This research is considered preliminary within mainstream medical authority and FDA guidelines. A leading researcher on the frankincense project, Dr. Mahmoud Suhail, says that there are 17 active ingredients in frankincense, but many scientists think Boswellic acid is the main cancer cell eliminator.
Dr. Suhail disagrees, so he's experimenting with the ingredients to determine which one or ones should be isolated. This would benefit Big Pharma, enabling them to create a profitable patented cancer drug based on frankincense after years of testing.
What about simply using the essential oil from high quality frankincense, such as Boswellia Sacra?
The research cover story is that they want to make sure they have the right ingredient or ingredients and to eliminate unnamed allergenic agents that are not actively involved with killing cancer cells. In Oman, however, where many use abundantly grown frankincense, there are no cancer patients in either of the two hospitals. (YES, YOU READ THAT RIGHT!!!) Also, there are no serious allergic reactions among them. Conversely, there are many adverse side effects from pharmaceuticals and chemotherapy.
So the cover story is bogus. Harmful side effects haven't slowed Big Pharma's pursuit of big bucks in the least. Profitable FDA approved patented medications require laboratory synthesis. Natural solutions can't be patented.
At least one informal human trial has been reported using only natural frankincense essential oil. A person with bladder cancer had considerable improvement within two weeks of using frankincense essential oil. Frankincense essential oils are also currently being used in some European hospitals to bolster immunity and elevate moods.