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Gg7.5
Guggul Research
Likely helpsModerate safety
36 peer-reviewed studies
What the evidence says
Likely helps
Guggul appears to help in 3 of 3 studies with measurable effects — the evidence leans clearly favourable.
Most evidence is from high-quality meta-analyses and randomised trials published 2003–2026 with a typical study size of 100 participants.
Based on 36 studies · 1 meta-analysis · 7 RCTs · 2,151 total participants
Patients with arthritis, inflammation, obesity, cardiac conditions, ulcers, epilepsy and lipid disorders1
Patients with hypertriglyceridemia1
Patients with hemorrhoids1
Active research area
12 studies in the last 5 years · Latest meta-analysis: 2021
200320142026
1Cholesterol levelsMeta-AnalysisCited 17×n=1,386 · large study2021
In addition, minimal evidence was found for any side effects associated with these herbs, positioning them as safe adjuvants to conventional treatments.
Gyawali D et al. · Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) (2021)
Noticeable benefit
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Likely real
Meta-analysis of the trials showed that guggulu reduced total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein levels by 16.78 mg/dL (95% C.I. 13.96 to 2.61; p-value = 0.02) and 18.78 mg/dL (95% C.I. 34.07 to 3.48; p = 0.02), respectively.
Garlic reduced LDL-C by 10.37 mg/dL (95% C.I. -17.58 to -3.16; p-value = 0.005).
Black cumin lowered total cholesterol by 9.28 mg/dL (95% C.I. -17.36, to -1.19, p-value = 0.02).
This comprehensive review provides a foundation for ongoing research, offering insights into the potential of GS as a valuable addition to the armamentarium against cancer.
Ijaz S et al. · Cell biology international (2024)
The review synthesizes evidence from diverse studies, underscoring the multifaceted biological activities of GS in cancer prevention and treatment.
To advance our understanding, future clinical and translational studies are imperative to determine effective doses in humans.
Additionally, there is a need for the development of new pharmaceutical forms of GS to optimize therapeutic effects.
Singhai H et al. · Current pharmaceutical design (2024)
This potentiates the use of medicinal plants, which are still a viable alternative therapy for a number of diseases, including CVD.
Natural products' cardio-protective effects result from their anti-oxidative, anti-hypercholesterolemia, anti-ischemic, and platelet aggregation-inhibiting properties.
The conventional therapies used to treat CVD have the potential to be explored in light of the recent increase in the popularity of natural goods and alternative medicine.
This review provides a deeper understanding of the therapeutic mechanisms and potential of guggulipid in the management of rheumatoid arthritis.
Sahu A et al. · Current rheumatology reviews (2024)
This review provides a deeper understanding of the therapeutic mechanisms and potential of guggulipid in the management of rheumatoid arthritis.
The collective evidence strongly supports the promising role of guggulipid as a therapeutic agent, encouraging further research and development in guggulipid-based treatments for these conditions.
Patients should be educated on the difference between these DSs and evidence-based lipid-lowering medications proven to improve cardiovascular outcomes.
Mirzai S et al. · Current cardiology reports (2023)
As an essential traditional medicine, C. mukul is widely used in the national traditional medicine system, and rich in chemical constituents and exhibit pharmacological activities.
Garang Z et al. · Journal of ethnopharmacology (2023)
As an essential traditional medicine, C. mukul is widely used in the national traditional medicine system, and rich in chemical constituents and exhibit pharmacological activities.
This study found that current research on C. mukul mainly focuses on its chemical composition and pharmacological properties.
However, scientific research on the quality control of medicinal materials, identification of original plants, pharmacokinetics, and toxicology are relatively weak, and research in this area needs to be strengthened.
Latha S et al. · Cardiovascular & hematological agents in medicinal chemistry (2021)
Furthermore, the review also included various secondary metabolites isolated from various species of Commiphora genus along with their chemical structures serving as a ready resource for researchers.
