CONCENTRATION OF GUGGULSTERONES IN OLEO-GUM RESIN OF COMMIPHORA WIGHTII PLANTS DOMESTICATED AT THE SUBTROPICAL CONDITIONS

摘要

Guggul, the oleo-gum resin obtained from a desert plant Commiphora wightii, is extensively used in India for the treatment of wide variety of ailments. Plants of C.wightii have become rare in their natural habitats due to destructive tapping of oleo-gum resin from their bark and very low seed germination. In order to conserve and to determine the suitability of this important plant for cultivation in the subtropical conditions of North India, guggulsterone content, which is the major active constituent, was estimated in its oleo-gum resin in different months of the year. The study showed that on domesticating the plant at sub-tropical conditions total guggulsterone content ranges between 0.50-2.36% which is almost at par with the naturally growing plants, while guggulsterone-E and Z content in oleo-gum resin ranges between 0.01-0.33% and 0.1-2.27% respectively. This shows that on cultivation of this plant at subtropical conditions guggulsterone-Z content increases considerably than the naturally growing plants. Very high total guggulsterone and guggulsterone-Z contents were particularly observed during spring and autumn seasons in contrast to the plants growing in natural conditions, where the plants are tapped for higher yield of oleo-gum resin during winter season. Increase in guggulsterone-Z content in oleo-gum resin increases its value since guggulsterone-Z has been reported to possess better activity than it's E-isomer.