GUGUL (Commiphora mukul), Dr. Abhay Kumar Pati, Best Nutrition, Hayward, CA USA

July 10, 2010 - PRLog -- GUGUL
(Commiphora mukul)

ORIGIN
India

PART OF PLANT USED
Gum resin

DESCRIPTION
Gugul, particularly resin from the Commiphora mukul tree, is widely used in traditional Indian Ayurvedic medicine. After 2,500 years of successful use, this herb from north-central India is making its way into the arsenal of alternative practitioners. The high-quality standardized gugul extracts of today make it a viable alternative in the treatment of cholesterol abnormalities and obesity.
The active component of gugul is the sterols E- and Z-gugulsterone. These compounds have been studied for a variety of metabolic effects, but gugulsterones have been noted for their anti-inflammatory effect. Glucosamine sulfate is recognized in Europe as a chondroprotective agent, which is a substance that increases chondrocyte anabolic activity (International Journal of Tissue Reactions, vol. 14(5) pg. 231, 1992). Although people report excellent results in the long run from glucosamines, they exert no anti-inflammatory activity. Because of this, gugul is a viable complement to glucosamine sulfate for treating arthritis.
A study in Drugs of Today found 79 percent of 245 patients who had high cholesterol experienced a 27 percent drop in cholesterol and a 22 percent drop in triglycerides using Gugul. While many people need to reduce dietary intake of fats to control obesity, this can result in a lowering of HDL (“good” cholesterol) as well as LDL and Very Low Density Lipoproteins. Also, less lipid-soluble vitamins such as beta carotene, retinol (vitamin A), tocopherol (vitamin E), and vitamins D and K might be less well absorbed. The Indian Journal of Medicine reported results of a 16-week trial analyzing the effects of gugul on HDL. In summary, HDL levels increased by 35 percent!

TRADITIONAL AND OTHER THERAPEUTIC USES
•    lowers LDL cholesterol while raising HDL cholesterol
•    controls and reduce obesity
•    complements glucosamine sulfate and boswella in treating inflammation of arthritis

TOXICITY, CAUTIONS AND CONTRAINDICATIONS
In the north Indian state of Jammu, the Regional Research Laboratories investigated gugul for its effect on rheumatic diseases and found it to be free of any “adverse and undesirable side-effects.” The high-quality standardized gugul extracts of today make it a viable adjunct in the treatment of cholesterol abnormalities and obesity. Before making any changes, however, it is wise to confer with a physician.

# # #

Best Nutrition, Hayward, CA USA and biotechayur, Orissa, India, both are founded by Dr.Abhay Kumar Pati, a native of Odisha India. Dr.Pati is a physician of Ayurvedic medicine, author of several books on herbs & nutrition, an entrepreneur, as well as industrialist.