Gugulipids: Discover how the gum of the Indian mukal tree is causing such a stir among scientists

A small, thorny tree that grows throughout India seems an unlikely contender as a remedy in the fight against heart disease. Yet, the mukul tree (Commiphora mukul) is fast gaining a reputation for this very purpose in the scientific community, following a series of studies that have revealed its effectiveness in this area.

The gum of the mukul tree is used to produce standardized extracts called gugulipids, and it is these extracts that researchers have discovered are responsible for its heart-protective benefits. This is something Ayurvedic (ancient Indian) medical practitioners have known about for centuries, as they have long prized gugulipids for their ability to promote arterial health and prevent blockages.

In addition, scientists are discovering that these extracts have additional therapeutic benefits for a wide range of conditions including arthritis, high cholesterol, acne and obesity.

Gugulipids help reduce high cholesterol levels and protect against heart disease

Scientists have discovered that gugulipids are able to lower high levels of LDL the bad form of cholesterol. This action is extremely important as high levels can cause atherosclerosis (thickening of the arteries), which can eventually lead to a complete blockage and cause a heart attack or stroke.

One way that gugulipids help lower cholesterol is by stimulating your liver to remove LDL cholesterol from your bloodstream. They are also able to boost the production of certain hormones such as thyroid hormone which also help your body eliminate LDL cholesterol. By boosting the thyroid hormone there is another positive effect, as it speeds up metabolism and helps you lose weight (being overweight is another risk factor that contributes to high cholesterol levels).

Following a scientific review of all the existing evidence on gugulipids, US scientists from the Natural Standard Research Collaboration, Massachusetts General Hospital, reported that they have strong benefits with respect to lowering cholesterol, although more research is needed to study their long-term effects in this area as the current studies have only lasted four months at most (Ulbricht C, Basch E, Szapary P, et al. Complement Ther Med. 2005 Dec;13(4):279-90).

In addition, gugulipids have been found to work better when used alongside certain other cholesterol-lowering remedies, such as the mineral chromium (100 micrograms a day), garlic (1-2 raw gloves, or 10mg of the extract twice a day) and borage (3g a day). Obviously, for best results regular exercise and a healthy balanced diet should also be incorporated into this heart-healthy regime.

Main active ingredient has potent anti-inflammatory properties and can aid weight loss

One of the main active ingredients in gugulipids is called guggulsterone. US scientists working at the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Kansas, have discovered that guggulsterone strengthens certain genes in your body which fight inflammation. This may explain why the remedy appears to be so effective against arthritis and other inflammatory conditions like atherosclerosis. They also discovered that guggulsterone is able to boost metabolism and so aid weight loss (Ding X, Staudinger JL. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2005 Jul;314(1):120-7).

In terms of its benefits for promoting weight loss, recent research conducted by Italian scientists from the University of Perugia, has found that guggulsterone can block the different biochemical reactions which encourage fat cells to grow. As a result, all existing baby fat cells become unable to develop into full blown fat-bearing cells and so the risk of weight gain is reduced (Rizzo G, Disante M, et al. Mol Pharmacol. 2006 Jun 15; Epub ahead of print).

Other scientists from the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Kansas in the US have revealed that guggulsterone has the ability to stimulate the production and optimal functioning of several hormones in the body. The scientists found that guggulsterone activates specific chemicals found on the outside shell of your cells (called pregnane x receptors), and these, in turn, help the cell produce the appropriate hormone.

For example, they encourage the action of oestrogen and progesterone which are essential in preventing and treating the symptoms of the menopause, such as hot flushes (Brobst DE, Ding X, Creech KL, et al. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2004 Aug;310(2):528-35).

Researchers are uncovering new therapeutic ingredients in gugulipids all the time

Other active ingredients present in gugulipids include myrrhanol B, myrrhanones B and A and epimansumbinol (Morikawa T, Ando S, et al. Bioorg Med Chem. 2004 June 1;12(11):3037-46). These natural plant chemicals have been found to boost the production of natural steroids in the body, which have anti-inflammatory properties, and are also able to lower the production of specific inflammation-causing chemicals such as nitric oxide synthetase.

Indian researchers from the Phytochemistry Research Laboratory, Hamdard University in New Delhi, have recently discovered several other chemical ingredients in gugulipids such as myrracadinol A, B and C, and myrracalamene A and B which were not known about until now (Ahmed F, Ali M, Singh O. Pharmazie. 2006 Aug;61(8):728-31).

At this stage the scientists are not even sure what the exact role of these chemicals are, but research is continuing at breakneck speed and NHR promises to keep you fully updated as soon as the findings become available.

What to take for best results

The recommended dosage for gugulipids is 100-500mg (to provide around 30mg of guggulsterone) taken once a day. Gugulipids can cause headaches and mild nausea in sensitive individuals but such cases are rare. If you do experience these side effects then simply lower the dosage until they disappear. In addition, it is important that you dont exceed the recommended dosage, as very high doses (in excess of 750mg) can cause liver abnormalities.

Contraindications: You should speak to your doctor before taking gugulipids if you are currently being treated for a thyroid condition. Since it stimulates the production of thyroid hormone, it may alter the dosage requirements for thyroid replacement medication. It can also reduce the availability and effectiveness of the heart medications propranolol (Inderal) and diltiazem (Cardizem).