✓ No active regulatory warningsFDA MedWatch, EMA EudraVigilance, WHO VigiBase, WADA Prohibited List · 2026-05-29
Updated: 2026-05-29 · v2.0 · Prof. G. Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhDCiteEditorial
📰Read the full Boswellia (Shallaki) evidence review on GMJ News →Complete clinical article, references and updates on news.gmj.ge. This page is the structured safety summary.
1
Safe
Boswellia (Shallaki)
Boswellia serrata
Generally SafeModerateBotanicals
RDA
Typical 300–500 mg AKBA extract
Target
N/A
Upper limit
No UL
Products
—
Dosage by population group — reference
🔗 Best with: Turmeric / Curcumin, Omega-3 (EPA), Devil's Claw✅ USP Verified, ConsumerLab Approved, Clean Label Project Certified
⚠ 5-LOX inhibition is UNIQUE — complementary to NSAIDs/COX inhibitors [1]
⚠ AKBA-enriched: 100 mg/day (vs 900–1,500 mg standard) [2]
⚠ UC maintenance: comparable to mesalamine in some trials [2]
⚠ 4–8 weeks for effect [2]
ℹ️ Not obtained from food. Not applicable — this is not obtained from food in meaningful amounts; supplementation is the practical route.
🔬 Lab interpreter
ℹ️ No validated blood test. There is no established laboratory test to assess status or guide dosing for this ingredient. Clinical response and symptoms are the practical guide.
⚕ For professionals — confirm ranges against your local laboratory.
Clinical verdict
Boswellia's AKBA is a specific 5-LOX inhibitor (unique vs NSAIDs/COX). One of the best-evidenced herbal anti-inflammatories: positive OA RCTs, UC maintenance, asthma. COMPLEMENTARY to curcumin (different pathway). AKBA-enriched forms (5-Loxin/AprèsFlex): 100 mg/day vs 900–1,500 mg standard [1] [2].
1 How much do I need?
👤 Adults: Specific dosage data under clinical review
👴 Elderly: Specific dosage data under clinical review
🤰 Pregnancy: See guidance
Traditional Ayurvedic. Limited modern data [1].
👦 Pediatric: See guidance
Some asthma data in children [2].
🏃 Athletes: Standard dose
⚖️ Obesity: Standard dose
Fat-soluble compounds may require dose adjustment in obesity.
🩺 Renal: Consult specialist
Dose adjustment may be needed in renal impairment.
🌱 Vegan: Standard dose

How to take

🍽 Timing: TID with meals [2].
💊 With food: With fat (resin — lipophilic) [1].
🚫 Avoid: No significant contraindications [2].
2 Which form?
FormBioavailabilityVeganCost
['Boswellia extract (30–40% BA)', 'preferred', '300–500 mg TID. Standardized [2].']StandardCheck label
['5-Loxin (30% AKBA)', 'preferred', 'AKBA-enriched. 100 mg/day. Most potent form [2].']StandardCheck label
['AprèsFlex (20% AKBA)', 'preferred', 'Enhanced bioavailability. 100 mg/day [2].']StandardCheck label
3 Common questions
Boswellia vs turmeric? ▼
Different mechanisms: boswellia = 5-LOX (leukotrienes). Turmeric = NF-κB/COX. They are COMPLEMENTARY and are often combined. Boswellia has the more unique mechanism [1].
Which form is best? ▼
AKBA-enriched (5-Loxin, AprèsFlex): most potent at lowest dose (100 mg vs 900–1,500 mg standard extract). Standard extract works but needs higher doses [2].
4 Clinical evidence

Strong

5-LOX inhibition by AKBA: confirmed pharmacology [1]. Multiple positive OA RCTs [2]. HIGH

Moderate

OA: comparable to valdecoxib in one trial. Improved WOMAC scores [2]. UC maintenance: positive trials (comparable to mesalamine in some) [2]. Asthma: reduced attacks and improved FEV1 in some trials [2]. RA: some positive data [1]. MODERATE

Insufficient

Crohn disease [1]. Cancer [1]. Cognitive function [1]. LOW
5 Safety, toxicity & adverse events

Relative

⚠ Pregnancy — possible uterine-stimulating activity
⚠ Concurrent NSAIDs — additive effects
⚠ Autoimmune disease — immunomodulatory
⚠ GERD — can worsen in some
6 Interactions

Drug interactions

NSAIDs Beneficial
Mechanism: Complementary: boswellia (5-LOX) + NSAID (COX). [1]
Effect: May allow NSAID dose reduction. [1]
Action: Positive interaction — discuss with physician [1].

Supplement synergies

Curcumin · 500 mg curcuminoids
Dual pathway: 5-LOX (boswellia) + NF-κB (curcumin) [1].
Omega-3 EPA · 1–2 g EPA
Triple anti-inflammatory [1].
7 Regulatory
India (AYUSH): Ayurvedic pharmacopoeia (Shallaki) [1].
United States: Dietary supplement [1].
Germany: Positive Commission E-like assessment [1].
Boswellia (Shallaki) vs Turmeric / CurcuminBoswellia (Shallaki) vs Omega-3
8 Cite this page
Vancouver: Pkhakadze G. Boswellia (Shallaki) — safety profile [Internet]. Tbilisi: PHIG; 2026 [cited 2026 Jul 17]. Available from: https://supplement.ge/ingredients/boswellia-shallaki/
APA 7th: Pkhakadze, G. (2026). Boswellia (Shallaki) — Safety profile. Public Health Institute of Georgia. https://supplement.ge/ingredients/boswellia-shallaki/
📋 Editorial information
Author: Prof. G. Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD
Affiliation: David Tvildiani Medical University (DTMU)
First published: January 2026
Last reviewed: 2026-05-29
Next review: January 2027
References: 2 cited sources
COI: SupplementIndex receives no funding from supplement manufacturers. All content independently authored by PHIG.
Process: Systematic literature review
📄 License & reuse
Published under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). You may share and adapt for any purpose with attribution.
Pkhakadze G. "Boswellia (Shallaki) — Safety Profile." SupplementIndex, PHIG, 2026. https://supplement.ge/ingredients/boswellia-shallaki/ CC BY 4.0.
GP
Prof. G. Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD
Professor of Public Health · Head of Department, DTMU
Editor-in-Chief, Georgian Medical Journal (ISSN 3088-4322)
Chair, Public Health Institute of Georgia · UEMS Public Health Section
Educational and public health purposes. CC BY 4.0. Consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement. Corrections: info@accreditation.ge. Publisher: PHIG