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African Hoodia Cactus: Cacti Plants And Flowers
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Published: August 29, 2007
For years, scientists and doctors have been looking for the miracle ingredient for weight loss. After ephedra was banned, the quest was exacerbated. Out from the heavens, or rather, the Kalahari Desert, the appetite suppressant came: a spiky, foul-smelling plant commonly referred to as African Hoodia cactus. The African Hoodia cactus, named for its green color, spines and place of growth.
Although the Hoodia Gordonii is usually referred to as African Hoodia cactus, it is not one of the cactus plants. The African Hoodia cactus is actually considered a succulent plant. The leafless plant has fingers, or fleshy branches that are low to the ground. Near to the Hoodia's thorns, the cactus flowers are large and disk shaped. These cactus flowers are pale purple and appear after the plant reaches maturity. Also, the flowers also give off the unpleasant smell of rotting flesh to attract insects that aid in the fertilization of the cactus plants.
Despite the stench of the cactus flowers, bushmen have been eating the African Hoodia cactus for centuries to ward off hunger on long hunting trips. The hunters remove the thorns, cut off the stem and devour the bitter tasting plant. Much of the African Hoodia cactus hype started when a “60 Minutes” reporter traveled to the Kalahari to try the sustenance. She reported that her hunger was suppressed all day and the plant did not taste so bad.
Companies have issued studies about the African Hoodia cactus and its effect on hunger. One study found the molecule found only in African Hoodia cactus, called p57, suppressed the appetite of rats who consumed the plant. In the study however, p57 was injected in the brain of rats, which works differently from humans consuming Hoodia orally. Another study involved a clinical trial of 18 human volunteers. In the study, the volunteers who consumed African Hoodia cactus decreased their food intake by nearly 1000 calories per day. This study may seem significant, but Phytopharm, the company who cites the study, did not publish the study or subject it to a necessary peer-review process.
One former researcher from Pfizer, a larger pharmaceutical company that obtained the rights to the African Hoodia cactus, claimed that although the plant suppressed appetites, it took a toll on the liver. People taking medication, people who have diabetes, and people who are pregnant should also be wary of using the product. Also, African Hoodia cactus suppresses thirst as well as hunger, and may increase the risk of dehydration.
Because of the supply and demand chain and the African Hoodia plant's high cost, many products that claim to use Hoodia do not, or they use less effective dehydrated versions of the plant. It is debatable whether or not independent pharmaceutical companies can even analyze the cactus plants for pure content. However, Desert Burn brand, Hoodoba brand and Hoodia Hoodia brand have all been certified as having Hoodia content. None of these pills are regulated by the FDA.
Although African Hoodia cactus certainly seems to curb hunger, pharmaceutical companies need to engage in more testing before the FDA will approve the drug. Until the FDA gives the African Hoodia cactus its stamp of approval, the drug may be dangerous and have undesirable side effects. It is also important people do not over harvest the African Hoodia cactus, because the flowers are beautiful, and extinction of the plant would disturb the African web of life.
Sources:
Wong, Cathy. "Hoodia Gordonii fact sheet." About, Inc. 2007. 26 August 2007. http://altmedicine.about.com/od/popularhealthdiets /a/hoodia1.htm.
Wong, Cathy. "What are Hoodia Gordonii's Side Effects?" About.Inc. 26 August 2007. http://altmedicine.about.com/od/hoodia/a/hoodiasid eeff.htm.
"Can a cactus plant be a magic bullet for dieters?" Today. 24 October 2005. MSNBC.com. 26 August 2007. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9802459/.
"Hoodia Gordonii." Philippe Faucon. 2005. 26 August 2007. http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Asclepiadac eae/Hoodia_gordonii.html.
"Hoodia Gordonii African Desert Plant." Cellhealthmakeover.com. 26 August 2007. http://www.cellhealthmakeover.com/hoodia-gordonii- cactus-plant.html.
"Sampling the Kalahari Hoodia Diet." BBC News. 30 May, 2003. 26 August 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/corresponden t/2947810.stm.
