Gugulipid 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 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.
Guggulsterones
Systematic 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.
Bioperine
Traditional 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.