Boswellic acids, the active compounds in Boswellia serrata (Indian frankincense), have anti-inflammatory properties and are traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine for various inflammatory conditions. Contemporary scientific research has begun to explore their effects on prostatitis, particularly chronic non-bacterial prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS).

Preclinical studies have shown that boswellic acids can inhibit pro-inflammatory cytokines (such as TNF-α and IL-1β) and leukotriene synthesis, which are implicated in the pathogenesis of prostatitis. A few small-scale animal studies have demonstrated that extracts of Boswellia can reduce inflammation in experimentally induced prostatitis models. Human data are limited; one open-label pilot study (Di Pierro et al., 2012) combining Boswellia with Serenoa repens found improvement in some symptoms of CP/CPPS, but this study had design limitations, including lack of blinding and small sample size.

No large randomized controlled trials have specifically tested isolated boswellic acids or Boswellia extracts for prostatitis. As such, while there is some scientific rationale and preliminary evidence supporting the use of Boswellic acid for prostatitis, the evidence base is weak and insufficient for definitive conclusions. The current use is supported more by mechanistic plausibility and limited clinical observations rather than robust clinical trial data.