Traditional Ayurvedic Herb

Guggul is a gum resin from the mukul tree (Commiphora mukul), a small, thorny bush similar to myrrh, which grows, naturally throughout India Arabia. Guggul has been used in Ayurvedic herbalism since at least 600 B.C. Guggul resin contains a number of constituents including the plant sterols, guggulsterones, which appear to work together to exert the beneficial effects of this botanical.

New Clinical Research

Numerous clinical studies in India support the use of Guggul for maintaining cholesterol levels in the normal range. Recent research at the Baylor School of Medicine in Houston, reported in the journal Science, found that Guggul may block a receptor in liver cells involved in cholesterol metabolism: the farnesoid X receptor (FXR).

To determine its mechanism of action, researchers studied the effects of Guggul extract on mice. In normal mice, Guggul extract prevented elevation of hepatic cholesterol, while in mice that lacked FXR Guggul had no effect, leading researchers to theorize that Guggul blocks FXR activity. FXR is known to play a key role in cholesterol metabolism, by mediating the rate of bile acid production by the liver. Cholesterol is eliminated from the body through bile release.

Guggul has also been found to support normal thyroid function by stimulating the release of thyroid hormone, according to animal studies.

According to several clinical studies, the amount of guggulsterones used to maintain normal cholesterol levels is 75 mg per day, when taken with a diet low in saturated fats.

Source: Planetary Formulas

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Scientific References

Singh, R.B. Aug 1994. Hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects of Commiphora mukul as an adjunct to dietary therapy in patients with hypercholesterolemia. Cardiovasc Drugs Ther. (4): 659-64.

Tripathi Y.B. et al. February 1984. Thyroid stimulating action of Z-guggulsterone obtained from Commiphora mukul. Planta Med. (1): 78-80.

Urizar, Nancy L. et al. February 2002. A natural product that lowers cholesterol as an antagonist ligand for FXR. Science. 296:5573, 1703-1706.