Guggulsterone is a phytosteroid found in the resin of the guggul plant, Commiphora mukul. Guggulsterone can exist as either of two stereoisomers, E-guggulsterone and Z-guggulsterone. In humans, it acts as an antagonist of the farnesoid X receptor, which was once believed to result in decreased cholesterol synthesis in the liver. Several studies have been published that indicate no overall reduction in total cholesterol occurs using various dosages of guggulsterone, and levels of low-density lipoprotein ("bad cholesterol") increased in many people.[1][2] Nevertheless, guggulsterone is an ingredient in many nutritional supplements. Guggulsterone was also found to have interactions with the viral Adipose Ribose Phosphatase enzyme of SARS-CoV2 and can prove to be a potential candidate for the development of therapeutics for the treatment of COVID19.[3]
^Sahni, S; Hepfinger, CA; Sauer, KA (2005). "Guggulipid Use in Hyperlipidemia". Am J Health-Syst Pharm. 62 (16): 1690–1692. doi:10.2146/ajhp040580. PMID16085931.
^Kciuk, M.; Mujwar, S.; Rani, I.; Munjal, K.; Gielecińska, A.; Kontek, R.; Shah, K. Computational Bioprospecting Guggulsterone against ADP Ribose Phosphatase of SARS-CoV-2. Molecules 2022, 27, 8287. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27238287
^Brobst, D. E. (2004). "Guggulsterone Activates Multiple Nuclear Receptors and Induces CYP3A Gene Expression through the Pregnane X Receptor". Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. 310 (2): 528–535. doi:10.1124/jpet.103.064329. ISSN0022-3565. PMID15075359. S2CID7093631.