Shallaki
Boswellia serrata Roxb. ex Colebr.
Shallaki (Boswellia serrata Roxb. ex Colebr.) is a plant drug, also called Sallaki and Salara, from the Burseraceae family. Included in Indian Pharmacopoeia and Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India.
| Botanical name | Boswellia serrata Roxb. ex Colebr. |
|---|---|
| Family | Burseraceae |
| Order | Sapindales |
| Pharmacopoeia status | Included in Indian Pharmacopoeia and Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India |
| Taxon identifiers | GBIF 5421354 · Wikidata Q2367334 · NCBI Taxonomy 613112 |
| Sanskrit | शल्लकी (śallakī) |
|---|---|
| Hindi | सालर (sālara), शल्लकी (śallakī) |
| Tamil | குங்கிலியம், பறங்கிச்சாம்பிராணி |
Sources: efloraofindia.com, Boswellia serrata vernacular names: Tamil 'பறங்கிச்சாம்பிராணி paranki-c-campi-rani'; efloraofindia.com, Boswellia serrata: Hindi 'शल्लकी shallaki', 'सालर salar'; efloraofindia.com, Boswellia serrata: Hindi 'सालर salar'; efloraofindia.com, Boswellia serrata: Sanskrit 'शल्लकी shallaki', 'सल्लकी sallaki'; efloraofindia.com, Boswellia serrata: Tamil 'குங்கிலியம் kunkiliyam'. How we source.
The evidence at a glance
12papers on this site for this drug, published 2008 to 2025, every one with a DOI.
- 4Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
- 5Randomised controlled trials
- 3Other clinical studies and reviews
A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Each paper is listed with what it measured on the page below. See the research index for how papers are tiered.
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Shallaki |
| Latin/Botanical | Boswellia serrata Roxb. ex Colebr. |
Key Phytochemical Constituents
- 3-Acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid (AKBA)
- 11-Keto-beta-boswellic acid (KBA)
- Beta-boswellic acid
- 3-Acetyl-beta-boswellic acid
- Alpha-boswellic acid
- Incensole acetate
- Lupeolic acid
- Tirucallic acids
How does it work?
- Anti-inflammatory: AKBA is a potent direct inhibitor of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX), blocking leukotriene synthesis; also inhibits NF-kB, COX-2, MAPK, and NLRP3 inflammasome
- Anti-arthritic: Boswellic acids are reported to inhibit MMP-3 and MMP-9 (matrix metalloproteinases), enzymes involved in cartilage degradation
- Immunomodulatory: Modulates T-cell and B-cell function and shifts Th1/Th2 balance
Which traditional uses are supported by research?
These summaries come from the source notes, which do not name the studies behind them.
- Traditionally used for Sandhivata (arthritic conditions). Randomized clinical trials have reported improvement in knee osteoarthritis symptoms comparable to NSAIDs.
- Traditionally used for inflammatory conditions. Studies have reported 5-LOX inhibition and NF-kB suppression. Clinical trials in inflammatory bowel disease have reported improvement.
- Traditionally used as Shwasahara for asthma. Clinical trials in bronchial asthma patients have reported improvement in FEV1 and a reduction in eosinophil count.
What do recent studies show?
- Peng C, Yang Y, Wang Y and others 2025. From bench to bedside, boswellic acids in anti-inflammatory therapy - mechanistic insights, bioavailability challenges, and optimization approaches. Frontiers in pharmacology. PMID 41341032 · doi:10.3389/fphar.2025.1692443
Comprehensive review of boswellic acid mechanisms spanning NF-kB, MAPK, 5-LOX, COX-2, and NLRP3 inflammasome pathways; addressed bioavailability challenges and novel delivery strategies. - Salter D, Yalamanchi H, Yalamanchi A and others 2025. Ten days of supplementation with a standardized Boswellia serrata extract attenuates soreness and accelerates recovery after repeated bouts of downhill running in recreationally active men. Frontiers in sports and active living. PMID 39917273 · doi:10.3389/fspor.2025.1488821
Standardized extract attenuated exercise-induced muscle soreness and accelerated recovery in recreationally active men after repeated bouts of downhill running.
Only studies that could be traced to a published paper are listed here. An absence here means we could not identify the source, not that no work exists.
Recent safety updates
- Well-tolerated in clinical trials with only mild adverse effects (nausea, acid reflux, mild GI upset); no serious or irreversible adverse effects reported
- No convincing evidence of hepatotoxicity; may interact with NSAIDs (synergistic anti-inflammatory effect); limited data in pregnancy and lactation
What is it made of?
