Boswellia serrata extract contains boswellic acids — especially AKBA — that inhibit 5-lipoxygenase, a key enzyme in the leukotriene inflammatory pathway.
Mechanism — Reduces leukotriene production downstream of arachidonic acid. Complementary to COX inhibitors (which target prostaglandins). Reasonable evidence in osteoarthritis, asthma, and ulcerative colitis.
Use case — Joint inflammation, IBD-related symptoms. Standardized 30%+ AKBA extracts. Typical 300-500 mg 2-3x/day with food.
Caveats — Onset of effect is 4-8 weeks. Lower-grade extracts are essentially useless — check standardization. Generally well-tolerated; mild GI side effects in some.