>Neux-Neux at 12:40, 17 June 2021

2021-06-17T12:40:17Z

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{{Short description|Species of plant}}
{{Speciesbox
|image = Guggul at natural habitat.jpeg
|image_caption = Guggul tree in its natural habitat
|status = CR
|status_system = IUCN3.1
|status_ref = <ref name=IUCN>{{cite iucn | author1 = Ved, D. | author2 = Saha, D. | author3 = Ravikumar, K. | author4 = Haridasan, K. | year = 2015 | title = ''Commiphora wightii''-Guggul | volume = 2015 | page = e.T31231A50131117 | doi = 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T31231A50131117.en }}</ref>
|genus = Commiphora
|species = wightii
|authority = ([[George Arnott Walker-Arnott|Arn.]]) [[Madan Mal Bhandari|Bhandari]]
|synonyms =
*''Commiphora mukul'' <small>([[John Ellerton Stocks|Stocks]]) [[William Jackson Hooker|Hook.]]</small>
* ''Commiphora roxburghii'' (Stocks) Engl.
|synonyms_ref = <ref>{{cite web
|url=http://tropicos.info/Name/50313440?tab=synonyms
|title=Tropicos.org
|access-date=6 June 2014
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303220428/http://tropicos.info/Name/50313440?tab=synonyms
|archive-date=3 March 2016
|url-status=live
}}</ref>
}}
[[File:Commiphora wightii (2095514120).jpg|thumb|Guggul fruit]]
[[File:Commiphora-wightii-resin.jpg|thumb|Guggul resin]]

'''''Commiphora wightii''''', with [[common name]]s '''Indian bdellium-tree''',<ref name=GRIN>{{GRIN | accessdate=13 September 2014}}</ref> '''gugal''',<ref name=FOP/> '''guggul''',<ref name=GRIN/> '''gugul''',<ref name=GRIN/> or '''Mukul myrrh tree''', is a [[flowering plant]] in the family [[Burseraceae]], which
produces a fragrant resin called gugal, guggul or gugul, that is used in [[incense]] and vedic medicine (or [[ayurveda]]). 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]].

==Description==
''Commiphora wightii'' grows as a [[shrub]] or small [[tree]], reaching a maximum height of {{convert|4|m|abbr=on}}, with thin papery [[Bark (botany)|bark]].<ref name=FOP>{{cite book|chapter-url=http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=5&taxon_id=250063169 |author=Sultanul Abedin |author2=S.I. Ali |name-list-style=amp |title=Flora of Pakistan |chapter=Commiphora wightii |volume=26}}</ref> The branches are [[spine (botany)|thorny]]. The [[Leaf|leaves]] are simple or trifoliate, the leaflets ovate, {{convert|1-5|cm|abbr=on}} long, {{convert|0.5-2.5|cm|abbr=on}} broad, and irregularly toothed. It is [[plant sexuality|gynodioecious]], with some plants bearing bisexual and male [[flower]]s, and others with female flowers. The individual flowers are red to pink, with four small petals. The small round fruit are red when ripe.

==Cultivation and uses==
''Commiphora wightii'' is sought for its gummy [[resin]], which is harvested from the plant's bark through the process of [[Rubber tapping|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 language|Hebrew]], [[Ancient Greek language|ancient Greek]] and [[Latin language|Latin]] sources as [[bdellium]].

Guggul is used in [[Ayurveda]] remedies and it is mentioned in Ayurvedic texts dating back to 600 BC.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-591/guggul|title=Guggul: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Dosage, and Warning |publisher=Web MD}}</ref> It is often sold as a herbal supplement.

The gum can be purchased in a loosely packed form called ''dhoop'', an [[Incense of India|incense from India]], which is burned over hot coals. This produces a fragrant, dense smoke.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mangalorespice.com/products/guggul-indian-bedellium|title=Guggul (Indian Bedellium)}}</ref> It is also sold in the form of incense sticks and dhoop cones which can be burned directly.

==Chemical composition==
Over a hundred [[metabolite]]s of various chemical compositions were reported from the leaves, stem, latex, root and fruit samples. High concentrations of [[quinic acid]] and [[myo-inositol]] were found in fruits and leaves.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Bhatia|first1=Anil|last2=Bharti|first2=Santosh K.|last3=Tripathi|first3=Tusha|last4=Mishra|first4=Anuradha|last5=Sidhu|first5=Om P.|last6=Roy|first6=Raja|last7=Nautiyal|first7=Chandra Shekhar|title=Metabolic profiling of Commiphora wightii (guggul) reveals a potential source for pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals|journal=Phytochemistry|date=1 February 2015|volume=110|pages=29–36|doi=10.1016/j.phytochem.2014.12.016|pmid=25561401}}</ref>

==Traditional medicinal use==
''Commiphora wightii'' has been a key component in ancient Indian [[Ayurvedic]] system of medicine.