Key Active Markers
- Beta-boswellic acid
- 3-Acetyl-beta-boswellic acid
- Alpha-boswellic acid
- Incensole acetate
- Lupeolic acid
- Tirucallic acids
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Capsule, Tablet, Cream/Gel (topical), Churna (powder), Guggulu-based formulation, Vati (tablet), Soft gelatin capsule
Standard Dosage: 400-1200 mg standardized extract per day (typically 300-400 mg three times daily); 3-6 g crude resin powder per day; topical gel 5-10% applied 2-3 times daily
Optimal Timing: With meals (high-fat meal preferred) for optimal boswellic acid absorption; three divided doses for sustained anti-inflammatory effect
Storage: Store below 25 deg C, protected from light and heat. Resin tends to soften above 30 deg C, critical for tropical storage. Capsules in HDPE bottles with desiccant or aluminum blisters. Topical products in aluminum tubes or airless pump dispensers.
Marker Compounds: 11-Keto-beta-boswellic acid (KBA), Acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid (AKBA), Alpha-boswellic acid, Beta-boswellic acid, Acetyl-alpha-boswellic acid, Acetyl-beta-boswellic acid, Incensole acetate
Synergistic Combinations
- Curcumin/Haridra (combination described as having anti-inflammatory synergy; clinical studies have reported improvement in osteoarthritis)
- Guggulu (joint health formulations)
- Ashwagandha (musculoskeletal support)
- Nirgundi (pain management formulations)
- Glucosamine + Chondroitin (comprehensive joint support nutraceutical)
Published research
Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses4
- 2020. Effectiveness of Boswellia and Boswellia extract for osteoarthritis patients: a systematic review and meta-analysisBMC complementary medicine and therapies. PMID 32680575 · doi:10.1186/s12906-020-02985-6
- 2018. Dietary supplements for treating osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysisBritish journal of sports medicine. PMID 29018060 · doi:10.1136/bjsports-2016-097333
- 2015. Systematic review of complementary and alternative medicine treatments in inflammatory bowel diseasesJournal of Crohn's & colitis. PMID 25518050 · doi:10.1093/ecco-jcc/jju007
- 2008. Frankincense: systematic reviewBMJ (Clinical research ed.). PMID 19091760 · doi:10.1136/bmj.a2813
Randomised controlled trials5
- 2025. A Standardized Boswellia serrata Extract Improves Knee Joint Function and Cartilage Morphology in Human Volunteers with Mild to Moderate Osteoarthritis in a Randomized Placebo-Controlled StudyJournal of the American Nutrition Association. PMID 39700461 · doi:10.1080/27697061.2024.2438894
- 2025. Efficacy and Safety of Boswellia serrata and Apium graveolens L. Extract Against Knee Osteoarthritis and Cartilage Degeneration: A Randomized, Double-blind, Multicenter, Placebo-Controlled Clinical TrialPharmaceutical research. PMID 39875757 · doi:10.1007/s11095-025-03818-2
- 2023. Efficacy and Safety of Aflapin®, a Novel Boswellia Serrata Extract, in the Treatment of Osteoarthritis of the Knee: A Short-Term 30-Day Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical StudyJournal of the American Nutrition Association. PMID 35512759 · doi:10.1080/07315724.2021.2014370
- 2019. A pilot, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to assess the safety and efficacy of a novel Boswellia serrata extract in the management of osteoarthritis of the kneePhytotherapy research : PTR. PMID 30838706 · doi:10.1002/ptr.6338
- 2011. Boswellia serrata acts on cerebral edema in patients irradiated for brain tumors: a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind pilot trialCancer. PMID 21287538 · doi:10.1002/cncr.25945
Other clinical studies and reviews3
- 2025. From bench to bedside, boswellic acids in anti-inflammatory therapy - mechanistic insights, bioavailability challenges, and optimization approachesFrontiers in pharmacology. PMID 41341032 · doi:10.3389/fphar.2025.1692443
- 2025. Recent advances in the management of knee osteoarthritis: a narrative reviewFrontiers in medicine. PMID 39906596 · doi:10.3389/fmed.2025.1523027
- 2024. Bioactive Compounds in Osteoarthritis: Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic RolesInternational journal of molecular sciences. PMID 39519204 · doi:10.3390/ijms252111656
Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.
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