We conclude that the plant species belonging to the genus Commiphora possesses abundant pharmacological properties with a huge treasure of diverse secondary metabolites within themselves.
Karami S et al. · Current drug discovery technologies (2021)
The prevalence of this disease in adults over 60 years was 9.6% in men and 18% in women.
In this paper, different sources of Traditional Persian Medicine (TPM) were searched to obtain any evidence evaluating any medicinal plants in the management of OA.
The most important medicinal plants with direct evidence in the management of OA are Allium sativum, Commiphora mukul, Linum usitatissimum, Matricaria chamomilla, Nigella sativa, Zingiber officinale, and Piper nigrum.
This review highlights the taxonomic details, phytochemical properties and pharmacological profile of gum guggul.
Shah R et al. · Phytotherapy research : PTR (2012)
Its active constituents, the Z- and E-guggulsterones, have been demonstrated to exhibit their biological activities by binding to nuclear receptors and modulating the expression of proteins involved in carcinogenic activities.
Considerable scientific evidence indicates the use of gum guggul as a therapeutic agent in the treatment of inflammation, nervous disorders, hyperlipidaemia and associated cardiac disorders such as hypertension and ischaemia, skin disorders, cancer and urinary disorders.
This review highlights the taxonomic details, phytochemical properties and pharmacological profile of gum guggul.
Guggul has been used for thousands of years in the treatment of arthritis, inflammation, obesity, cardiac protection, anti-ulcer, anti-epileptic and disorders of lipid metabolism.
This review is an assortment of available information reported on its chemical, pharmacological and toxicological properties in various research studies.
The available therapeutic properties of guggulipid make it suitable natural product for the treatment of various disorders like inflammation, pain, wounds, liver disorder and Acne etc.
It seems that use of these plants as complementary therapeutics or extraction of their active ingredients along with currently available drugs will improve the management of HTg in patients.
Mollazadeh H et al. · Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology (2019)
It seems that use of these plants as complementary therapeutics or extraction of their active ingredients along with currently available drugs will improve the management of HTg in patients.
Among the mentioned herbal medicines, six species, including Allium ampeloprasum, Phyllanthus emblica, Aloe vera, Terminalia chebula, Vitis vinifera and Commiphora mukul, had the largest number of ...
Dehdari S et al. · Journal of integrative medicine (2018)
Among the mentioned herbal medicines, six species, including Allium ampeloprasum, Phyllanthus emblica, Aloe vera, Terminalia chebula, Vitis vinifera and Commiphora mukul, had the largest number of related pharmacological effects documented in scientific databases.
These herbs from ITM should be considered as important resources for producing novel drugs for hemorrhoid treatment.
13Traditional medicine practicesSystematic ReviewCited 19×2018
In developing countries, the majority of people rely on traditional medicines; however, many of these practices have not been rigorously and systematically studied or reported.
Rupani R et al. · Clinics in dermatology (2018)
In developing countries, the majority of people rely on traditional medicines; however, many of these practices have not been rigorously and systematically studied or reported.
We review the current understanding and research behind traditional therapies prevalent in the Indian subcontinent, including mind-body and energy-based healing, botanical medicine, and herbal remedies.
Topics covered include Ayurveda, yoga, naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, homeopathy, and medicinal plants such as neem, guggul, tulsi, amla, and turmeric.
This review describes the anti-cancer properties, molecular targets, and the apoptotic effects of guggulsterone.
Shishodia S et al. · Current pharmaceutical design (2016)
Guggulsterone modulates the expression of gene products involved in metastasis (MMP-9, COX-2, and VEGF) of tumor cells.
Guggulsterone mediates gene expression through the modulation of several transcription factors, including NF-κB, STAT3, C/EBPα, androgen receptor, and glucocorticoid receptors.
This review describes the anti-cancer properties, molecular targets, and the apoptotic effects of guggulsterone.
