of 10mm thickness is selected and the cut end is treated with IBA or NAA and planted in a
well manured nursery bed during June-July months; the beds should be given light irrigation
periodically. The cuttings initiate sprouting in 10-15 days and grow into good green sprout in
10 - 12 months. These rooted plants are suitable for planting in the fields during the next rainy
season. The cuttings give 80-94% sprouting usually. Air layering has also been successfully
attempted and protocol for meristem culture is available in literature. Seed germination is
very poor (5%) but seedling produce healthier plants which withstand high velocity winds.
The rooted cuttings are planted in a well laid-out fields during rainy season. Pits of
size 0.5m cube are dug out at 3-4 m spacing in rows and given FYM and filler soil of the pit
is treated with BHC (10%) or aldrin (5%) to protect the new plants from white ants damage.
Fertilizer trials have shown little response except due to low level of N fertilization. Removal
of side branches and low level of irrigation supports a good growth of these plants. The
plantation does not require much weeding and hoeing. But the soil around the bushes be
pulverised twice in a year to increase their growth and given urea or ammonium sulphate at
25 - 50g per bush at a time and irrigated. Dalal et al (1989) reported that cercospora leaf spot
was noticed on all the cultures. Bacterial leaf blight was also noticed to attack the cultures. A
leaf eating caterpillar (Euproctis lanata Walker) attack guggal, though not seriously. White
fly (Bemisia tabaci) is observed to suck sap of leaves and such leaves become yellowish and
eventually drop. These can be effectively controlled by using suitable insecticide.
Stem or branch having maximum diameter of about 5cm at place of incision,
irrespective of age is tapped. The necrotic patch on the bark is peeled off with a sharp knife
and Bordeaux paste is applied to the exposed (peeled off ) surface of the stem or branch. A
prick chisel of about 3cm width is used to make bark- deep incisions and while incising the
bark, the chisel is held at an acute angle so that scooped suspension present on the body of the
chisel flows towards the blade of the chisel and a small quantity of suspension flows inside
the incised bark. If tapping is successful, gum exudation ensures after about 15-20 days from
the date of incision and continues for nearly 30-45 days. The exuded gum slides down the
stem or branch, and eventually drops on the ground and gets soiled. A piece of polythene
sheet can be pouched around the place of incision to collect gum. Alternatively, a polythene
sheet can be spread on the ground to collect exuded gum. A maximum of about 500g of gum
has been obtained from a plant (Dalal, 1995).
Post harvest technology
The best grade of guggul is collected from thick branches of tree. These lumps of
guggul are translucent. Second grade guggul is usually mixed with bark, sand and is dull
coloured guggul. Third grade guggul is usually collected from the ground which is mixed with
sand, stones and other foreign matter. The final grading is done after getting cleansed
material. Inferior grades are improved by sprinkling castor oil over the heaps of the guggul
which impart it a shining appearance (Tajuddin et al, 1994).
Properties and Activity
The gum resin contains guggul sterons Z and E, guggul sterols I-V, two diterpenoids- a
terpene hydrocarbon named cembreneA and a diterpene alcohol- mukulol, α-camphrone and
cembrene, long chain aliphatic tetrols- octadecan-1,2,3,4-tetrol, eicosan-1,2,3,4-tetrol and
nonadecan-1,2,3,4-tetrol. Major components from essential oil of gum resin are myrcene and
dimyrcene. Plant without leaves, flowers and fruits contains myricyl alcohol, β-sitosterol and
fifteen aminoacids. Flowers contain quercetin and its glycosides as major flavonoid
components, other constituents being ellagic acid and pelargonidin glucoside (Patil et al,
1972; Purushothaman and Chandrasekharan, 1976).
The gum resin is bitter, acrid, astringent, thermogenic, aromatic, expectorant,
digestive, anthelmintic, antiinflammatory, anodyne, antiseptic, demulcent, carminative,
emmenagogue, haematinic, diuretic, lithontriptic, rejuvenating and general tonic. Guggulipid
is hypocholesteremic (Husain et al, 1992; Warrier et al, 1994).