[[File:Guggulsterone E.png|thumb|right|Chemical structure of [[guggulsterone]], a constituent of gum guggul]]
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.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/1963645.stm Indian herb can reduce cholesterol] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080203051751/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/1963645.stm |date=2008-02-03 }}, BBC NEWS, 2 May 2002</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Mohan |first1=Mohind C. |last2=Abhimannue |first2=Anu P. |last3=Kumar |first3=B.Prakash |title=Modulation of proinflammatory cytokines and enzymes by polyherbal formulation Guggulutiktaka ghritam |journal=Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine |date=January 2019 |doi=10.1016/j.jaim.2018.05.007|pmid=30638916 |doi-access=free }}</ref> One chemical ingredient in the extract is the steroid [[guggulsterone]],<ref>{{cite book |last1=Murray |editor=Joseph E. Pizzorno Jr.|editor2=Michael T. |title=Textbook of natural medicine |date=2012 |publisher=Churchill Livingstone |location=Edinburgh |isbn=9781437723335 |page=691 |edition=4th}}</ref> which acts as an [[receptor antagonist|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.<ref>{{cite journal | title = Guggulipid Ineffective for Lowering Cholesterol | journal = JAMA | year = 2003 | volume = 290 | pages = 765–772 | pmid = 12915429 | last1 = Szapary | first1 = PO | last2 = Wolfe | first2 = ML | last3 = Bloedon | first3 = LT | last4 = Cucchiara | first4 = AJ | last5 = Dermarderosian | first5 = AH | last6 = Cirigliano | first6 = MD | last7 = Rader | first7 = DJ | issue = 6 | doi = 10.1001/jama.290.6.765| doi-access = free }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | title = Guggulipid Use in Hyperlipidemia | journal = Am J Health-Syst Pharm | year = 2005 | volume = 62 | issue = 16 | pages = 1690–1692 | pmid = 16085931 | last1 = Sahni | first1 = S | last2 = Hepfinger | first2 = CA | last3 = Sauer | first3 = KA | doi = 10.2146/ajhp040580}}</ref>

== Endangerment and rescue ==
[[File:Save Guggul.JPG|thumb|'Save Guggul Movement' in Rajasthan, India]]

Because of its use in traditional medicine, ''C. wightii'' has been overharvested, and has become so scarce in its two habitats in India—[[Gujarat]] and [[Rajasthan]]—that the [[World Conservation Union]] (IUCN) has enlisted it in its [[IUCN Red List]] of threatened species.<ref name=IUCN/> Several efforts are in place to address this situation. India's National Medicinal Plants Board launched a project in [[Kutch District]] to cultivate {{convert|500|to|800|ha|acres}} of guggal,<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Kutch-to-house-Centres-Rs-8cr-Guggal-conservation-project/259012/
|title=Kutch to house Centre's Rs 8-cr Guggal conservation project
|work=[[The Indian Express]]
|date=8 January 2008
|first=D V
|last=Maheshwari
|access-date=9 January 2008
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081009121656/http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Kutch-to-house-Centres-Rs-8cr-Guggal-conservation-project/259012/
|archive-date=9 October 2008
|url-status=dead
}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.downtoearth.org.in/node/1538
|title=Guggal faces sticky end
|work=Down to Earth: Science and Environment Online
|first=Ankur
|last=Paliwal
|date=31 July 2010
|access-date=12 January 2012
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120110142843/http://www.downtoearth.org.in/node/1538
|archive-date=10 January 2012
|url-status=live
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.iucn.org/news_homepage/news_by_date/2010_news/july_2010/?5797/cec-save-guggul-movement
|title=Education and Awareness in the 'Save Guggul Movement'
|work=IUCN News
|date=31 July 2010
|access-date=12 January 2012
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111221125019/http://www.iucn.org/news_homepage/news_by_date/2010_news/july_2010/?5797%2Fcec-save-guggul-movement
|archive-date=21 December 2011
|url-status=live
}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Commiphora wightii}}
* [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1005507,00.html What's Gugul Good For?], David Jerklie, ''Time Magazine'', Aug. 25, 2003
*[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=5&taxon_id=250063169 Flora of Pakistan: ''Commiphora wightii'']
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070929154622/http://envis.frlht.org.in/botanical_search.php?txtbtname=comm&gesp=625%7CCommiphora+wightii+%28A.%29+BHANDARI Medicinal Plants of Conservation Concern: ''Commiphora wightii'']
*{{cite book |last=Caldecott |first=Todd |year=2006 |url=http://www.toddcaldecott.com/index.php/herbs/learning-herbs/363-guggulu |title=Ayurveda: The Divine Science of Life |publisher=Elsevier/Mosby |isbn=978-0-7234-3410-8 |access-date=2011-01-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524054515/http://www.toddcaldecott.com/index.php/herbs/learning-herbs/363-guggulu |archive-date=2011-05-24 |url-status=dead }} Contains a detailed monograph on ''Commiphora mukul'' (Guggulu) as well as a discussion of purported health benefits and usage in clinical practice.
*{{Cite book | surname=Dalby | given=Andrew | title=Food in the ancient world from A to Z | publisher=Routledge | place=London, New York | year=2003 | isbn=978-0-415-23259-3 }}, pp. 226–227

{{Taxonbar|from=Q901803}}

[[Category:Commiphora|wightii]]
[[Category:Flora of India (region)]]
[[Category:Flora of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Incense material]]
[[Category:Plants used in Ayurveda]]

Commiphora wightii - Revision history

>Neux-Neux at 12:40, 17 June 2021