Written by Chrystal Moulton, Staff Writer. In a cell study frankincense reduced the number of human bladder cancer cells.
Frankincense is a well-known and well documented aroma-therapeutic gum resin used thousands of years before the Christian era. Most people remember it as one of the gifts presented at the birth of Jesus Christ.
Recently, researchers have been interested in the effectiveness of this ancient compound against cancer. (1)
In this particular study (2), researchers investigated in vitro the effect of frankincense oil on cancer cells. Cell lines were established by harvesting from stage 3-invasive human bladder carcinoma (J82) and normal human urinary tract membrane (UROtsa). Frankincense oil containing 1,200mg/ml frankincense gum resin was used for this study. Different dilutions of frankincense (ranging from 1:600 to 1:4000) were added to the cultures and cell survivability was calculated. Also, any change to the cell itself was noted. In order to also determine exactly how frankincense affects change in cancer cells, researchers tested the effect on gene expression in cancer cells.
Results showed that both cell types responded to frankincense oil treatment in a dose dependant manner. J82 and UROtsa cells that were untreated increased by 1.62 ±0.31 and 2.72 ±0.85 fold (p<0.05), respectively after 24 hours. J82 cell survivability decreased with an increasing concentration of frankincense oil. At 1:1,100 dilution of frankincense oil, no viable J82 cells were left after 24 hours. When UROtsa cells were treated with 1:600 dilution of frankincense oil, cell survivability decreased to 1.29 ±0.77 compared to untreated cells (p<0.05). Researchers also noted that within 3 hours of exposure to frankincense oil, J82 cells began to detach from the culture medium and shrink. UROtsa cells did not show any physical changes with exposure to frankincense oil.
In determining the frankincense oil’s affect on genome expression, results showed that out of 24,526 genes, 122 in the J82 cells had fluorescent intensity value that was two times more than other genes. Among the 122 genes activated by frankincense oil, 3 of them displayed fluorescence within the first 30mins. The J82 gene products that were altered by frankincense oil, function as factors that regulate cell growth and cell death.
Through their research, it was shown that frankincense can combat cancer cell growth in vitro for invasive human bladder cells. More notably, researchers found the way in which it is able to combat cancer cell growth by discovering the genes activated by frankincense oil. More research will be needed to confirm these results.
Source: Frank et al. Frankincense oil derived from Boswellia carteri induces tumor cell specific cytotoxicity. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2009, 9:6 doi:10.1186/1472-6882-9-6.
© Frank et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2009
Click here to read the full text study.
Posted July 10, 2013.
References:
- Chemistry and biology of essential oils of genus boswellia. Hussain H, Al-Harrasi A, Al-Rawahi A, Hussain J. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013;2013:140509. doi: 10.1155/2013/140509. Epub 2013 Mar 6.
- Frankincense oil derived from Boswellia carteri induces tumor cell specific cytotoxicity. Frank MB, Yang Q, Osban J, et al. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2009 Mar 18;9:6. doi: 10.1186/1472-6882-9-6.
