Guggul is the resin collected from the Commiphora Mukul tree. Also known as the myrrh tree, Commiphora mukul, is a small thorny plant native to India. The yellowish brown resin has been used historically for medicinal reasons and serves as the source of guggul. Traditionally this substance has been connected to high triglyceride levels, acne vulgaris, atherosclerosis, high cholesterol, osteoarthritis and obesity. In recent years there have been several studies that evaluated the true benefits of guggul with promising results. Guggul's constituents include resin, volatile oils, and gum. It's active and most influential compound would be ketonic steroid compounds known as guggulsterones. These compounds have shown to have triglyceride and cholesterol lowering capabilities and even some anti-cancer effects. Guggul has also shown to promote blood and heart health through a number of other mechanisms as well.

The activities of guggulsterones are quite striking. Historically guggul was not associated with cancer however, one recent study demonstrated that they it in fact contains some anti-leukemic effects. The results of the study showed that guggulsterones and its isomers inhibited leukemic cell proliferation and induced apoptosis (Samudio, 2005). Guggulsterones have also proved to inhibit cholesterol synthesis by inhibiting the farsenoid X receptor and the bile-acid receptor in the liver (Singh, 1994). Several studies done in India have actually shown quite significant benefits of guggul extract supplementation. It has shown to decrease total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL levels (bad cholesterol) while increasing HDL (good cholesterol) levels (Agarwal, 1986) (Gopal, 1986) (Malhorta, 1977) (Verma 1988) (Nityanand, 1989) (Kappurajan, 1978). Lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels helps to inhibit atherosclerosis and promotes overall heart health. A daily dose of guggul is truly beneficial to the health conscious consumer.

References

Agarwal RC, Singh SP, Saran SK et al. Clinical trial of gugulipid-a new hypolipidemic agent of plant origin in primary hyperlipidemia. Indian J Med Res. 1986; 84:626-32.

Gopal K, Saran RK, Nityanand S et al. Clinical trial of ethyl acetate extract of gum gugulu (gugulipid) in primary hyperlipidemia. J Assoc Physicians India. 1986; 34:249-51.

Malhotra SC, Ahuja MMS, Sundaram KR. Long term clinical studies on the hypolipidaemic effect of Commiphora mukul (guggulu) and clofibrate. Indian J Med Res. 1977; 65:390-5.

Nityanand S, Srivastava JS, Asthana OP. Clinical trials with gugulipid, a new hypolipidaemic agent. J Assoc Physicians India. 1989; 37:323-8.

Verma SK, Bordia A. Effect of Commiphora mukul (gum guggulu) in patients of hyperlipidemia with special reference to HDL-cholesterol. Indian J Med Res. 1988; 87:356-60.

Kuppurajan K, Rajagopalan SS, Koteswara Rao T et al. Effect of guggulu (Commiphora mukul-Engl.) on serum lipids in obese, hypercholesterolemic and hyperlipemic cases. J Assoc Physicians India. 1978; 26:367-73.

Samudio K, Konopleva M, Safe S, McQueen T, Andreef M. Guggilsterones induce apoptosis and differentiation in acute myeloid leukemia: identification of isomer-specific antileukemic activities of the pregnadienedione structure. Mol Cancre Ther. 2005 4(12):1982-1992.

Singh RB, Niaz MA, Ghosh S. Hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects of Commiphora mukul as an adjunct to dietary therapy in patients with hypercholesterolemia. Cardiovasc Drugs Ther. 1994; 8:659-64.

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