Commiphora wightii is a flowering plant in the family Burseraceae. The guggul plant may be found from northern Africa to central Asia, but is most common in northern India. It prefers arid and semi-arid climates and is tolerant of poor soil.
It is a
shrub or small
tree, reaching a maximum height of 4 m, with thin papery
bark. The branches are
thorny. The
leaves are simple or trifoliate, the leaflets ovate, 1–5 cm long, 0.5–2.5 cm broad, irregularly toothed. It is
gynodioecious, with some plants bearing bisexual and male
flowers, and others with female flowers. The individual flowers are red to pink, with four small petals.
Wikipedia
Guggul produces a resinous sap known as gum guggul. The extract of this gum, called guggulipid, guggulipid, or guggulipid, has been used in Ayurvedic medicine, a traditional Hindu medicine, for nearly 3,000 years in India.
[1] The active ingredient in the extract is the steroid
guggulsterone, which acts as an
antagonist of the
farnesoid X receptor, once believed to result in decreased
cholesterol synthesis in the
liver. However, several studies have been published that indicate no overall reduction in total cholesterol occurs using various dosages of guggulsterone, and levels of
low-density lipoprotein ("bad cholesterol") increased in many people.
Cultivation and other uses
Guggul can be purchased in a loosely packed form called
dhoop, an
incense from India, which is burned over hot coals. This produces a fragrant, dense smoke. The burning coals that let out the smoke are then carried around to different rooms and held in all corners for a few seconds. This is said to drive away evil spirits as well as remove the evil eye from the home and its family members.
Endangerment and rescue
Because of its medicinal properties, guggul has been overharvested in much of its habitat and has been listed on the
IUCN Red List of threatened species. Several efforts are in place to address this situation. India's National Medicinal Plants Board launched a project in
Kutch District to cultivate 500 to 800 hectares (1,200 to 2,000 acres) of guggal while a
grass-roots conservation movement, led by IUCN associate
Vineet Soni, has been started to educate guggal growers and harvesters in safe, sustainable harvesting methods.
Highly effective in the treatment of rheumatism, obesity, neurological and urinary disorders, tonsillitis, arthritis, and a few other diseases. The fumes from burning guggul are recommended in hay- fever, chronic bronchitis, and phytises. The gum resin is bitter, acrid, astringent, thermogenic, aromatic, expectorant, digestive, anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, anodyne, antiseptic, demulcent, carminative, emmenagogue, haematinic, diuretic, lithontriptic, rejuvenating and general tonic. Guggulipid is hypercholesteremia. [MEDICINAL PLANTS by P. P. Joy, J. Thomas, Samuel Mathew, Baby P. Skaria]
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