Common names: Gugulipid, Gum guggulu
Botanical name: Commiphora mukul
© Martin Wall
Parts used and where grown
The mukul myrrh (Commiphora mukul) tree is a small, thorny plant distributed
throughout India. Guggul and gum guggulu are the names given to a yellowish resin produced by
the stem of the plant. This resin has been used historically and is also the source of modern
extracts of guggul.
Guggul has been used in
connection with the following conditions (refer to the individual
health concern for complete information):
Historical or traditional use (may
or may not be supported by scientific studies)
The classical treatise on Ayurvedic
medicine, Sushrita Samhita, describes the use of guggul for a wide variety of
conditions, including rheumatism and obesity.
One of its primary indications was a condition known as medoroga. This ancient
diagnosis is similar to the modern description of
atherosclerosis. Standardized guggul extracts are approved in India for lowering elevated
serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Active constituents
Guggul contains resin, volatile oils, and gum. The extract isolates ketonic steroid
compounds known as guggulsterones. These compounds have been shown to provide the cholesterol-
and triglyceride-lowering actions noted for guggul.1 Guggul significantly lowers
serum triglycerides and cholesterol as well as LDL and VLDL cholesterols (the
“bad” cholesterols).2 At the same time, it raises levels of HDL
cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol). As antioxidants, guggulsterones keep LDL cholesterol from
oxidizing, an action which protects against
atherosclerosis.3 Guggul has also been shown to reduce the stickiness of
platelets—another effect that lowers the risk of coronary artery disease.4
One double-blind trial found guggul extract similar to the drug clofibrate for lowering cholesterol
levels.5 Other clinical trials in India (using 1,500 mg of extract per day) have
confirmed guggul extracts improve lipid levels in humans.6
A combination of guggul, phosphate salts, hydroxycitrate, and tyrosine coupled with exercise has been shown in a
double-blind trial to improve mood with a slight tendency to improve weight loss in overweight
adults.7
One small clinical trial found that guggul (Commiphora mukul) compared favorably
to tetracycline in the treatment of cystic
acne.8 The amount of guggul extract taken in the trial was 500 mg twice per
day.
How much is usually taken?
Daily recommendations for the purified guggul extract are typically based on the amount of
guggulsterones in the extract.9 A common intake of guggulsterones is 25 mg three
times per day. Most extracts contain 2.5–5% guggulsterones and can be taken daily for 12
to 24 weeks for lowering high cholesterol
and/or triglycerides.
Are there any side effects or interactions?
Early studies with the crude oleoresin reported numerous side effects, including diarrhea,
anorexia, abdominal pain, and skin rash. Modern extracts are more purified, and fewer side
effects (e.g., mild abdominal discomfort) have been reported with long-term use. Rash was
reported, however, as a fairly common side effect in one recent study.10 Guggul
should be used with caution by people with liver disease and in cases of inflammatory bowel disease and diarrhea. A physician should be consulted before
treating elevated cholesterol and triglycerides.
At the time of writing, there were no well-known drug interactions
with guggul.
References:1. Satyavati GV. Gum guggul (Commiphora mukul)—The success
of an ancient insight leading to a modern discovery. Indian J Med
1988;87:327–35.
2. Nityanand S, Kapoor NK. Hypocholesterolemic effect of Commiphora
mukul resin (Guggal). Indian J Exp Biol 1971;9:367–77.
3. Singh K, Chander R, Kapoor NK. Guggulsterone, a potent hypolipidaemic,
prevents oxidation of low density lipoprotein. Phytother Res 1997;11:291–4.
4. Mester L, Mester M, Nityanand S. Inhibition of platelet aggregation by
guggulu steroids. Planta Med 1979;37:367–9.
5. Malhotra SC, Ahuja MMS, Sundarum KR. Long-term clinical studies on the
hypolipidemic effect of Commiphora mukul (guggul) and clofibrate. Ind J Med
Res 1977;65:390–5.
6. Nityanand S, Srivastava JS, Asthana OP. Clinical trials with
gugulipid—a new hypolipidemic agent. J Assoc Phys India
1989;37:323–8.
7. 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;60:220–7.
8. Thappa DM, Dogra J. Nodulocystic acne: oral gugulipid versus
tetracycline. J Dermatol 1994;21:729–31.
9. Brown D, Austin S. Hyperlipidemia and Prevention of Coronary
Artery Disease. Seattle, WA: NPRC, 1997, 4–6.
10. Szapary PO, Wolfe ML, Bloedon LT, et al. Guggulipid for the treatment
of hypercholesterolemia: an randomized controlled trial. JAMA
2003;290:765–72.