on 13 April 2009
The use of Hoodia species, including Hoodia Gordonii, to suppress hunger and thirst appears to be an ancient and widespread practise of the native San Bushmen of southern Africa that was first recorded in 1932. In mid 1960’s, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), South Africa’s national laboratory, began studying Hoodia as part of their investigation of wild South African plants known to be used by indigenous people as bush foods.
During 1983, almost 20 years after the first research study, a detailed investigation found that extracts of hoodia pilifera had appetite suppressing effects in rats. This research was extended into the investigation of Hoodia Gordonii which had uncovered the appetite suppressing effect of this plant. CSIR scientists claimed that lab animals lost weight after they were given Hoodia Gordonii.
Scientists isolated what they believed to be the active ingredient in Hoodia Gordonii, responsible for the appetite suppressing effect, a steroidal glycoside, which they named P57. The CSIR patented the molecule P57 in 1951 and licensed it to Phytopharm, a British pharmaceutical company. In 1998, Phytopharm sub-licensed the rights to develop a weight loss drug using P57 to Pfizer for $21 million. Pfizer returned the rights to Hoodia to Phytopharm, who then began working with Unilever in 2004.
It was believed that Unilever intended to incorporate Hoodia’s P57 into its SlimFast drink range. However, in 2008, Unilever concluded that it was unsuitable to use Hoodia Gordonii in a drink based product and scrapped plans to develop the new diet drink.
In 2001, Phytopharm completed their first research looking into the effect of Hoodia Gordonii in humans. A group of 60 overweight individuals took part in this placebo-controlled study. This study was undertaken in 3 separate phases:
During the first two phases of the study, Phytopharm scientists assessed the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of ascending single doses and of repeated dosing in healthy overweight volunteers.
In the third stage, they investigated the effects on calorie intake in 19 overweight men. Half the people were given pure Hoodia Gordonii, and the other half was given a placebo for 15 days. The men under study have free access to food and had nothing to do but eat, read, and watch television. After 15 days, men taking P57 achieved a 30% reduction in calorie intake and a significant reduction in body fat content by 1 kg. This is despite taking no exercise and not being on a diet.
Other research workers have also confirmed the appetite suppressing effect of extracts obtained from Hoodia species. Scientists at Brown University Medical School in Providence, Rhode Island, investigated the effect of Hoodia Gordonii by conducting various experiments with normal, healthy rats. During this research it was found that food intake was reduced by 50-60% during the first 24 hours in rats which were given pure Hoodia Gordonii.
Hoodia Gordonii Research posted under Hoodia Gordonii Facts