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.