shallaki :

Boswellia serrata is a plant that produces Indian frankincense. It is also known as Indian oli-banum, Salai guggul, and Sallaki in Sanskrit. The plant is native to much of India and the Punjab region that extends into Pakistan.Salai, Shallaki, Luban are few common names of tree Boswellia serrata. This tree is native to India and found distributed in dry hilly regions.

HISTORICAL AND MYTHOLOGICAL REVIEW:

Shallaki has not been mentioned in the vedic literatures but it has been explained in charaka samhita, Sushruta samhita & Other samhitas and Nighantus of Ayurveda.

Acharya Charak has advised its use in the treatment of Shvasa, Kasa, Hikka (ch.ch.- 17/117), Vatavyadhi (Bala Taila – Ch. Chi. 28/156) and Gulma – Ashmari (ch.chi. 26/64-65) He has also used in Dhoomvarti (ch. Su. 5/20-24)

Acharya Sushruta has prescribed has it in the treatment of Puadansha (su.chi. 19/14), pittabhishyanda ( su. ut. 10/4), pakvatisara (su.ut. 40/19), Raktatisara (su. ut. 40/22) and Shvasa – Hikka (su. ut. 51/12)

Acharya Bhela has recommended it in the treatment of Vata-vyadhi (Rasna Taila and Mulaka Taila – Bh. Chi 26)

Acharya Harita has also used it in the treatment of Vatavyadhi (kalka, kwatha & Mahabala taila – Ha. Sam. 3^rd sthana/chapter-23)

Shallaki has been described in the Chakradatta, particularly in the treatment of vata vyadhi (Prasarani taila, kalka paka and Maha sugandha Taila – Vata vyadhi chikitsa)

Taxonomical Classification

Kingdom: Plantae - Plants
Subkingdom: Streptophyta
Superdivision: Spermatophyta - Seed plants
Class: Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons
Family: Burseraceae
Genus: Boswellia
Species: Boswellia serrata

Allied species:

It has been described by Sushrutha in Rodhradi gana, Eladi gana and Kashaya Skanda gana.

Purish viranjaniya (ch. Su 4/15)
Kashaya skandha (ch. Vi. 8/144)
Shiro virechana ( ch. Vi. 8/151)
Rodhradi (su. Su. 38/8)
Eladi (su. Su. 38/13)
Kashaya skandh (su. Su. 42/13)

VERNACULAR NAMES

Sanskrit: Shallaki, Suvaha, Vallaki, Sara, Kunduruki, Ashwamutri, Maherana.
English: Indian olibaum, Indian frankincense
Hindi: Salai शल्लकी shallaki, kundur, luban
Urdu: kundur, lobana
Telugu: గుగ్గిలము guggilamu, పరంగిసాంబ్రాణిచెట్టు parangi-sambrani-chettu, సల్లకి sallaki
Bengali: Kundura, salai
Marathi: Salai धुपाळी dhupali, धूपसाळी dhupasali, कुरुंद kurunda, सालफळी salaphali, साळई salai, साळी
Konkani: -लोभान lobhan
Oriya: salai
Gujarathi: Saledo, Dhupedo સાલેડી saaledi, સલાઈ ગૂગળ salaai gugul
Tamil: குமஞ்சம் kumancam, குங்கிலியம் kunkiliyam, மரத்துவெள்ளை marattu-vellai, பறங்கிச்சாம்பிராணி paranki-c-campi-rani, வெள்ளிக்கீரை vellai-k-kirai •
Malayalam: Salaiകുങ്ങില്യം kungilyam
Kannada: ಗುಗ್ಗುಳ ಮರ guggula mara
Punjabi: Salhee
Sindhi: -انڊين فرانڪسن
Arabic: Luban
Spanish: Asbol, Dol incienzo
Assamese: -Sallaki
Japanese: furankinsensu-
Chinese: Fan Hun Hsiang
French: -Franc Encens
German: - Indischer Weihrauch
Persian: Kundur گنده فيروزه gandha firoza, لوبان loban
Sinhalese: Kundrikan

Varities:

Two varieties are usually distinguished var. serrata with serrate and pubescent leaves and var. Glabra with entire, glabrous leaves. (Wealth of India: 1,208)

