BriteLife Boswellia Serrata What is Boswellia? Boswellia serrata is the botanical name for Indian frankincense. It's a popular aroma used to make incense and perfumes, but also comes with a long list of health benefits. It's a tough plant that thrives in some of the most inhospitable environments on earth. The bark produces a thick aromatic resin that serves to protect it from the harsh environment it grows in. The resin is collected and used as a health supplement around the world. How does Boswellia work? Boswellia contains a set of compounds called boswellic acids. One of these compounds, in particular, known as acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid, or akba for short, has been the focus of a number of research studies. Akba blocks a set of enzymes responsible for producing inflammatory messengers in the body. These enzymes are known as 5 lox and cox. These are common targets for pharmaceutical anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin and Tylenol.