The ability of guggulsterones to prevent oxidation of LDL was discovered in a 1997 study done by scientists at the Central Drug Research Institute in Lucknow, India.

This study sheds light on how guggul works against "coating and obstruction of channels." Oxidized LDL forms the plaque that coats and eventually obstructs blood vessels.

The researchers mixed LDL from human blood with a free radical promoting agent, either alone or in combination with guggulsterones. Samples were then analyzed for the presence LDL oxidation byproducts.

The results showed that guggulsterones strongly protect LDL from being oxidized. Guggulsterones block the formation of hydroxyl radicals, a potent type of free-radical that attacks cell membranes.

---

One 12-week study demonstrated that 1500 milligrams of guggulipid produced an average reduction in serum cholesterol of nearly 22%, while triglycerides were reduced about 25% in people who took it regularly.

Another study showed that guggulipid works best for people who have high cholesterol reading of the type IIb (increased LDL, VLDL, and triglycerides) and type IV (increased VLDL and triglycerides).

A third study involving 233 people with elevated cholesterol or triglycerides levels (or both) showed that guggulipid worked better than the cholesterol-lowering drug Clofibrate. People taking guggul had the added benefit of seeing some improvements in HDL, the “good cholesterol” - an effect that was not in evidence with the pharmaceutical.

Recent research published in the Cardiovascular Drug Review show the therapeutic effects of guggul on the heart.

Guggul's cardiovascular benefits are derived from the multiple pharmacological activities of Guggulsterone the bioactive constituent responsible for guggul's therapeutic effects. The most important are its hypolipidemic, antioxidant, and antiinflammatory activities.

Studies demonstrate that guggulsterone upregulates the bile salt export pump (BSEP). The BSEP removes cholesterol metabolites, bile acids from the liver. The guggulsterone action promotes cholesterol metabolism into bile acids, and is another possible mechanism for its hypolipidemic activity.

Guggulsterone has been found to potently inhibit the activation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), which triggers inflammatory responses. Repressing NF-kappaB has been proposed as a mechanism of the antiinflammatory effect of guggulsterone

You may also be interested in reading on

Cholesterol - what it is, causes, cholesterol levels, herbal control

Lower Cholesterol with Lifestyle Changes

Cholesterol raises Dementia risk

Statin drugs side effects - What your doctors are not telling you

Herbs that lower Cholesterol

Guggul benefits for Cholesterol,Weight, Heart, Joints

Guggul plant sterols, Guggulsterones and Drug Interactions

Herbs that burn fat - Weight Loss with herbal remedies



Heart Healthy Products

Arjuna
Cardioprotective, Maintains blood circulation and blood pressure

Guggul
Maintains healthy cholesterol levels, burns fat

Gymnema
Inhibits sugar craving, Maintains normal serum cholesterol & blood sugar levels