Medicinal uses of Boswellia serrata Roxb (Kundur) with special reference to its ulcer healing property

Abstract

Boswellia serrata is known as Kundur in Unani Medicine and the plant is found in Arabia, South Africa and west Asia. The white to yellow colored aromatic oleo resin gum is obtained from the stem bark of this pant and the main constituents of Boswellia serrata Roxb is Boswellic acid. This article was aimed to investigate and compile the pharmacological profile mentioned in Classical text of Unani medicine with special attention to its ulcer healing action and to scientifically recognize those pharmacological actions through the already published scientific studies. Pharmacological activities of kundur mentioned in Unani medicine are astringent, desiccative to the ulcer, antiseptic, haemostatic, cicatrizant, memory tonic, siccative to the secretion of phlegm, carminative, tissue formation and ulcer healing action. The active constituents of Boswellia serrata had proved effective in many experimental and clinical studies for various disease conditions.