The short answer
Not known in people. We found no study of guggulu taken with warfarin, aspirin or clopidogrel. Lab studies suggest guggul switches on CYP3A4, a liver enzyme, and the warfarin label lists products that switch on CYP3A4, including herbal ones, among those that can change its effect.
Whether guggul would raise or lower the INR, the blood test that shows how long blood takes to clot, is not known. If you take a blood thinner, tell your prescribing doctor before you start guggulu, ask whether your INR should be checked more often, and report any unusual bleeding or bruising.
Warfarin is sold in India as Warf. Low-dose aspirin is sold as Ecosprin.
At a glance
| What was seen | How it may work | Direction | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guggulsterone switched on CYP3A in liver cells[1][2][3] | Activates the pregnane X receptor (PXR), which turns up CYP3A | Could change warfarin levels; direction of INR change not known | In vitro |
No listing is not a clearance. A missing interaction here never means a combination is safe.
The evidence, study by study
Laboratory study, 2004 In vitro
In rodent and human liver cells, guggulsterones, compounds from guggul resin, activated PXR and raised CYP3A, an enzyme family that helps clear many medicines. No people took part, and no blood thinner was tested. The authors advise caution with medicines cleared this way. This is not evidence of a change in INR.[1]
What your doctor may watch for
- INR, if you take warfarin. A raised INR means blood takes longer to clot.[3]
- Unusual bleeding or bruising. INR does not measure the effect of aspirin or clopidogrel.[3]
What to tell your prescribing doctor
You can read this out, or show them this page:
“I am taking, or planning to take, guggulu (name of product, and whether it is plain guggul or a mixture) along with my blood thinner. Lab studies suggest guggul affects a liver enzyme that clears warfarin. Should my INR be checked more often after I start or stop it?”
Withheld until review
Questions people ask
Does guggul thin the blood? (गुग्गुल खून पतला करता है?)
We found no human study we could rely on to say so. The usable evidence for this page is a lab study on liver enzymes, which says nothing direct about bleeding.[1]
Related
Turmeric and blood thinners
Two reports describe a raised INR after turmeric in people on warfarin-type blood thinners. Blood thinners leave little margin.
InteractionHaritaki (harad) and warfarin
We found no study of haritaki with warfarin. A rat study found no effect on the main enzyme that clears warfarin, but slowed a minor one.
InteractionGuggulu and cholesterol medicines (statins)
Guggul raised rosuvastatin levels in rats, and lab work suggests it speeds up an enzyme that clears some statins. We found no study in people.
InteractionArjuna and blood thinners
In the lab, arjuna bark extract slowed platelet clumping and blocked enzymes that clear warfarin. We found no study of bleeding or INR with blood thinners.
Sources
- Brobst DE, Ding X, Creech KL, Goodwin B, Kelley B, Staudinger JL. Guggulsterone activates multiple nuclear receptors and induces CYP3A gene expression through the pregnane X receptor. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2004;310:528-535. PMID 15075359.
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. About Herbs: Guggul.
- Jantoven (warfarin sodium) tablets, US prescribing information (DailyMed). Drug interactions.
Updated 4 November 2026
Taking guggulu with other medicines? A vaidya can check your full list.
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