Acc. To its shape and colour kunduru has been divided into 5 types, in the Unani system of medicine:

Nara Kunduru
Mada kunduru
Gola (Round)
KIshor kunduru
Dukraka kunduru

Definition

कुन्दुरु:मधुरस्तिक्तस्तीक्ष्ण स्वत्वच्य: कटुर्हरेत् |

(B.P)

Synonyms

Synonyms in Ayurveda: shallaki, gajabhakshya, suvaha, surabhi, rasa, maharuna, kunduraki, vallaki, bahustrava, bhalluka, nagavrintika

Gajabhakshya : as its leaves eaten by elephant – गजानां भक्षं भोजनं |
Surabhi : resin has good odor– सुगन्धि: |
Susrava, bahusrava: having gum resin
Kunduruki - appears like kunduru– कुन्दुरुर् निर्यासो अस्या: |
Maheruna - beautiful in look - महान्तं गजमिरयति प्रेरयतीति

Suraha - Aroma is carried by air.
Shallaki: – शलति चलति कर्मिनि | लक्ष्यते अस्वाध्यते च गजैर्ति | शल चलने लक आस्वादने |
Ashwamutri: – अश्वस्य मूत्रमिव स्रावो अस्य: |
Thrayasthraphala: – त्रयस्त्रं त्रिकोणं फलमस्या: |
Bahusthrava: – बहु स्रावन इति प्रभुत स्रावे अत्यर्तः
Mocha: – मुञ्चति निर्यासं इति |
Vanya: – वने जाता |
Surabhistrava:- सुरभि: सुगन्धि: स्रव स्रावो अस्या: |
Hladani :- ह्लादयति सुगन्धेनिति |
Ashwamuthri
Shadeekani
Gajapriya
Suvaha
Madagandika
Gandamula
Boswellia = after Dr.Boswel, Edinburgh; Serrata = Saw toothed or B. thurifera yielding Frankincense or B. glara (hairless).

Rasa: Kashaya Madhura Tikta
Guna: Laghu Ruksha
Veerya: Sheetha
Vipaka: Katu
Karma: Kaphapittasamaka

For the medicinal purpose the bark and gum-resin of tree are used. The bark is considered tonic, sweet, acrid and cooling and used to treat diseases due to vitiation of pitta, asthma, dysentery, ulcers, haemorrhoids and skin diseases. But the main medicinal product obtained from the tree is its resin. The resin is one of the best herbal medicine for inflammatory diseases.

Cultivation:

A plant of the semi-arid to moist tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 1,150 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 33 - 42°c, but can tolerate 7 - 47°c]. Mature plants can be killed by temperatures of -2°c or lower, but new growth can be severely damaged at -1°c. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,000 - 1,500mm, but tolerates 500 - 2,000mm.
Requires a sunny position It grows well on neutral soils above gneiss, schist, quartzite, limestone and sandstone, and has the ability to thrive in the poorest and the shallowest of soils where most of its associates remain stunted. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5, tolerating 5 - 7.4. Established plants are very drought tolerant.
The tree produces root suckers and responds well to both coppicing and pollardin.
Plants are resistant to damage from fires
A mature tree yields about 1 - 1.5 kilos of gum a year

Propogation:

Seed - it has a short viability and is best sown as soon as it is ripe.

Harvesting:

The tree is harvested from the wild, especially for its gum and bark, which are traded locally and internationally. It is also used in replanting schemes for poor soils and is sometimes grown as an ornamental

STANDARDIZATION:

Quantitative Standards

Foreign matter:- Not more than 2%
Ash :- Not more than 2%
Acid – insoluble ash:- Not morethan 0.5%
Ethanol – soluble extractive – Not less than 56%
Water soluble extractive – Not less than 22%
Vol. oil – Not less than 4.5%

Phytochemistry:

Volatile oil is composed of Sequiterpende, alcohos, anisaldehyde, d-α-thujone, α-pinene, d-α-phellandrende and phenolic compounds.

Similar to turpentine oil, this oil is soluble in colophony & dammer, but more volatile in nature. Gum is mainly composed of arabinose with small amounts of xylose and galactose. Gum als conatins oxidizing and diastatic enzyes. The highly brittle resin is soluble in various organic solvents. It softens between 65-72°C and melts between 73-78°C. Resin is mainly employed in preparation of varnishes.

