CalAKBA EN

Powdered extracts of Olibanum (Boswellia carteri Birdw.) 6% AKBA (60 g/kg) and 23% total Boswellic acids (230g/Kg).

Major botanical and scientific references currently identify two species of frankincense, Boswellia carteri and Boswellia sacra, as being synonymous. However, the chemical characterization of Somalian (B. carteri) and Omani/Yemeni (B. sacra) clearly demonstrates their diversity. For instance, the enantiomeric ratio (+)/(−) values of α-pinene for B. sacra and B. carteri are 8.24 and 0.68, respectively, confirming that B. sacra and B. carteri are not synonymous but rather two distinct and individual frankincense species (Woolley et al., 2012). Same conclusion were obtained by biochemical considerations (Paul et al., 2012) and by CGC-MS analysis of chiral terpenoids in lab-distilled B. carteri essential oils, which can be used as chemical fingerprints for the authentication of B. carteri and its discrimination from other Boswellia species (Ojha et al., 2022).

For this reason, Calliero evaluates the optical rotation of B. carteri from Somalia in order to produce a B. carteri extract that is not confused with the B. sacra gum resin.

As for B. serrata (see CalBAS), Calliero S.p.A. has developed an innovative extraction method to obtain the powder extract of B. carteri and has developed a pulverization technique that allows the standardization of the product with 6% AKBA (60 g/kg) and 23% total Boswellic acids (230g/Kg).

The innovative extraction and pulverization systems allow Calliero S.p.A. to produce standardized extracts of Boswellia carteri with high values of natural AKBA (11-acetyl-keto-beta-boswellic acid).

ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES

The identification of the bioactive compounds present in Boswellia carteri extracts is carried out using liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. In particular, AKBA and boswellic acids are analyzed by UHPLC-ESI-DAD combined with a mass detector. The identification is carried out in mass spectrometry as well as the quantification of the alpha and beta boswellic acids that produce distinct fragments. AKBA (whose only distinctive mass fragments are the molecular peak and the acetate fragment) and all other boswellic acids are also quantified through the DAD, on the basis of calibration curves using pure standards. The search for pesticides and toxins is carried out in house by UHPLC-ESI- and GC-Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry on each single lot.

EXTRACTION TECHNIQUES AND PRODUCTION CAPACITY

Boswellia carteri high quality oleogum-resins are imported directly from Somalia in batches of 20 tons in containers and are extracted with an extractor with a capacity of 1500 kg. The yield in extract is 800 kg/day. On an annual basis, the production capacity is several tons and is carried out entirely by Calliero S.p.A. in the Moretta (CN) Italy plant, without the use of intermediaries or the purchase of semi-finished products. The amount of oleogum-resins extracted allows a high standardization of the batches and a guarantee of production.

The powder extract has a standardized content of 6% AKBA (60 g/kg) and 23% total Boswellic acids (230g/Kg).

BOSWELLIA CARTERI STUDIES 

Calliero S.p.A. has chosen to develop innovative techniques for the extraction and production of Boswellia carteri extracts due to the considerable amount of scientific studies on this species and the wide application of B. carteri extracts in the most effective food and dietary supplements.

Boswellic acids are the main well-known active components of the resin of Boswellia carteri (Burseraceae) and these are still dealing with the ethnomedicinal use for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory diseases (Banno et al., 2006). Acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid (AKAB) from B. carteri acts directly on purified 5-lipoxygenase of human blood leukocytes at a selective site for pentacyclic triterpenes that is different from the arachidonate substrate binding site. The pentacyclic triterpene ring is crucial for binding to the enzyme, whereas functional groups (11-keto function in addition to a hydrophilic group on C4 of ring A) are essential for the 5-lipoxygenase activity (Safayhi et al., 1996). Inhibition activity against 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced inflammation in mice confirmed the anti-inflammatory activity of B. carteri (Banno et al., 2006). The extract of B. carteri also suppressed the proliferation of human primary T lymphocytes in vitro in a concentration-dependent manner, without inducing cytotoxicity (Zimmermann-Klemd et al., 2020). In a random, blinded study, the anti-arthritic effects of a B. carteri extract were observed and compared to vehicle control in a Lewis rat adjuvant arthritis model and showed that B. carteri has significant anti-arthritic and anti-inflammation effects and suggest that these effects may be mediated via the suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (Fan et al., 2005). B. carteri extracts also exhibited nitric oxide production inhibitory activity in lipopolysaccharide-activated mouse peritoneal macrophages (Yoshikawa et al., 2009) and cardioprotective activity evaluated by using a model of myocardial infarction induced by isoprenaline (Zaki et al., 2014). Chronic oral intake of B. carteri have neuroprotective effect and improve the learning and memory in AD rat’s models (Bawazir and Aljarari, 2018)

The bioactivity of Boswellia carteri extracts is directly proportional to the content of AKBA. For this reason, Calliero S.p.A. produces powdered extracts of B. carteri with a high standardized content of natural AKBA. The large-scale industrial process and innovative technologies make it possible to obtain products at highly competitive costs and free of unwanted compounds, thus ensuring a high level of purity and safety and an unbeatable quality to price ratio.

PACKAGING

All products are delivered in high quality aluminium containers especially designed for packaging, transport and storage of value products. The containers are made of 1050A grade Aluminium with inner coating and available in sizes from 2 Kg to 25 Kg for powders and from 50 gr to 25 Kg for liquids. These containers not only guarantee an optimal tightness, but also a high level of chemical, microbiological and particle cleanliness. 

Our delivery system is based on three main concepts:

Safety: Secured transport with a lever lock ring closure, nitrile (or silicone) gasket and an aluminum lid for powders and PP cap with tamper evident tear off ratchet ring and PE plug with tear off ring for liquids; high resistance and tightness even when exposed to high pressure differences; compatible with anti-tamper seals; no residue after use; excellent mechanical resistance against shocks, perforations and compressions caused during transport. Moreover, they are compliant to the European standard regulation for food contact.

User friendly: Easy to use and to empty with a 220 mm (8.66 in) wide open top for powders and from 22 mm to 46 mm (0.9 to 1.8 in) bottle neck for liquids; easily washable and sterilizable. The liquid containers allow precise drop, easy pouring and a standard closure. Bottles from 1 to 25 Kg are equipped with a rotating handle that helps to manipulate the bottles.

Environmentally friendly: 100% recyclable high scrap value aluminum monoblock.