This review aimed to clarify the cell signal pathways targeted by guggulsterone and the bioactivities of guggulsterone in animal models and humans.
Yamada T et al. · Advances in experimental medicine and biology (2016)
This plant steroid has been reported to work as an antagonist of certain nuclear receptors, especially farnesoid X receptor, which regulates bile acids and cholesterol metabolism.
Guggulsterone also mediates gene expression through the regulation of transcription factors, including nuclear factor-kappa B and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, which plays important roles in the development of inflammation and tumorigenesis.
Guggulsterone has been shown to downregulate the expression of proteins involved in anti-apoptotic, cell survival, cell proliferation, angiogenic, metastatic, and chemoresistant activities in tumor cells.
Although the mechanisms of action are not very clear, there is enough evidence of their efficacy in various cardiovascular disorders.
Rastogi S et al. · Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology (2016)
Although the mechanisms of action are not very clear, there is enough evidence of their efficacy in various cardiovascular disorders.
However, for bringing more objectivity and also to confirm traditional claims, more systematic, well-designed animal and randomized clinical studies with sufficient sample sizes are necessary.
Multidisciplinary research is still required to exploit the vast potential of these plants.
17Cancer chemoprevention and therapySystematic ReviewCited 8×2013
This review highlights some of the cancer chemopreventive/therapeutic targets of GS and the underlying molecular mechanisms.
Almazari I et al. · Topics in current chemistry (2013)
Guggulsterone (GS) is a phytosterol derived from the gum resin of guggul plants that have been used traditionally to treat various disorders such as burns, wounds, gastric ulcer, cough, gum diseases, urinary complaints, diarrhea, stomach cramps, fascioliasis, and intestinal worms.
It has anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties and has recently attracted substantial attention due to its cancer chemopreventive and therapeutic potential exemplified by its antiproliferative, antimetastatic, and proapoptotic properties in many cancer cell lines and animal models.
This review highlights some of the cancer chemopreventive/therapeutic targets of GS and the underlying molecular mechanisms.
18Hepatotoxicity from dietary supplementsSystematic ReviewCited 58×2011
Until these products are more closely regulated and their advertising better scrutinized, physicians and patients should become more familiar with herbal products that are commonly used as weight loss supplements and recognize those that are potentially harmful.
Yellapu RK et al. · Canadian journal of gastroenterology = Journal canadien de gastroenterologie (2011)
The present report describes a young healthy woman who presented with fulminant hepatic failure requiring emergent liver transplantation caused by a dietary supplement and fat burner containing usnic acid, green tea and guggul tree extracts.
Thorough investigation, including histopathological examination, revealed no other cause of hepatotoxicity.
The present case adds to the increasing number of reports of hepatotoxicity associated with dietary supplements containing usnic acid, and highlights that herbal extracts from green tea or guggul tree may not be free of adverse effects.
Amongst reviewed studies, 22 natural products were found effective in the treatment of hyperlipidemia that deserve further works to isolate and characterization of their constituents to reach novel therapeutic and more effective agents.
Hasani-Ranjbar S et al. · Current pharmaceutical design (2010)
Amongst reviewed studies, 22 natural products were found effective in the treatment of hyperlipidemia that deserve further works to isolate and characterization of their constituents to reach novel therapeutic and more effective agents.
It is suggested that an evaluation of the effects of these plants on different aspects of IBD should be performed.
Rahimi R et al. · World journal of gastroenterology (2010)
Another herb, Plantago ovata, has immunomodulatory, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and wound healing activities and decreases NO and LB4.
Considering the mechanisms of action of these plants, the combination of some of them may be useful because of their many mechanisms of action such as Pistacia lentiscus, Bunium persicum, Solanum nigrum, Plantago ovata, Boswellia, Solanum nigrum, Plantago ovata and Commiphora mukul.
It is suggested that an evaluation of the effects of these plants on different aspects of IBD should be performed.