Ten days of supplementation with a standardized Boswellia serrata extract attenuates soreness and accelerates recovery after repeated bouts of downhill running in recreationally active men

Extracts derived from Indian frankincense (Boswellia serrata) effectively reduce the pain and swelling associated with osteoarthritis. It is unknown whether the anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of B. serrata extend to muscle and joint pain resulting from high-impact eccentric exercise. Thi...

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Main Authors: Dawna Salter, Himana Yalamanchi, Aiswarya Yalamanchi, Amulya Yalamanchi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Sports and Active Living
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2025.1488821/full
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author Dawna Salter
Himana Yalamanchi
Aiswarya Yalamanchi
Amulya Yalamanchi
author_facet Dawna Salter
Himana Yalamanchi
Aiswarya Yalamanchi
Amulya Yalamanchi
author_sort Dawna Salter
collection DOAJ
description Extracts derived from Indian frankincense (Boswellia serrata) effectively reduce the pain and swelling associated with osteoarthritis. It is unknown whether the anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of B. serrata extend to muscle and joint pain resulting from high-impact eccentric exercise. This pilot study evaluated the efficacy of a standardized B. serrata extract LI51202F1 (SBS) to decrease soreness and improve recovery after repeated bouts of downhill running (DHR) compared to placebo (PLA). In total, 50 men (mean age 28 ± 4) were randomly allocated to consume 60 mg SBS or PLA once per day for 10 days (6 days before, the day of, and 3 days after DHR). On day 7, delayed soreness was induced by three 15-min DHR episodes on a 10% declined treadmill. Visual analog scale (VAS) scores of joint and muscle soreness, in addition to the maximal weight lifted for a one-repetition leg extension (1RM-LE) were assessed at baseline (pre-supplementation) and on days 8, 9, and 10. Blood and urine samples collected at baseline, before, and after DHR were analyzed for inflammation-related biomarkers. VAS scores significantly increased while muscle strength decreased from baseline measures after DHR regardless of group assignment (main effect of time p < 0.001). However, the subjects who received the supplement reported reduced muscle soreness on days 8, 9, and 10 compared to those who received the PLA. On day 9, peak soreness scores were lower in the SBS group than in the PLA group (p = 0.001). On day 10, the SBS group’s VAS scores were 8.0 ± 1.6 mm lower than the PLA group (p < 0.001). Supplementation improved recovery time as the 1RM-LE returned to baseline strength by day 10, with the subjects who received the supplement lifting 3.4 ± 1.2 kg more than the PLA group (p = 0.006). The SBS-supplemented subjects reported less knee joint pain after DHR than the PLA group (p < 0.05 on days 8, 9, and 10). C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 increased after DHR, but by day 10, SBS reduced these markers compared to the PLA (p < 0.05). This study suggests that SBS, a novel, standardized extract derived from the gum resin of B. serrata, improves recovery and reduces soreness following high-impact eccentric exercise.Clinical Trial Registrationhttps://ctri.nic.in/Clinicaltrials/pubview2.php, Clinical Trial Registry of India (CTRI/2019/07/020323).
