Guggul ( Commiphora wightii [Arn.]) Bhandari – from sacred resin to endangered resource: A review

Abstract

Commiphora wightii (Arn.) Bhandari, commonly known as guggul, is an economically and medicinally important shrub of the family Burseraceae valued for its oleo-gum resin used in traditional medicine and modern herbal formulations. Native to the arid and semi-arid regions of the Indian subcontinent, the species has undergone a drastic population decline due to the increasing commercial demand, destructive resin tapping practices, habitat degradation and extremely poor natural regeneration. Consequently, C. wightii has been categorized as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN Red List), highlighting the urgent need for conservation and sustainable management of this valuable plant genetic resource. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the biology, ecology and conservation status of C. wightii , with particular emphasis on factors responsible for its population decline, including reproductive constraints, low-seed viability, unsustainable harvesting of oleo-gum resin, habitat degradation and competition from invasive species. The article further discusses ongoing conservation initiatives and management strategies, including in situ and ex situ conservation approaches, vegetative propagation, tissue culture-based multiplication and domestication through cultivation to reduce pressure on wild populations. Sustainable gum tapping protocols and genetic resource conservation strategies are also highlighted as essential components for long-term recovery. Given its ecological, economic and medicinal importance, the conservation of C. wightii represents a critical priority within the framework of plant genetic resource management. Strengthening conservation programmes, promoting cultivation and developing scientifically guided harvesting practices are essential to ensure the sustainable utilization and long-term survival of this endangered medicinal species.