Guggul is made from the sap (gum resin) of the Commiphora mukul tree, which is native to India. Guggul is a plant which is known for its active ingredients, the guggulsterones.

It has been traditionally used for combatting ailments such as high blood lipids, liver dysfunction and obesity and for treating atherosclerosis. One of these substances also decreases the redness and swelling that occurs in some types of acne.

The Extract of gum guggul, called gugulipid, guggulipid, or guglipid, has been in Unani and Ayurvedic medicine, for nearly 3,000 years in India. Guggul Extract has also been shown to reduce the stickiness of platelets - another effect that lowers the risk of coronary artery disease. One double-blind trial found guggul extract similar to the drug Clofibrate which is used not only for lowering cholesterol and blood lipid levels generally, but for treating angina pectoris, blood sludging and diabetic neuropathy.

One chemical ingredient in the extract is the steroid guggulsterone, which acts as an antagonist of the farnesoid X receptor, once believed to result in decreased cholesterol synthesis in the liver. It helps in relieving pain and swelling and it relaxes the muscle which helps relieve menstrual pain.

It also possesses the property that helps in reversing the degenerative changes that has occurred in joint and bones. It also increases thyroid activity. Also it exerts an anti-cholesterolemic effect (lowers blood cholesterol levels), an anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effect.