation; IC50 at 24 and 48 hours were 50 μg/mL and 12.5 μg/mL, respectively. C. longa L. had an IC50 of 12.5 μg/mL after 72 hours of incubation.
The results of the MTT assay showed that B. serrata and P. harmala L. extracts had time- and dose-dependent cytotoxic effects. However, C. longa L. extracts induced apoptosis only in a time-dependent manner. A higher cytotoxic effect was observed on HeLa cells with P. harmala and B. serrata extracts compared to C. longa extract at all applied concentrations.