Mahayograj Guggul
Mahayograj Guggul is a classical Ayurvedic guggulu, a resin-based preparation. It is listed in the Ayurvedic Formulary of India (AFI) Part I. CCRAS has set quality standards for it, and validated UHPLC/HPTLC quality control methods have been published. The Ayurvedic Formulary of India (Part I, entry 5:6) lists 31 ingredients, beginning with Nagara (Sunthi), Pippali, Cavya and Pippalimula (pippali).
| Also known as | Mahayograj Guggul, MahayograjGuggul |
|---|---|
| Pharmacopoeia status | Listed in the Ayurvedic Formulary of India (AFI) Part I. CCRAS has set quality standards for it, and validated UHPLC/HPTLC quality control methods have been published. |
Composition
As given in the Ayurvedic Formulary of India, Part I, entry 5:6 (MAHA YOGARAJA GUGGULU), which cites Sarmngadharasamhita, Madhyamakhanda, Adhyaya 7; 56-60. (Printed thus at lines 10888-10889; "Sarmngadhara" is the OCR of Sarngadhara. The Devanagari colophon at line 10916 prints "(शार्धधरसंहिता, मध्यमखण्ड, अध्याय, 7; 56-60)".. Names, parts and quantities are transcribed as printed and checked row by row against the book. Manufacturers' versions of a classical formulation can differ from the formulary.
| # | Ingredient | Part | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nagara (Sunthi) (sunthi) | rhizome | 3 g. |
| 2 | Pippali * | fruit | 3 g. |
| 3 | Cavya * | stem | 3 g. |
| 4 | Pippalimula (pippali) (pippali) * | root | 3 g. |
| 5 | Citraka * | root | 3 g. |
| 6 | Hingu-bhrsta | exudate | 3 g. |
| 7 | Ajamoda | fruit | 3 g. |
| 8 | Sarsapa * | 3 g. | |
| 9 | [illegible] | illegible | |
| 10 | [illegible] | illegible | |
| 11 | Renuka | seed | 3 g. |
| 12 | Indrayava (kutaja) (kutaja) | seed | 3 g. |
| 13 | Patha * | root | 3 g. |
| 14 | [illegible] * | fruit | 3 g. |
| 15 | Gajapippali * | fruit | 3 g. |
| 16 | Katuka * | Rt/Rz. | 3 g. |
| 17 | Ativisa * | root tuber | 3 g. |
| 18 | Bharngi | root | 3 g. |
| 19 | Vaca | rhizome | 3 g. |
| 20 | Murva * | root | 3 g. |
| 21 | Haritaki | pericarp | 40 g. |
| 22 | Bibhitaka | pericarp | 40 g. |
| 23 | Amalaki | pericarp | 40 g. |
| 24 | Guggulu-sodhita * | exudate | 180 g. |
| 25 | Vanga-bhasma * | 48 g. | |
| 26 | Raupya (rajata) bhasma (rajata) * | 48 g. | |
| 27 | Naga-bhasma * | 48 g. | |
| 28 | Loha sara (lauha) bhasma (lauha) * | 48 g. | |
| 29 | Abhraka-bhasma * | 48 g. | |
| 30 | Mandura-bhasma * | 48 g. | |
| 31 | Rasa Sindura (parada) (parada) * | 48 g. |
Cells marked illegible are damaged in the source scan. The ingredient name is shown where it was readable, and nothing is inferred to fill a gap.
* The scanned text was damaged at this row and the name was read from the entry's own Sanskrit verse.
The evidence at a glance
1paper on this site for this drug, every one with a DOI.
- 1Laboratory and animal studies
A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Everything listed here is laboratory or animal work, which does not show an effect in people.true See the research index for how papers are tiered.
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Mahayograj Guggul |
Where is it described in the classical texts?
Bhaishajya Ratnavali (Amavata Chikitsa); also referenced in Sharangdhara Samhita and Yoga Ratnakara
How does it work?
