What is Hoodia Gordonii?

Hoodia is a genus of succulent plants in the family Apocynaceae that is widely used traditionally by the San people of southern Africa as an appetite suppressant. Hoodia Gordonii which has grown for thousands of years in the Kalahari Desert region. Hoodia has been used by the indigenous Bushmen as a natural appetite suppressant and thirst quencher during their long hunting trips for generations.

Besides curbing hunger and thirst, Hoodia has also been used to calm abdominal cramps, sooth indigestion, improve energy and mood.

Scientists have been studying the hoodia cactus for 30 years. South Africa's Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) began investigating the plant back in the 1960's, but the ingredient that suppresses appetite was not identified until recently. Once this specific molecule - christened P57 - was isolated, they obtained a patent in 1996 for the compound to be developed into a potential obesity treatment. In 1997 it was licensed to British pharmaceutical company Phytopharm, plc. to begin the development and commercial production of the new patented discovery. The company has spent and estimated $20 million on further research. So, how does it work?

According to Dr. Robert Dixey, CEO of Phytopharm, the compound affects nerve cells in the hypothalamus organ within the brain. "When you eat, blood sugar goes up because of the food, (and) these cells start firing (so you feel full). What hoodia seems to contain is a molecule that is about 10,000 times as active as glucose. It goes to the (hypothalamus) and actually makes those nerve cells fire as if you were full. But you have not eaten. Nor do you want to.

Because of the huge commercial demand for Hoodia Gordonii, the cactus is also now commercially farmed on a limited number of farms in South Africa.

There are actually 20 types of Hoodia but only Hoodia Gordonii contains the appetite supressant so important for weight loss. The active ingredient in Hoodia is called p57.

Hoodia is sold in capsule, liquid, or tea form in health food stores and on the Internet.

If you've looked at Hoodia products, you've no doubt seen different types of Hoodia advertised. There are really 2 main types of Hoodia source materials:

1) 100% Pure Hoodia - This is Hoodia powder ground down from the Hoodia plant leaves. Many experts and and even users claim that 100% Pure Hoodia powder is the most effective form of Hoodia for weight loss.

2) 20:1 Extract (or 10:1 Extract) - This is made by placing the Hoodia plant in alcohol which pulls out the active ingredients into the alcohol. This mixture is then strained to remove the fiber and skins. The alcohol is removed, leaving the hoodia powder.

20:1 means that 1 g of this extract was made by using 20 g of the whole plant. It sounds more potent however many experts actually say the 20:1 extract is much less potent than 100% Pure Hoodia.