Guggul Extract (Commiphora mukul)
- Raw Material Selection: High-quality guggul gum resin is sourced from the Commiphora mukul tree. The gum exudate is typically collected by making incisions in the bark and allowing the resin to ooze out and harden. Only purified and authenticated gum is used for extraction to ensure efficacy and safety.
- Cleaning and Preparation: The crude guggul resin is cleaned to remove impurities like dust, sand, and bark. It is sometimes soaked in warm water or lime water to soften and purify before processing.
- Drying: The cleaned guggul resin is shade-dried to reduce moisture content and preserve volatile bioactive compounds. Proper drying ensures better yield during extraction.
- Grinding / Pulverization: The dried resin is ground into smaller granules or powder to facilitate better solvent penetration during extraction.
- Extraction Process: Extraction is usually done using hydro-alcoholic solvents (water + ethanol/methanol) or with specialized solvents depending on the target active compounds. The process is performed in stainless steel extractors under controlled temperature and pressure to ensure maximum yield of guggulsterones and other bioactives.
- Filtration and Concentration: The extract is filtered to separate the solid residues. The filtrate is then concentrated under vacuum conditions to reduce solvent and concentrate the active constituents.
- Drying and Standardization: The concentrated extract is dried using spray drying or vacuum drying to get a fine powder. The powder is then standardized to contain a specific percentage of Guggulsterones E & Z (typically 2.5%–10%) using HPLC or UV methods.
- Packaging and Storage: The standardized Guggul extract is packed in airtight, light-resistant containers and stored in a cool, dry place to maintain potency and shelf life.