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spelling doaj-art-5d7a2c8903b34f0aa572128f6c1377472025-01-23T06:56:14ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sports and Active Living2624-93672025-01-01710.3389/fspor.2025.14888211488821Ten days of supplementation with a standardized Boswellia serrata extract attenuates soreness and accelerates recovery after repeated bouts of downhill running in recreationally active menDawna Salter0Himana Yalamanchi1Aiswarya Yalamanchi2Amulya Yalamanchi3Clinical Research and Innovation Division, PLT Health Solutions, Morristown, NJ, United StatesDepartment of General Medicine, Yalamanchi Hospital and Research Centre, Vijayawada, IndiaDepartment of General Medicine, Yalamanchi Hospital and Research Centre, Vijayawada, IndiaDepartment of General Medicine, Yalamanchi Hospital and Research Centre, Vijayawada, IndiaExtracts derived from Indian frankincense (Boswellia serrata) effectively reduce the pain and swelling associated with osteoarthritis. It is unknown whether the anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of B. serrata extend to muscle and joint pain resulting from high-impact eccentric exercise. This pilot study evaluated the efficacy of a standardized B. serrata extract LI51202F1 (SBS) to decrease soreness and improve recovery after repeated bouts of downhill running (DHR) compared to placebo (PLA). In total, 50 men (mean age 28 ± 4) were randomly allocated to consume 60 mg SBS or PLA once per day for 10 days (6 days before, the day of, and 3 days after DHR). On day 7, delayed soreness was induced by three 15-min DHR episodes on a 10% declined treadmill. Visual analog scale (VAS) scores of joint and muscle soreness, in addition to the maximal weight lifted for a one-repetition leg extension (1RM-LE) were assessed at baseline (pre-supplementation) and on days 8, 9, and 10. Blood and urine samples collected at baseline, before, and after DHR were analyzed for inflammation-related biomarkers. VAS scores significantly increased while muscle strength decreased from baseline measures after DHR regardless of group assignment (main effect of time p < 0.001). However, the subjects who received the supplement reported reduced muscle soreness on days 8, 9, and 10 compared to those who received the PLA. On day 9, peak soreness scores were lower in the SBS group than in the PLA group (p = 0.001). On day 10, the SBS group’s VAS scores were 8.0 ± 1.6 mm lower than the PLA group (p < 0.001). Supplementation improved recovery time as the 1RM-LE returned to baseline strength by day 10, with the subjects who received the supplement lifting 3.4 ± 1.2 kg more than the PLA group (p = 0.006). The SBS-supplemented subjects reported less knee joint pain after DHR than the PLA group (p < 0.05 on days 8, 9, and 10). C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 increased after DHR, but by day 10, SBS reduced these markers compared to the PLA (p < 0.05). This study suggests that SBS, a novel, standardized extract derived from the gum resin of B. serrata, improves recovery and reduces soreness following high-impact eccentric exercise.Clinical Trial Registrationhttps://ctri.nic.in/Clinicaltrials/pubview2.php, Clinical Trial Registry of India (CTRI/2019/07/020323).https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2025.1488821/fullDOMSexercise-induced muscle damagemyalgiainflammationrecoverydietary supplement
spellingShingle Dawna Salter
Himana Yalamanchi
Aiswarya Yalamanchi
Amulya Yalamanchi
Ten days of supplementation with a standardized Boswellia serrata extract attenuates soreness and accelerates recovery after repeated bouts of downhill running in recreationally active men
Frontiers in Sports and Active Living
DOMS
exercise-induced muscle damage
myalgia
inflammation
recovery
dietary supplement
title Ten days of supplementation with a standardized Boswellia serrata extract attenuates soreness and accelerates recovery after repeated bouts of downhill running in recreationally active men
title_full Ten days of supplementation with a standardized Boswellia serrata extract attenuates soreness and accelerates recovery after repeated bouts of downhill running in recreationally active men
title_fullStr Ten days of supplementation with a standardized Boswellia serrata extract attenuates soreness and accelerates recovery after repeated bouts of downhill running in recreationally active men
title_full_unstemmed Ten days of supplementation with a standardized Boswellia serrata extract attenuates soreness and accelerates recovery after repeated bouts of downhill running in recreationally active men
title_short Ten days of supplementation with a standardized Boswellia serrata extract attenuates soreness and accelerates recovery after repeated bouts of downhill running in recreationally active men
title_sort ten days of supplementation with a standardized boswellia serrata extract attenuates soreness and accelerates recovery after repeated bouts of downhill running in recreationally active men
topic DOMS
exercise-induced muscle damage
myalgia
inflammation
recovery
dietary supplement
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2025.1488821/full
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