Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #168383
Title: GUGULIPID: A NATURAL CHOLESTEROL-LOWERING AGENT.

Author
item URIZAR, N - BAYLOR COLL OF MEDICINE
item MOORE, D - BAYLOR COLL OF MEDICINE

Submitted to: Review Article
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/1/2003
Publication Date: 7/1/2003
Citation: Urizar, N.L., Moore, D.D. 2003. GUGULIPID: A natural cholesterol-lowering agent. Annual Review of Nutrition. 23:303-313.

Interpretive Summary: Interpretive Summary not needed for this 115.

Technical Abstract: The resin of the Commiphora mukul tree has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for more than 2000 years to treat a variety of ailments. Studies in both animal models and humans have shown that this resin, termed gum guggul, can decrease elevated lipid levels. The stereoisomers E- and Z-guggulsterone have been identified as the active agents in this resin. Recent studies have shown that these compounds are antagonist ligands for the bile acid receptor farnesoid X receptor (FXR), which is an important regulator of cholesterol homeostasis. It is likely that this effect accounts for the hypolipidemic activity of these phytosteroids.