Ingredient profile
Boswellia serrata extract in SynoCell
SynoCell lists 200 mg of Boswellia serrata extract standardized to 65% boswellic acids. Small knee trials of other extracts, 5-Loxin and Aflapin, found less pain over about 90 days, and a 7-trial meta-analysis was positive. It is generally well tolerated; people on blood thinners should ask a doctor first.
Written by the SynoCell editorial teamUpdated
What is Boswellia serrata?
Boswellia serrata is a tree whose gum resin is known as Indian frankincense. Supplements use an extract of that resin.
The resin contains boswellic acids. One of them, acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid, or AKBA, is the compound most branded extracts are built around (Sengupta et al., 2008). SynoCell's label lists Boswellia extract (Boswellia serrata) gum resin, standardized to 65% boswellic acid, 200 mg per serving.
How much Boswellia is in SynoCell?
Each 2-capsule serving lists 200 mg. That falls inside the 100-250 mg range used in trials, but the trials tested different extracts, so the dose match is only rough.
| Label name | Boswellia extract (Boswellia serrata) gum resin, std. to 65% boswellic acid |
|---|---|
| What it is | Boswellia serrata (Indian frankincense) |
| Form | Tree resin extract |
| Amount per 2 capsules | 200 mg |
| Amount used in research | 100-250 mg a day of different extracts (5-Loxin, Aflapin) |
| Strength of evidence | Small trials, positive |
| Why it is in the formula | Studied for knee osteoarthritis pain and stiffness |
| Main caution | Usually well tolerated; ask a doctor first if you take blood thinners. |
Does Boswellia work for knee pain?
Small trials say it may help a little. The best-known study gave 75 people with knee osteoarthritis 5-Loxin at 100 mg or 250 mg a day, or placebo, for 90 days. Pain scores fell about 40% and 52% on the two doses (Sengupta et al., 2008).
That trial was small, run at one center and linked to the extract's maker. A Cochrane review rated the evidence for 5-Loxin and Aflapin, each at 100 mg, as moderate quality, with pain about 16 to 17 points lower on a 0-100 scale (Cameron and Chrubasik, 2014).
A 2020 meta-analysis pooled 7 trials with 545 patients. Boswellia improved pain, stiffness and function versus placebo or usual care. The authors suggest at least 4 weeks of use, and they note the trials were small and used different extracts (Yu et al., 2020).
Is SynoCell's Boswellia the same as 5-Loxin or Aflapin?
No. SynoCell uses a general extract standardized to 65% total boswellic acids. 5-Loxin is standardized to 30% AKBA, one specific boswellic acid. Aflapin is a related branded extract. Different recipes can behave differently in the body.
| Extract | Standardized to | Daily amount | Human knee trials |
|---|---|---|---|
| SynoCell | 65% boswellic acids | 200 mg | None of this extract or of SynoCell (SynoCell, product page) |
| 5-Loxin | 30% AKBA | 100 or 250 mg | 75 people, 90 days, positive (Sengupta et al., 2008) |
| Aflapin | Enriched branded extract | 100 mg | Positive, moderate-quality evidence (Cameron and Chrubasik, 2014) |
A high total boswellic acid figure does not tell you the AKBA content. The brand does not publish it, so the closest honest statement is that SynoCell's Boswellia is related to the studied extracts but not the same.
How does the dose compare with the other ingredients?
Boswellia's bar looks full, but read it with care. It is drawn against the 100 mg trial dose of a different extract.
How much difference might Boswellia make?
Probably a modest one, if any. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health says Boswellia may give slight improvements in pain and function that patients might not find meaningful (NCCIH, Osteoarthritis In Depth).
- Give it at least 4 weeks before judging (Yu et al., 2020).
- Track stairs, walks and rising from a chair, not just pain.
- Keep exercising: it carries a strong guideline recommendation (ACR, 2026 OA guideline summary).
For a realistic week-by-week picture, read the SynoCell results timeline.
Try SynoCell with a 90-day window2 capsules a day · from $39 a bottle · free standard U.S. shipping
Order nowDoes Boswellia reduce joint inflammation, as the seller says?
That has not been shown in people. The brand store says SynoCell reduces inflammation and stops the cytokine storm. Those are the seller's words. The human Boswellia trials measured pain, stiffness and function scores, not a cytokine storm (Yu et al., 2020).
Better scores on a questionnaire are worth something, but they are a different finding from calmer joint tissue. The FTC expects health claims to rest on human trials at a comparable dose and form (FTC, Health Products Compliance Guidance), and no such trial exists for SynoCell.
Is Boswellia safe to take every day?
For most adults it appears to be. Memorial Sloan Kettering describes it as generally well tolerated, with case reports of allergic skin reactions and mild constipation (MSKCC, Boswellia). In the 5-Loxin trial, diarrhea, nausea and stomach pain showed up about as often on placebo as on the extract (Sengupta et al., 2008).
Boswellia may increase bleeding risk, although how much is not established. If you take warfarin or another blood thinner, talk to your doctor before starting SynoCell (MSKCC, Boswellia).
Safety data for herbal osteoarthritis products are limited overall (NCCIH, Osteoarthritis In Depth). See side effects for every ingredient together.
How long would a fair trial of Boswellia take?
About 1 to 3 months. Trials ran around 90 days, and the meta-analysis suggests at least 4 weeks. One SynoCell bottle lasts 30 days, so a 3-bottle supply covers the length of the main trials.
See the current prices for each pack.
Which other ingredients are in SynoCell?
Boswellia works alongside four other ingredients. Pick one below, or return to the full ingredient list.
FAQ
Questions about Boswellia
Is Boswellia safe to take every day?
For most adults, yes, based on current data. It is generally well tolerated, with reports of mild stomach upset, constipation and occasional skin rashes. Trials ran about 90 days. If you take blood thinners, ask your doctor first, because Boswellia may add to bleeding risk.
Does Boswellia work for knee osteoarthritis?
Small trials suggest a modest benefit. A 7-trial meta-analysis with 545 patients found less pain and stiffness and better function. One 90-day trial saw pain scores fall about 40% and 52%, but it was small and linked to the maker. Trials used different extracts from SynoCell's.
What is AKBA in Boswellia?
AKBA is acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid, one of the boswellic acids in the resin. Branded extracts like 5-Loxin are standardized to 30% AKBA. SynoCell's extract is standardized to 65% total boswellic acids and does not publish its AKBA content, so the two cannot be compared directly.
How long does Boswellia take to work?
Give it at least 4 weeks, the minimum suggested by a meta-analysis of Boswellia trials. The main knee trials ran about 90 days. If you notice no change in daily tasks after a couple of months, the ingredient may not be helping you.
Can I take Boswellia with warfarin?
Only after talking to your doctor. Boswellia may increase bleeding risk, though how much is not established. SynoCell also contains quercetin, which was linked to a raised INR in a man on warfarin, so the combination deserves a careful check.
Is 200 mg of Boswellia enough?
It is within the range studied, 100 to 250 mg a day, but those trials used different extracts. SynoCell's 200 mg of a 65% boswellic acid extract is a reasonable amount, yet nobody has tested it directly, so its effect may differ from the trial results.
Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by
Plain-language pages built from the label, the brand store and linked medical sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by an authorized U.S. retailer, not by the manufacturer. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
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