Ultra Guggulow - Gum Guggul Extract Herbal Supplement Helps Maintain Normal Cholesterol LevelsGugulipidGugulipid is the leading extract of gum guggul resin. Gum guggul is harvested from Commiphora mukul, a shrub-like tree indigenous to arid regions of northern India.
Gum GuggulGum guggul is related to myrrh gum and also to Boswellia serrata, another resinous herb prominent in the Ayurvedic materia medica. Gum guggul, often referred to simply as "guggul," has been used in the Ayurvedic herbal tradition since at least 600 B.C. The herb is mentioned in the Vedas, the Holy Scriptures of India, which are estimated to date back anywhere from 3,000 to 10,000 years.Modern investigation into gum guggul began in 1964, with a series of tests conducted by G.V. Satyavati. The inspiration for this research is a Ayurvedic treatise written in Sanskrit that describes in detail a condition called "coating and obstruction of channels." Impressed by the apparent analogy to the cardiovascular system, Satyavati and others initiated a series of tests to determine if gum guggul, which was mentioned in the treatise, would have any effect on blood lipid levels. This set the stage for an extensive series of studies on gum guggul's pharmacology and clinical effects.
GuggulsteronesSystematic analysis of gum guggul resin carried out by Indian researchers in the 1980s identified the active ingredients as a group of lipid-based compounds called guggulsterols and guggulsterones. It was determined that two members of this group, Z-guggulsterone and E-guggulsterone, are largely responsible for the herb's effect on cholesterol and blood fats. An extract standardized for guggulsterone content of gum guggul was then developed by the CDRI in Lucknow, India. This extract, called "Gugulipid", is now the preferred form of gum guggul for use in clinical studies. Ultra Guggulow contains Gugulipid standardized to supply 25 mg of guggulsterones per 1000 mg of extract.
BioperineTraditional Ayurvedic herbal formulas often include black pepper and long pepper as synergistic herbs. The active ingredient in both black pepper and long pepper is piperine, an alkaloid. Experiments carried out to evaluate the scientific basis for the use of peppers have shown that piperine significantly enhances bioavailability when consumed with other substances.Bioperine contains 95% piperine extracted from the fruits of black pepper. Several double-blind clinical studies have confirmed that Bioperine increases absorption of nutrients.
