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? Hoodia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Gentianales Family: Apocynaceae Subfamily: Asclepiadoideae Tribe: Stapeliae Genus: Hoodia
Species
See text

Hoodia is a genus in the plant family Apocynaceae, in the part of the family previously treated as a separate family Asclepiadaceae. They are stem succulents that can reach up to 1 m high and present exuberant flowers, often with flesh colour and strong smell. Hoodias are protected plants, typical of the Namib Desert, ranging from Central Namibia to southern Angola, especially in plains and rocky areas. Common names include "Bushman's Hat" and "Queen of the Namib". The indigenous Bushmen call this plant Xshoba.

Hoodias are also grown as garden plants. Species and varieties:

• Hoodia gordonii
• Hoodia macrantha
• Hoodia officinale
• Hoodia ruschii (Queen of the Namib)

Investigation of Hoodia gordonii as an appetite suppressant

The medicinal use of Hoodia is long known by the indigenous populations of Southern Africa, who infrequently use these plants for treating indigestion and small infections.

United Kingdom-based Phytopharm teamed with drug giant Pfizer to isolate active ingredients and look into synthesizing the extracts for use as an appetite suppressant. Pfizer released the rights to the primary ingredient in 2002. Paul Hutson, associate professor in the University of Wisconsin, Madison School of Pharmacy, told the Wisconsin State News, "For Pfizer to release something dealing with obesity suggests to me that they felt there was no merit to its oral use" (Rath 2005).

Only one scientific study has been published, and in that clinical trial the extract was injected directly into the brain of rats (MacLean 2004). No published double-blind scientific trials have been performed on humans to investigate the safety or effectiveness of Hoodia gordonii in pill form as a nutritional supplement. Hoodia has not been evaluated or approved by regulators at the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or Health Canada, so it is illegal to import it as a dietary supplement.

Since then, Slim-Fast manufacturer Unilever has been working with Phytopharm to release Hoodia-based products in 2008 after additional research.

Lack of scientific evidence or regulatory approval have not stopped dietary supplement companies from marketing Hoodia gordonii extracts with claims that it can lower blood pressure and reduce the appetite. Goen Technologies Corporation's TrimSpa unit began marketing Hoodia gordonii under the brand name X32 with celebrity spokesperon Anna Nicole Smith, even though FDA has notified Trimspa that it hasn’t demonstrated that the product is safe or effective.

The press coverage and heavy marketing by nutritional supplement companies have created such a demand for Hoodia plants that a protected status was imposed in several countries like Namibia. Many products claiming to contain hoodia do not actually contain the active ingredient alleged to suppress appetite.

References and external links

• Hoodia gordonii is no miracle weight loss pill, health investigation reveals. News Target, 5 December 2004.
• Rath, Jay. New Drug Tempting Dieters, But Experts Debate Hoodia's Merits. Wisconsin State Journal September 5, 2005, D1.
• African Plant May Help Fight Fat. CBS News 60 Minutes, Nov. 21, 2004.
• Hoodia gordonii information via hoodiascam.com.
• Phytopharm website
• Hoodia gordonii (Masson) Sweet ex Decne via Germplasm Resources Information Network (USDA).
• MacLean DB, Luo LG. Increased ATP content/production in the hypothalamus may be a signal for energy-sensing of satiety: studies of the anorectic mechanism of a plant steroidal glycoside. Brain Res. 2004 Sep 10;1020(1-2):1-11.
• Hawaleshka, Danylo. Hoodia love: An appetite suppressant used by Bushmen is the diet world's newest fad. Macleans, August 03, 2005.

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