INDIAN BDELLIUM Commiphora mukul
Burseraceae
San: Gugulu, Mahisaksah, Koushikaha, Devadhupa
Hin:Gugal Mal:Gulgulu Tam, Tel: Gukkulu Kan: Guggul Ben: Guggul
Importance
Indian bdellium is a small, armed, deciduous tree from the bark of which gets an
aromatic gum resin, the ‘Guggul’ of commerce. It is a versatile indigenous drug claimed by
ayurvedists to be highly effective in the treatment of rheumatism, obesity, neurological and
urinary disorders, tonsillitis, arthritis and a few other diseases. The fumes from burning
guggul are recommended in hay- fever, chronic bronchitis and phytises.
The price of guggulu gum has increased ten fold in ten years or so, indicating the
increase in its use as well as decrease in natural plant stand. It has been listed as a threatened
plant by Botanical Survey of India (Dalal, 1995) and is included in the Red Data Book
(IUCN) and over exploited species in the country (Billare,1989).
Distribution
The center of origin of Commiphora spp. is believed to be Africa and Asia. It is a
widely adapted plant well distributed in arid regions of Africa ( Somalia, Kenya and
Ethiopia in north east and Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zaire in south west Africa),
Arabian peninsula (Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Oman). Different species of Commiphora are
distributed in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka states of India and Sind and
Baluchistan provinces of Pakistan (Tajuddin et al, 1994). In India, the main commercial
source of gum guggul is Rajasthan and Gujarat.
Botany
The genus Commiphora of family Burseraceae comprises about 185 species. Most of
them occur in Africa, Saudi Arabia and adjoining countries. In India only four species have
been reported. They are C. mukul(Hook. ex Stocks) Engl. syn. Balsamodendron mukul
(Hook. ex Stocks), C. wightii (Arnott) Bhandari, C.stocksiana Engl., C. berryi and
C.agallocha Engl.
In early studies about the flora of India, the ‘guggul’ plant was known as
Commiphora mukul(Hook. ex Stocks) Engl. or Balsamodendron mukul (Hook. ex Stocks). It
was renamed as C. roxburghii by Santapau in 1962. According to Bhandari the correct Latin
name of the species is C. wightii(Arnott) Bhandari, since the specific name ‘wightii’ was
published in 1839, prior to ‘roxburghi’ in 1848 (Dalal and Patel, 1995).
C. mukul is a small tree upto 3-4m height with spinescent branching. Stem is brownish or
pale yellow with ash colored bark peeling off in flakes. Young parts are glandular and
pubescent. Leaves are alternate, 1-3 foliate, obovate, leathery and serrate (sometimes only
towards the apex). Lateral leaflets when present only less than half the size of the terminal
ones. Flowers small, brownish red, with short pedicel seen in fascicles of 2-3. Calyx
campanulate, glandular, hairy and 4-5 lobed. Corolla with brownish red, broadly linear
petals reflexed at apex. Stamens 8-10, alternatively long and short. Ovary oblong, ovoid and
stigma bifid. Fruit is a drupe and red when ripe, ovate in shape with 2-3 celled stones. The
chromosome number 2n= 26 (Warrier et al, 1994; Tajuddin et al, 1994).
Agrotechnology
Guggal being a plant of arid zone thrives well in arid- subtropical to tropical climate.
The rainfall may average between 100mm and 500mm while air temperature may vary
between 40°C in summer and − 3 °C during winter. Maximum relative humidity prevails
during rainy season (83% in the morning and 48% in the evening).Wind velocity remains
between 20-25 km/hour during the year is good. Though they prefer hard gypseous soil, they
are found over sandy to silt loam soils, poor in organic matter but rich in several other
minerals in arid tracks of western India (Tajuddin et al, 1994).
Plants are propagated both by vegetatively and seeds. Plants are best raised from
stem cuttings from the semi woody (old) branch. For this purpose one metre long woody stem