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It's not just a great gift for baby Jesus, U.K. researchers have discovered frankincense can be used to treat ovarian cancer.

Researchers at the University of Leicester have discovered the compound AKBA, which is found in the plant resin frankincense, can kill cancer cells in late-stage ovarian cancer.

"This finding has enormous potential to be taken to a clinical trial in the future and developed into an additional treatment for ovarian cancer," lead researcher and PhD candidate Kamla Al-Salmani said in a press release.

The study notes frankincense has been used in folk medicine because it has anti-inflammatory properties, and has been used to treat asthma, skin conditions and gastroenteritis.

Al-Salmani's supervisor, Mark Evans, said the most surprising thing about the research was cells that were resistant to chemotherapy were sensitive to the compound AKBA, which suggests frankincense may be able to help overcome drug resistance.