Indian olibanum contains β-boswellic acid in resin portion, Volatile oil contains P-cymene, α-limonene, terpinolene, α-thujone, α-thujone, α-phellandrene, α-terpiol, bornyl acetate, and methyl chacicol. A diterpene alcohol viz. serratol has been reported from gum resin.

PHARMACOLOGY:

Formulations

There are many Ayurvedic Medicines in which Shallaki Boswellia serrata is used as an ingredient.

Shallaki Niryasa
Agaruvadya Taila
Himalaya shallaki,
Trutiyadi churna

Parts used for medicinal purpose

Bark, Gum, ,

Dosage:

Decoction 50-100 ml;

Oleo-gum resin 1-3gm.

Twak choorna:- 1 – 3g

Twak Kwatha:- 20 – 50ml

Niryasa:- 5 – 40g in amenorrhea 1 – 3g usually

Oil:- 10 – 20ml

Antidote:

Dosage hasn’t been well studied, but high doses can have serious side-effects on the liver. Interactions with other medications haven’t been well studied.

Purification:

Generally four grades of gum-resin are known: Superfine grade is translucent, very light, yellow, in color, free from bark and other impurities; Quality 1 is brownish yellow, less translucent and free from bark and impurities; Quality II is brownish, semi-translucent and may have some impurities; and Quality III is dark brown, opaque and with impurities

Substitute:

Large round or club shaped golden tears from B. casterii Birdw and B. frerean Birdw impored from countries of the Gulf and North Africa, sold in the Indian market by the name Kundur.

Adultrants:

The oleo gum resin of B. serratea is also adulterated with moina gum fromGaruga pinnata Roxb

Controversy:

-There is preliminary evidence that taking Indian frankincense extract orally might reduce osteoarthritis symptoms such as knee pain and swelling, while its use in rheumatoid arthritis is controversial. More evidence is needed for use of boswellia in both these conditions.

Commercial value:

The tree, on tapping exudes an oleo-gum resin which is known as "Kunduru" or "sallai guggulu" or "Indian olibanum".

Tapping period for kunduru is extends from November to June or July.

The tapping of boswellia gum for industrial purposes has not met with much success, because of very variable yield.

Morphology:

Moderate sized, deciduous tree, up to 18 m in height and up to 2.4 m in girth;light, spreading crown and drooping branches;Bark very thin, greyish-green, ashy or reddish in colour with a chlorophyll layer beneath the thin outer layer;Leaves are alternate, exstipulate, imparipinnate, 20-45 cm in length, crowded towards the ends of the branches;leaflets 17-31 cm, opposite, 2.5-8 cm x 0.8-1.5 cm, basal pairs often smallest, sessile, lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, crenate, very variable in size;Flowers white, born in stout racemes 10-20 cm long, shorter than the leaves, crowded towards the ends of branches, but not terminal;Calyx persistent, pubescent outside, 5 to 7-toothed;teeth small, deltoid;Petals 5-7, erect, free, 0.5 cm long;Fruits 1.3 cm long, trigonous, with three valves and three heartshaped, 1-seeded pyrenes, winged, along the margins

Histology:

-Debris of fibres, rectangular cork cells, very few yellowish oil globules and numerous, small or large, oval to round or rhomboidal crystalline fragments present.

Geographical distribution:

Maharashtra (Eastern part), Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, South India, Nepal, Marathwasa & Himalaya.

A moderate or large branching tree with a bole 12-15 in height and 3-5 in girth.

Generally found in dry hilly areas. About 10 species of genus Boswellia occur in tropical parts of Asia & Africa.

It is common in most parts of the central provinces,the Deccan, Bihar, orissa, Rajputana, Central India, Eastern states and north Gujarat, but not found in Bengal, Assam and Burma.

ECOLOGICAL ASPECT:

-Wood borers are reported to cause severe losses to the stored wood. The pests can be contoled by spraying BHC at fortnightly interval. They can also be controlled by debarking and proper drying or by placement of logs in a single row but not in conact with one another on skids and by proper stacking. [ Med Arom plant Absin, 1994, 16, 3]

Plant conservation:

Generally trees over 30" in girth, and also those damaged by borers yield the gum in some quantity, while some trees do not exude any. Dwarfed and suppressed trees or very old trees give poor yield.

