GUGGAL - Resins - Pharmacognosy and phytochemistry 2 (BP503TP)

 Synonym:

 Gum guggul, Scented bdellium.

Biological source:

 Guggul belongs to the the oleogum resin category and obtained from

Commiphora weightii, Commiphora mukul by making deep incision at the basal part of stem

bark.

Family:

Burseracae.

Geographical source:

It is small to medium size tree, native to African arid zones like

Ethopia, Somalia, Kenya, Zaire and Zimbabwe and cultivated in Rajasthan, Haryana and

Gujarat.

Cultivation and Collection:

The cultivation is mainly done by seeds and stem cuttings but seeds are more preferable.

It grows well in sandy loam soil with high amount of gypsum (pH 7 to 9). It is up to 2-4 meter

in height occurs as a woody tree and shows spines cut branches on pale yellow to brownish

stem.

Description:

Colour: Brown or pale yellow or dull green.

Odour: Aromatic, balsamic and Pleasant.

Taste: Bitter and Characteristic.

Size: 1 to 2.5 cm in diameter.

Shape: Circular, irregular masses or agglomerated tears.

Solubility: Forms white emulsion with water, partly soluble in alcohol.

Chemical Constituent:

Major constituents are Guggulsterone E and Z, resin, gum, volatile oil and minor

constituents are oleogum resin which is a complex mixture of various classes of chemical

compounds such as lignans, lipids, diterpene, steroids etc. 

Chemical test:

Add acetic anhydride to the ethyl acetate extract of guggul and boil it. After cooling add

2 ml of sulphuric acid which gives green colour at the junction of two liquid which confirms

the presence of sterols.

Uses:

Guggul used as anti inflammatory, hypolipidemic, antirheumatic and hypocholesteremic

drug. Guggul extract lowers total lipid, serum cholesterol and triglyceride level and reduces

the serum p- lipoprotein level and to alter the lipoprotein ratio significantly. The Oleogum

portion shows antiarthritic and anti-inflammatory activities. It also shows anti obesity,

Antiinflammatory, antiacne, platelet aggregration inhibition and immunomodulatory effect.

Crude gum, oleo gum resin, alcohol extract and petroleum ether extract have showed

some side effect like skin rashes and diarrhea. It enhances the menstrual discharge so it

should not be taken during pregnancy

Adulterant:

Commiphora species like C. abyssinica, C. roxburghii, C. molmol and Boswellia serrata.

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