Guggulipid: elixir from ancient India

Guggulipid derived from Guggul resin, is a highly valued botanical medicine in the Ayurvedic system of medicine. Gugulipid is one of the natural remedies known to Ayurveda for lowering blood cholesterol levels and triglycerides. A large body of evidence has established that this natural cholesterol lowering substance is safer and more effective than many cholesterol lowering drugs. Further, guggulipid has been traditionally used alone or combined with other herbs for the treatment of a variety of other ailments including rheumatism, arthritis, skin disease, pains in the nervous system, obesity and urinary disorders 

The classic Ayurvedic medicinal text (600 B.C.), the Sushruta samhita, describes in detail the usefulness of guggul resin/gum in the treatment of obesity and other disorders of fats, including “coating and obstruction of channels. Inspired by this ayurvedic text, an Indian scientist Dr. G.V Satyavati found a strong analogy between modern knowledge of atherosclerosis and the ancient concept of medoroga described by Sushruta. Dr. Satyavati’s studies on  guggulipid was first reported in 1996 in her doctoral thesis. A large body of evidence followed establishing the effectiveness of gugulipid in treating disorders of lipid metabolism-specifically its ability to lower cholesterol and triglycerides levels and promote weight loss. It was shown in human clinical trials using gugulipid, cholesterol levels typically dropped 14 to 27 percent in 4 to 12 week period while triglyceride levels dropped from 22 to 30 percent. Gugulipid is widely used in India as a lipid lowering medicine. 

 Guggulipid is derived from the mukul myrrh tree (Commiphora mukul) a small thorny tree native to Arabia and India. This Commiphora tree is common in northern India and is also infrequently found from northern Africa to central Asia. It prefers arid and semi-arid climates and can acclimate to poor soil. The mukul myrrh gives off a sticky resin, which is processed to obtain the extract. Several ketonic steroid compounds have been isolated from this resin. Two of the compounds, Z-guggulsterone and E-guggulsterone are primarily responsible for the lipid lowering activity. Guggulipid lowers very low -density (VLDL) cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol while simultaneously elevating high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol thus protecting the heart against heart disease. In addition to lowering lipid levels gugulipid prevents the development of atherosclerosis and aid in the regression of preexisting atherosclerotic plaques in animals. This implies that it may have similar effects in humans. Guggulipid prevent the heart from being damaged by free radical and improve the metabolism of the heart. The primary mechanism of cholesterol lowering action by gugulipid is the stimulation of liver metabolism of LDL cholesterol. Guggulsterone increases the uptake of LDL cholesterol from the blood by the liver. Another action of gugulipid is it ability to stimulate thyroid function. This thyroid stimulating effect may be responsible for some of gugulipid’s weight loss activity. Further, guggulsterone exhibits significant anti-inflammatory action in experimental model of inflammation. 

A standardized extract of gugulipid containing a minimum of 50 gm of guggulsterones per gram is regarded as the most beneficial in terms of safety and effectiveness. Clinical studies demonstrate that 25 milligrams of guggulsterone three times per day is an effective treatment for elevated cholesterol levels, elevated triglyceride levels or both. Regarding safety, in clinical studies gugulipid has not displayed any untoward side effects. It has been referenced that Guggulipid should not be taken by pregnant or nursing women. Guggulipid may have estrogen like effects and should not be taken by anyone with a history or family history of hormone related cancers, including prostrate, breast or ovarian cancer. In addition gugulipid may interact with anticoagulants, blood thinners, birth control pills and herbs that have estrogen like effects (such as black cohosh, licorice, soy and others).