Tapping doses not injury to the tree and the method of tapping influences yield.

One method, which is reported to have met with some success, consists in shaving off a thin band of bark (6" in width), 2-2.5" from the base of the tree and freshening it every 4^thor 5^th day.

The gum exudes usually after first freshening

General Use:

Joints
Rheumatoid arthritis
Cancer
Skin care
Female reproduction system
Asthma
Cold &flu
Osteoarthritis
Crohns disease
Ulcerative colitis
Sexual problems

Therapeutic Uses:

Shallaki is extensively used in the treatment of painful joint diseases and other inflammatory conditions in joints. Due to its anti-inflammatory activity has been used in the formulation of medicines. Its resin exerts multidimensional anti-inflammatory effects. Shallaki preparation is recommended for the free mobility of joints. Boswellia is effective in rheumatoid arthritis and some other chronic inflammatory diseases bronchial asthma, osteoarthritis, ulcerative colitis, and Crohns disease. Boswellia serrata also act as an alternative to of NSAIDs

Systemic Use:

Pitta Abhishyanda: – The gum of Shallaki is mixed with Sugar and honey and used as eye drop/collyrium.(SU.U:10)

Chronic Ulcers: – As astringent, in the form of ointments it is useful in Chronic Ulcers, diseased bones in which it promotes absorption. The resin rubbed in Coconut Oil or Lemon Juice is in application to foul ulceration.

In Gonorrhoea: – In Syphilitic cases and Gonorrhoea it is mixed with Ghee and prescribed.

In Pulmonary diseases: – It is mixed with Coconut Oil and is applied to soles as a Stimulant, like in diseases like Bronchitis, Chronic laryngitis and Bronchorrhoreae.

In Foul breath: – It is mixed with acacia’s gum and administered.

If taken for a period of time in one Ounce dose, it is said to reduce Obesity.

Conjunctivitis: – The exudate of Palasha and Shallaki mixed with Sugar and Honey should be applied to eyes in Conjunctivitis caused by Pitta. (su.su 10/7)

Bronchial Asthma: – Smokes should be inhaled of Thurooska, Shallaki, Guggulu and Padmaka mixed with Ghee.

(su.su.u 51/52)

Shwasa:-Shallaki Choorna taken along with Ghritha or Madhu and licked.

Vrna:-The wound is washed with the decoction and other drugs.

(Bha.Ni)

In Syphilis:-Gum resin is the main constituent of an Ointment for Soles and with butter is used.

Administration:

oral and topical administration.

Pharmacological:

Useful in disorders caused by kaphapitta. Paste is applied in rheumatoid arthritis and cervical adenitis; ointment is used in chronic ulcers. In eye diseases, it is used by mixing with honey. It is an appetizer and digestive, therefore useful in bad breath, loss of appetite, diarrhoea, dysentery, It is used in chronic cough in the form of smoking colour of the stool is resoted to normal due to its action on pitta. Also useful in gonorrhea.

Clinical trials:

Ammon HP. Salaiguggul-Boswelliaserrata from a herbal medicine to a specific inhibitor of leukotriene biosynthesis. Phytomedicine 1996;3:67-70.

Etzel R. Special extract of boswelliaserrata (H15) in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Phytomedicine 1996;3:91-4.

3. Pardhy RS, Bhattacharyya SC. β-Boswellic acid, acetyl- β-boswellic acid, acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid and 11-keto-β-boswellic acid, four pentacyclictriterpenic acids from the resin of BoswelliaserrataRoxb. Indian J Chem 1978;16B:176-8.

Research:

1. Basch E, Boon H, Davies T, Hashmi S, Hasskari J, Sollars D, et al. Boswellia: A evidence based systematic review by the naturalstandard research collaboration. J Herb Phar 2004;4:63-83

Pawar RK, Sharma S, Singh KC, Sharma RK. Physico-chemical standardization and development of HPTLC method for the determination of β-boswellic acid from BoswelliaserrataRoxb. (exudate). Int J App Pharm 2011;3:8-13.
Singh GB, Atal CK. Pharmacology of an extract of salaiguggul ex-Boswelliaserrata. Indian J Pharmacol 1984;16:51.

