A Insight on Guggulu

Guggulu is an exudate used in INDIAN MEDICINE for many medical purposes from time immemorial.
In Vedic period - used for Dhupana.
In Samhita period - used internally and externally.
 

There are five different varieties of Guggulu described in the texts:

1.     Mahishaksha
2.     Mahaneel  
3.     Kumuda
4.     Padma
5.     Hiranya /Kanaka  

 Mahishaka And Kanaka Guggulu are usually preferred for medicinal preparations
 
Mahiksha Guggulu is DARK GREENISH BROWN in colour and Kanaka Guggulu is YELLOWISH BROWN in colour.
 
Guggulu are of two types based on the duration of storage
 
 Nava Guggulu (Fresh Guggulu) is Bruhmana – nutritious, improves body strength & Vrushya.
when it becomes more than 1year it is called Purana Guggulu. This is known for its use in Lekhana karma
 

 GUNA/PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

 
Rasa : TIKTA KATU
Guna:

    Old - LAGHU, RUKSHA, TIKSHNA, VISHADA, SUKSHMA, SARA
    New – SNIGDHA, PICHHILA

Veerya : USHNA
Vipaka: KATU
Karma: Tridoshahara,, lekhana, shoolahara, shothahara,vedanastapana

CLASSICAL CATEGORISATION

 
“Sangya Sthapana Maha Kashaya” (Ch.Su. 4/48)
“Kashaya Skandha” (Ch.Vi.8/144)  
"Eladi gana"(Ashtanga Hrudaya, Chikitsa Sthana, 7/85)
 

GUGGULU SHODANA

 
The administration of raw Guggulu may sometimes lead to skin rashes, irregular menstruation, diarrhoea, headache, mild nausea, and with very high doses, liver toxicity,so Guggulu is subjected to shodana before administration.


First reference regarding Guggulu Shodhana is found in Harita Samhita and later by Chakradatta
 

1.     Physicals impurities are removed.
2.     It is then broken into small pieces.
3.     It is thereafter tied like a pottali with a piece of cloth and boiled in Dola Yantra containing any one of the following fluids. (a) Gomutra (b) Triphala kashaya. (c) Vasapatra Kashaya. (d) Vasapatra Svarasa. (e) Nirgundi patra Svarasa with Haridra Choorna (f)Dugdha.
4.     The boiling is continued till the Guggulu becomes a soft in consistency.
5.     It is then taken out of the cloth and spread over a smooth wooden board smeared with ghee or oil and dried
6.     It is taken out and again fried with ghee and ground in a khalva yantra.  

INDICATION

    Medahara – lowers cholesterol.
    Meha – useful in diseases of urinary system and diabetes.
    Kushta – useful in skin diseases. This is the reason it is an important ingredient in medicines like Amrutadi Guggulu, used to treat carbuncles, obesity and fistula.
    Amavata – relieves rheumatoid arthritis.
    Granthihara – relieves tumours, growths, warts
    shopha – relieves inflammation
    Arsha, – useful in piles.  

 CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS

Guggulu contains diterpenoids, triterpenoids, steroids, long-chain aliphatic tetrols, aliphatic esters, ferulates, lignans, carbohydrates, and a variety of inorganic ions besides minor amounts of sesamin and other unidentified constituents.
 

RESEARCH CORNER

 
Hypolipidemic activity
 
It contains Z-guggulsterones and E-guggulsterones which are purported to be the compounds responsible for the hypolipidemic activity of the guggulu
 
Has an effect on Platelet aggregation and fibrinolytic property

guggulsterones E AND Z completely inhibited ADP, adrenaline, or serotonin induced platelet This finding has therapeutic value in myocardial infarction and thromboembolismaggregation.
 
Antioxident property
 
Guggulsterone significantly inhibited the reaction of lipid peroxidation in liver microsomes challenged with  Fe2+ and sodium ascorbate. Thus, the protective action of guggulsterone might also be due to free radical scavenging property
 
Skin disease

Administration of gugulipid was reported to be effective in the treatment of nodulocystic acne. A study in 21 patients found that gugulipid was as effective as tetracycline in the treatment. The patients with oily faces responded better to the gugulipid treatment