Hamilton, Patsy. "All about the African Hoodia Cactus." Associated Content. 07 May 2006. 29 August 2007. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/31811/all _about_the_african_hoodia_cactus.html.
Although the Hoodia Gordonii is usually referred to as African Hoodia cactus, it is not one of the cactus plants. The African Hoodia cactus is actually considered a succulent plant. The leafless plant has fingers, or fleshy branches that are low to the ground. Near to the Hoodia's thorns, the cactus flowers are large and disk shaped. These cactus flowers are pale purple and appear after the plant reaches maturity. Also, the flowers also give off the unpleasant smell of rotting flesh to attract insects that aid in the fertilization of the cactus plants.
Despite the stench of the cactus flowers, bushmen have been eating the African Hoodia cactus for centuries to ward off hunger on long hunting trips. The hunters remove the thorns, cut off the stem and devour the bitter tasting plant. Much of the African Hoodia cactus hype started when a “60 Minutes” reporter traveled to the Kalahari to try the sustenance. She reported that her hunger was suppressed all day and the plant did not taste so bad.
Companies have issued studies about the African Hoodia cactus and its effect on hunger. One study found the molecule found only in African Hoodia cactus, called p57, suppressed the appetite of rats who consumed the plant. In the study however, p57 was injected in the brain of rats, which works differently from humans consuming Hoodia orally. Another study involved a clinical trial of 18 human volunteers. In the study, the volunteers who consumed African Hoodia cactus decreased their food intake by nearly 1000 calories per day. This study may seem significant, but Phytopharm, the company who cites the study, did not publish the study or subject it to a necessary peer-review process.
One former researcher from Pfizer, a larger pharmaceutical company that obtained the rights to the African Hoodia cactus, claimed that although the plant suppressed appetites, it took a toll on the liver. People taking medication, people who have diabetes, and people who are pregnant should also be wary of using the product. Also, African Hoodia cactus suppresses thirst as well as hunger, and may increase the risk of dehydration.
Because of the supply and demand chain and the African Hoodia plant's high cost, many products that claim to use Hoodia do not, or they use less effective dehydrated versions of the plant. It is debatable whether or not independent pharmaceutical companies can even analyze the cactus plants for pure content. However, Desert Burn brand, Hoodoba brand and Hoodia Hoodia brand have all been certified as having Hoodia content. None of these pills are regulated by the FDA.
Although African Hoodia cactus certainly seems to curb hunger, pharmaceutical companies need to engage in more testing before the FDA will approve the drug. Until the FDA gives the African Hoodia cactus its stamp of approval, the drug may be dangerous and have undesirable side effects. It is also important people do not over harvest the African Hoodia cactus, because the flowers are beautiful, and extinction of the plant would disturb the African web of life.
Sources:
Wong, Cathy. "Hoodia Gordonii fact sheet." About, Inc. 2007. 26 August 2007. http://altmedicine.about.com/od/popularhealthdiets /a/hoodia1.htm.
Wong, Cathy. "What are Hoodia Gordonii's Side Effects?" About.Inc. 26 August 2007. http://altmedicine.about.com/od/hoodia/a/hoodiasid eeff.htm.
"Can a cactus plant be a magic bullet for dieters?" Today. 24 October 2005. MSNBC.com. 26 August 2007. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9802459/.
"Hoodia Gordonii." Philippe Faucon. 2005. 26 August 2007. http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Asclepiadac eae/Hoodia_gordonii.html.
"Hoodia Gordonii African Desert Plant." Cellhealthmakeover.com. 26 August 2007. http://www.cellhealthmakeover.com/hoodia-gordonii- cactus-plant.html.
"Sampling the Kalahari Hoodia Diet." BBC News. 30 May, 2003. 26 August 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/corresponden t/2947810.stm.
Hamilton, Patsy. "All about the African Hoodia Cactus." Associated Content. 07 May 2006. 29 August 2007. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/31811/all _about_the_african_hoodia_cactus.html.
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