Description

CDRI has developed gugulipid, a cholesterol lowering drug taking the lead from ancient Indian system of medicine, Ayurveda. The Drug has been developed from the plant, Commiphora mukul. Ayurvedic Practitioners have been utilizing the gum of the tree of Commiphora mukul commonly known as "Gugglu". Ayurvedic literature also mentions the gugglu as a drug for the treatment of goutt, arthritis, rheumatism and lipid disorders.

The establishment of promising hypolipidaemic activity in a non-toxic fraction of guggulu led to the identification of the active constituents, gugulsterones. However, as the fraction was equally active as the individual active entities, this fraction designated Gugulipid has been developed as a drug. Gugulipid passed through all the three phases of clinical trials successfully and was found to possess hypolipidaemic activity comparable to the present drug of choice, Clofibrate.

Clinical trials conducted on a large number of patients have clearly indicated the supremacy of gugulipid over other drugs due to absence of any significant side effect. The cholesterol lowering effect is also quite remarkable The use of Gugulipid led to the average reduction in serum cholesterol and triglycerides by 24% and 22% respectively and there were 80% responders in a group of 330 hyperlipidemic patients. As clofibrate is on the verge of being phased out on account of toxic manifestations, there is a scope for introduction of Gugulipid at international level. The future of this material as a drug will, however, depend on the availability of the plant material.

Drug controller General of India, after the three phases of clinical trials approved the drug for marketing in 1986.

Guggulipid is being manuactured and marketed by Cipla Ltd, Mumbai under the brand name Guglip.