title: GUGULIPID: a natural cholesterol-lowering agent.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. nurizar@bcm.tmc.edu
authors.forename: Nancy L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Urizar
authors.forename: David D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Moore
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D029744:Commiphora; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D053149:Plant Gums; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D000099150:Receptor, Farnesoid X-Activated
chemical_list: D002784:Cholesterol; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D053149:Plant Gums; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000099150:Receptor, Farnesoid X-Activated; C018562:guggulu extract