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| Latin Names |
English Name |
Sanskrit Names |
Hindi Name |
Commiphora wightii
(Arn.) Bhandari / Commiphora
mukul (Hook. ex Stocks) Engl /
Balsamodendron mukul Hook. ex Stocks
(Burseraceae)
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Indian Bdellium |
Guggulu, Koushika,
Devadhupa,
Palankasha |
Guggul |
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| Habitat |
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Occurs in the arid rocky
tracts of Rajputana, Khandesh, Berar, Mysore, Sind and Baluchistan.
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| Morphology
Description (Habit) |
A small tree
or shrub with spinescent branches. The leaflets are 1-3 in number
and obovate. The ash-coloured bark comes off in rough flakes
exposing the underbark which also peels off in thin papery rolls.
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| Principal
Constituents |
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The commercial product contains about 4.65% foreign matter and
about 1.45% of an aromatic essential oil besides gum and resin1.
Guggul or the gum resin from the bark contains the octanordammarane
terpenes manusumbionic acid and manusumbinone2
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| Pharmacology |
The ethyl acetate
extract of Commiphora mukul was found to confer significant protection
to albino rats against the development of experimental atherosclerosis.
The drug not only prevented deteriorating changes in serum cholesterol,
triglycerides, and plasma fibrinogen level but also favorably increased
plasma fibrinolytic activity3. The oleoresin fraction of
guggulu possesses significant anti-arthritic and anti-inflammatory
activities, the minimum effective dose being 12.5mg./100 g. body weight4.
The crude aqueous extract of the oleo gum resin was found to suppress
acute rat-paw edema induced by carrageenin. It also had a suppressive
action against the granuloma pouch test. In adjuvant arthritis, the
extract suppressed the secondary lesions very effectively without
having any significant action on the primary phase. Side effects such
as gastric ulceration, loss of weight and mortality were negligible
in the animals treated with the extract as compared to those treated
with betamethasone5.
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| Clinical
Studies |
Clinical trial with
purified guggulu (Commiphora mukul) has been carried out in 35 patients
of rheumatoid arthritis in order to assess its antirheumatic activity,
dose requirement, resistance development, side effects, and effects
on hematology (ESR). From the results obtained it has been indicated
that guggulu acts as a digestive and analgesic agent without any toxic
or side effects6. Twenty patients of hyperlipidemia were
administered 4.5 g. of purified gum guggulu in two divided doses daily
for 16 weeks. Serum cholesterol and serum triglyceride levels decreased
at the end of the 4th and 8th weeks. HDL cholesterol showed a gradual
increase while VLDL and LDL cholesterol showed significant decrease
at all time points7.
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| Toxicology |
Some adverse side-effects
reported on taking guggul are mild diarrhea and nausea. It may possibly
raise bilirubin levels, cause hemolysis of blood, hepatitis, and obstruction
of the biliary tract. But these side effects need to be confirmed8.
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| Indications |
It is astringent, anti-inflammatory
and antiseptic. When taken internally it acts as a bitter, stomachic
and carminative, stimulating the appetite and improving digestion.
It causes an increase in leucocytes in the blood and stimulates phagocytosis.
It acts as a diaphoretic, expectorant and diuretic, and is said to
be a uterine stimulant and emmenagogue. The resin is used in the form
of a lotion for indolent ulcers and as a gargle in chronic tonsilitis,
pharyngitis and ulcerated throat.
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| Product
Range |
Abana (HeartCare),
Diabecon (GlucoCare), Diakof (CoughCare Sfree), Koflet (CoughCare),
Lukol, Pilex (VeinCare), Reosto, Rumalaya forte, Septilin (ImmunoCare),
Septilin syrup, AyurSlim, Shuddha Guggulu.
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| References |
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- Dutt et. al., Indian J. med. Res.,1942, 30,331.
- Duwiejua et. al., Planta Med, 1993, 59, 12; Bhatti et.
al., Curr Sci, 1989, 58, 349.
- Srivastava, V.K. et. al., Conference of Pharmacology
and Symposium on Herbal Drugs (New Delhi), 15 March, 1991, P15.
- Shanthakumari, G. et. al., Indian J. Physiol. Pharmacol.,
1964, 8, 36.
- Satyavati, G.V. et. al., Rheumatism, 1969, 4, 141.
- Vyas, S.N. and Shukla, C.P., Rheumatism, 1987, v., 23(1), 15-26.
- Verma, S.K. and Bordia, A., Indian J. Med. Res., 1988, v., 87,
356-360.
- Paranjape & Kulkarni, J Natn Integr Med Assoc, 1990, 32(1),
7; Rasheed et. al., Hamdard, 1993, 36(4), 36.
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