Family : Burseraceae

English : Indian olibanum tree

Hindi : Shalai, Kundur

Gujarati : Saledo, Dhupedo

Sanskrit : Shallaki, Kundruruska

Part used : Gum resin

Botanical Description: A medium sized deciduous tree with ash coloured papery bark peeling off in thin flakes, young shoots pubescent; leaves alternate, imparipinnate, crowded at the ends of the branches, leaflets opposite, pubescent, crennate-serrate, flowers small white in axillary racemes; fruits trigonous drupes three valved seeds compressed, fruiting & flowering from January to June.

It is found throughout the Central and Northern India on dry hills

Modern Pharmacological Action: The Boswellic acid from B. serrata showed significant anti inflammatory activity, they produce significant anti-diabetic activity on non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus in streptozocin induced diabetic rat model where reduction in blood-glucose level was comparable to that of phenformin. Essential oil from the bark of B.serrata was tested against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. The essential oil exhibited significant inhibitory activity against S.aureus, E.coli and Proteus mirabilis.