Guggul

Guggul:-

Botanical Name:- Commiphora wightii

Family:- Burseraceae

Economic Importance:- 

> Commiphora wightii is sought for its gummy resin, which is harvested from the plant's bark through the process of tapping. 

> In India and Pakistan, guggul is cultivated commercially. 

> The resin of C. wightii, known as gum guggulu, has a fragrance similar to that of myrrh and is commonly used in incense and perfumes. It is the same product that was known in Hebrew, ancient Greek and Latin sources as bdellium.

> Guggul is used in Ayurveda remedies and it is mentioned in Ayurvedic texts dating back to 600 BC.

> It is often sold as a herbal supplement.

> The gum 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. It is also sold in the form of incense sticks and dhoop cones which can be burned directly.

> Commiphora wightii has been a key component in ancient Indian Ayurvedic system of medicine.

> The extract of gum guggul, called gugulipid, guggulipid, or guglipid, has been used in Unani and Ayurvedic medicine, for nearly 3,000 years in India.

> One chemical 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.