A recent study revealed that the herb, Boswellia serratawas, also known as Indian Frankincense can lessen the symptoms of osteoarthritis.

Boswellia serrata was enriched with 30% AKBA (3-O-acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid), which is an anti-inflammatory material that works by suppressing the 5-lipoxygenase enzyme. The latter is significant in the regulation of the body's reaction to swelling.
 
During the research, scientists used AKBA from the plant for the extract. They discovered that osteoarthritis patients, who were on the drug got relief within one week of taking the medicine.

Moreover, there were no major fallouts, they said, pointing towards its safety for long term usage.

The study findings showed condensed inflammatory protein levels in affected joints after the use of B. serrata extract.

Lead researcher Dr. Siba Raychaudhuri, a faculty member of the University of California, stated, “AKBA has anti-inflammatory properties, and we have shown that B. serrata enriched with AKBA can be an effective treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee. The high incidence of adverse effects associated with currently available medications has created great interest in the search for an effective and safe alternative treatment.”

The journal Arthritis Research and Therapy reported that the herb has been used for thousands of years in Indian Ayurvedic medicine for the treatment for conditions such as allergies, asthma, depression and anxiety.

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of the condition, and normally affects the weight bearing joints including hands, wrists, feet and spine.