Anti-hyperlipidaemic activity of fresh and old Guggulu (Commiphora wightii (Arn.) Bhandari) in experimental animals

Objective: Guggulu (Commiphora wightii (Arn.) Bhandari) belong to family Burseraceae is a well-known anti-hyperlipidaemic drug. An Ayurvedic classic attributes brihmana (weight increasing) effect to fresh Guggulu, while lekhana (weight reducing) effect to the old one. Though anti-hyperlipidaemic activity of Guggulu has been studied, the actual differentiation in efficacy of Guggulu samples during storage period has not yet attempted in experimental animals. This prompted us to initiate a comparative anti-hyperlipidaemic activity of fresh Guggulu and one-year old Guggulu samples against cholesterol diet induced hyperlipidaemia in rats. Materials and Methods: Hyperlipidaemia was induced by cholesterol (0.5 ml/kg, 20% suspension in coconut oil) and hydrogenated vegetable oil (5 ml/kg). The effects of drugs were assessed on body weight, serum biochemical parameters and histological parameters. Results: Both drugs produced significant attenuation of relative weight of liver in cholesterol-fed animals. Fresh sample of Guggulu provided better effect in lowering serum cholesterol (15.34%), triglyceride (34.72%), very low density lipoprotein (34.7%) and low density lipoprotein (18.66%) and non-significant increase in serum HDL-cholesterol while old sample of Guggulu provided mild effect in lowering serum triglyceride (6.47%), VLDL (6.49%) and LDL (29.50%) and non-significant increase in serum HDL-cholesterol in comparison with control group. Conclusion: From the present study, it is concluded that fresh Guggulu produced pronounced hyperlipidaemic effect than the old one in experimental animals, which may be due the presence of higher concentration of Z-guggulsterone and E-guggulsterone.