Common Name: Guggul
Scientific name: Commiphora mukkul
Synonyms: gugulipid, gum guggulu, Indian bedellium

Overview:

Gum guggulu is the yellowish resin exuded from the trunk of Commiphora mukkul. A small thorny bush, it is found throughout the arid regions of India, and Arabia. This resin is then refined into a more purified and better tolerated form, guggul.
Gum guggulu has been used in traditional Indian medicine (Ayurvedic) for over 2000 years. It is used to treat a variety of conditions. These conditions include arthritis, inflammation, bone fractures, obesity, disorders of lipid metabolism and what ancient texts call “coating and obstruction of channels” better known as atherosclerosis. The active constituents of this resin appear to be the steroidal compounds called guggulsterones, more specifically guggulsterone E and guggulsterone Z.

Benefits

The use of guggul as a treatment for hyperlipidemia (elevated lipid levels) has been approved in India since 1986. Guggul’s lipid lowering effects have been attributed to its ability to lower both total cholesterol and LDL (bad cholesterol) Continuing research into the benefits of these phytochemicals has produced promising results.

1. Three double blind studies conducted in India found that guggul reduced total cholesterol levels. In a 24 week study, 61 individuals received a healthy diet for 12 weeks, and then received guggul at 100mg per day or a placebo for an additional 12 weeks. At the end of the study, the group receiving the guggul had an 11.7% decrease in total cholesterol, a 12.7% decrease of LDL (bad cholesterol), a 11.1% decrease in triglycerides. This decrease in lipid levels was accompanied with by a decrease in the cholesterol/HDL (good cholesterol). These results were significantly better that those who received the placebo.
2. A double blind placebo study or 40 individuals confirmed these results.
3. A double blind study of 228 individuals in which they received guggul or clofibrate (a drug to lower blood lipid levels) showed that guggul was as good or better than the medication.
4. A small study has shown that guggul is as effective as tetracycline in treating nodulocystic acne.

Recommended Dosage:

The dosage for guggul supplements is dependant on the amount of guggulsterones present. A dose that delivers 100mg per day is recommended. It is in divided doses throughout the day.

Contra-indications

1. You should not take the crude form of guggul. It can cause nausea, diarrhea, loss of appetite and skin rashes.
2. People with Crohn’s disease or irritable bowel syndrome should use guggul with caution.
3. Women who are pregnant should not take this supplement. Guggul is thought to be a uterine stimulant. It safety has not been tested in nursing women, children and those with liver or kidney disease.
4. Side effects of guggul are usually mild. Gastrointestinal upset is the most common side effect reported.

Drug interactions

1. People taking beta-blockers, especially propranolol (Inderal, Inderide) for high blood pressure should not take this supplement as it affects the absorption of these drugs making them less effective.
2. People taking calcium channel blockers such as diliazem (Cardizem) to control high blood pressure should not take guggul as it interferes with the absorption of this type of medication making them less effective.
3. There has been on report of rhabdomyolsis (breakdown of muscle tissue) with guggul.
4. Guggul stimulates the production of the thyroid hormone; it may alter the amount of thyroid medication needed.

Web References

1. http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/publications.htm.
2. http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/nmdrugprofiles/herbaldrugs/101350.shtml
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guggul

Printed Reference Material

1. Agarwal RC, Singh SP, Saran RK, et al. Clinical trial of gugulipid—a new hyperlipidemic agent of plant origin in primary hyperlipidemia. Indian J Med Res. 1986;84:626–634.
2. Antonio J, Colker CM, Torina GC, et al. Effects of a standardized guggulsterone phosphate supplement on body composition in overweight adults: a pilot study. Curr Ther Res. 1999;60:220–227.
3. Bianchi A, Cantu P, Firenzuoli F, et al. Rhabdomyolysis caused by Commiphora mukul, a natural lipid-lowering agent. Ann Pharmacother. 2004;38:1222-5.
4. Mester L, Mester M, Nityanand S. Inhibition of platelet aggregation by guggulu steroids. Planta Medicine 1979;37:367-369.
5. Nityanand S, Kapoor NK. Hypocholesterolemic effect of Commiphora mukul resin. Indian J Experimental Biology 1971;9:367-377.
6. Nityanand S, Srivastava JS, Asthana OP. Clinical trials with gugulipid. A new hypolipidaemic agent. J Assoc Physicians India. 1989;37:323–328.
7. Satyavati GV. Gum guggul - The success of an ancient insight leading to a modern discovery. Indian J Med 1988;87:327-335.
8. Satyavati GV. Gum guggul (Commiphora mukul)—the success story of an ancient insight leading to a modern discovery. Indian J Med Res. 1988;87:327–335.
9. 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;8:659–664.
10. Subramaniam A, Stocker C, Sennitt MV, et al. Guggul lipid reduces insulin resistance and body weight gain in C57B1/6 lep/lep mice [abstract]. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2001;25(suppl 2):S24.
11. Szapary PO, Wolfe ML, Bloedon LT, et al. Guggulipid for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2003;290:765-72.
12. Thappa DM, Dogra J. Nodulocystic acne: oral gugulipid versus tetracycline. J Dermatol. 1994;21:729–731.
13. 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;87:356–360.
14. 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;87:356–360.