- Anti-inflammatory action: Guggulsterones (E and Z) reduce joint inflammation by inhibiting NF-kB pathway and modulating pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-1beta)
- Ama digestion and metabolic correction: Traditional texts describe the formulation’s primary action as being on Ama (metabolic toxins), digesting Ama and correcting digestive processes and metabolic activities
- Lipid metabolism modulation: Guggulsterones act as FXR antagonists, promoting bile acid synthesis and cholesterol excretion
- Mineral supplementation via bhasma: Processed metallic calx (including iron, tin, lead and mercury preparations; see safety section) provide bioavailable trace minerals that support enzymatic processes and tissue repair in musculoskeletal system
- Bioavailability enhancement: Piperine from Trikatu inhibits hepatic and intestinal glucuronidation and P-glycoprotein efflux, enhancing absorption of all active phytoconstituents
Which traditional uses are supported by research?
These summaries come from the source notes, which do not name the studies behind them.
- Amavata (rheumatoid arthritis): traditionally used for amavata. A double-blind clinical study reported a greater reduction in disease activity scores than with a standard guggul extract.
- Joint disorders: traditionally used for joint disorders. Pharmacological studies have reported anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity.
- Gout: traditionally used for gout. Clinical observations have reported lower uric acid levels and anti-inflammatory effects.
- Neurological and musculoskeletal pain: traditionally used for neurological and musculoskeletal pain. Traditional prescribing describes it as Vata-pacifying and nervine.
What do recent studies show?
No study for this section could be traced to a published paper. Classical formulations are researched largely in journals that PubMed does not index, so an absence here reflects the reach of the index rather than the state of the evidence.
Recent safety updates
- Contains processed heavy metals (Vanga, Naga, Rasa Sindhura) - must be prepared strictly according to classical Shodhana (purification) protocols; self-medication strongly discouraged; use only under qualified Ayurvedic physician supervision
- Not recommended in pregnancy, lactation, or children; periodic monitoring of liver and kidney function advised for use beyond 3 months; may interact with anticoagulants, thyroid medications, and NSAIDs
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Vati (pill/tablet), Capsule
Standard Dosage: 2 tablets twice daily
Optimal Timing: After meals, twice daily
Storage: Airtight container, cool dry place; guggulu preparations are hygroscopic
Marker Compounds: Guggulsterone Z, Guggulsterone E, Piperine
Vehicle (Anupana): Warm water
Synergistic Combinations
- Key herbs: Guggulu with Triphala, Trikatu, Vidanga + 20 herbs and bhasmas; guggulu potentiates anti-inflammatory and hypolipidemic actions
What manufacturers publish about this preparation
Disclosure first. This site is published by Age Ayurveda, which sells Ayurvedic products, though not this preparation. Every cell states what that company's own product page carried when it was read, not our judgement of it. There is no score, no rank and no winner here, and the table is in alphabetical order for that reason.
The formulary entry above fixes the ingredients and the quantity of each. Whether you can check a particular product against it depends on what its manufacturer publishes. Of the 4 companies surveyed that sell a product under this name, this is what their pages carried when they were read on 8 October 2026.
| Company | What its product page publishes |
|---|---|
| Baidyanath | Neither an ingredient list nor quantities |
| Maharishi Ayurveda | Neither an ingredient list nor quantities |
| Patanjali Ayurved | An ingredient list, without quantities |
| Shree Dhootapapeshwar | Neither an ingredient list nor quantities |
This measures what each company publishes, not the quality of anything it makes. A company that publishes nothing here may make an excellent preparation, and the label in the box is a separate, regulated surface that is not what was read. What disclosure changes is whether a reader, a pharmacist or an answer engine can check a product against the formulary entry it claims.
Method, the full counts across every company surveyed, and what this measurement got wrong the first time: which manufacturers publish what is in the bottle. The URL of every page read is recorded in brand-disclosure.json. If a row here is wrong, including where the correction favours a company other than ours, tell us and we will fix it and say that we did. How the same companies' stated doses compare with the formulary dose, preparation by preparation: Ayurvedic company doses against the Ayurvedic Formulary of India.
Published research
Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.
Laboratory and animal studies1
Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.
Consult a qualified vaidya before acting on anything here. Ayurvedic practice is prescribed to a person, not to a condition: the same dravya is given, withheld or substituted depending on your constitution, your agni, the season and what else you are already taking. A page cannot know any of that. Self-prescribing from a reference is how the wrong preparation, the wrong dose or the wrong anupana gets used.
Educational reference only. Nothing on this page is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a recommendation to take anything. Traditional uses and research findings are reported as published, not as claims about what any product does. If you take prescribed medication, raise any interaction with the prescriber rather than acting on a page. See our editorial standards.