Precautions:

Pregnant women must avoid boswellia because its an emmenagogue that increases blood flow to the pelvis45 and the uterus, encouraging menstruation, and an abortifacient, meaning it can induce a miscarriage. Breastfeeding women should avoid using boswellia, too

Toxicity studies:

Boswellia or boswellia oil has various side effects that can potentially disrupt your body.. Furthermore, other side effects of boswellia serrata, albeit rare, may occur, including:

Stomach discomfort, including nausea

Acid reflux

Diarrhea

Skin rashes and burning

A feeling of fullness in the stomach

Chest pain

Tightness in throat or chest

Breathing problems

Swollen skin

Skin hives, rashes or itchy skin

Use in other system of medicine:

Therapeutic Uses mentioned in Unani Medicine:

Skin and Cosmetics:

Its application with honey removes whitlow, its bark is moderately effective in removing the scars

Its local application is useful in septic wound . With duck fat it is useful in daad (ringworm infection) .

It is useful in healing the wet wounds and ulcers .

Its use with sirka (vinegar) and roghan zaitoon (olive oil) is useful in daad .

Swelling: It is incorporated in the plasters which are made to dissolve the inflammation of viscera. It is useful in hot inflammation of the breast in confined women. It is used with rose oil and camolian earth .

Ulcers: Particularly when it is fresh, it is a good wound healing drug and prevents the spread of malignant ulcers. It is applied with duck fat in ringworm infection. It is also beneficial in burn- wounds and cold fissures with swine fat. It is also helpful in healing burned ulcers . It is useful in all types of septic ulcers and septic ulcers of anus and stops its spread. However it should be used dissolved in milk and used as humool (pessaries) . Its use with honey is beneficial in wounds of burn

Head: It strengthen memory when taken as infusion regularly in fasting. However, it excessive use causes headache. To remove the dandruff and drying the ulcer it is applied with sodium nitrate 19. Kundur dissolved in alcohol is useful earache .It stops nasal hemorrhage. It is useful drug for treating contusions of the ear. It dries rutoobat dimaghi and balgham .It is useful to clear the voice and with gum of babool is useful in shortness of breath and halitosis . It is useful in nisya’n

Eye: It heals and fills up ophthalmic ulcers and matures the associate chronic swellings. Its smoke is useful in hot swellings, stops the influx of ophthalmic fluid, heals serious ulcers and cleanses the underlying pus from the cornea. It is an important drug meant to be used in red and chronic pterygium and also for treating cancer of the eye . It is useful in eye diseases such as zakhm, jila basr, sartaan wa warm chashm It is useful in night blindness 10.According to Jalinoos, surma of kundur is useful in dissolving the blood, which is accumulated in the eye .

Respiratory and cardiovascular system: It is used as tonic as it is having muqawwie qalb wa hafiza (heart tonic) property. It is useful in kafqan (palpitation), chronic cough, and dama (asthma). Kundur with honey is useful in phlegmatic cough Kundur (1 g) with luwab zamaq arabi is used in sual sho’abi and itsa’ sho’abi 14.It is given along with other drugs in inflammation of organs and pneumonia. Its use with teen qemuliya and roghan gul (rose oil) is helpful in warm har (hot inflammation) of breast during puerperium .

Gastrointenstinal tract: It stops vomiting and even hematemesis. It facilitates digestion . It is useful in haemoptysis, hemorrhage and stomache

Genitourinary tract: It stops diarrhea, sprue and bleeding from the anus and uterus. Its suppository stops the spread of malignant ulcers in the anal region .It is helpful to stop bleeding from any part of the body . It is useful in taqteerul boul (dribbling of urine) cause by zoafe quwate masika . Kundur and sa’d (in equal quantity), 4 g orally, is used in taqteerul boul. Locally, it is useful in chronic sailanur rehm (leucorrhoea). Kundur, half fried egg yolk, jaiphal and javitri is useful as aphrodisiac and toleeda mani

Fevers: It is useful for treating phlegmatic fevers.