What Is Hoodia Gordonii Stem Extract?

Hoodia gordonii is marketed mainly for appetite control. In diet-products marketing, in just a matter of a few years it has become synonymous with easy weight loss, replacing the banned ephedra. There is some scientific support for its metabolic claims, as well traditional usage and personal testimonials. Herbal marketers have climbed on board, many with inferior imitations, a few with the real thing. To choose the best for yourself, learn more about this succulent plant.

Historical Usage

• The vast Kalahari Desert gives us the Hoodia gordonii plant.

  The April 2003 issue of "National Geographic" included an extensive article on the San Bushmen and their use of Hoodia gordonii. The sources for this cactus-like succulent plant are quite limited--South Africa, Angola, Botswana and Nimibia. For thousands of years in the Kalahari desert, the bushmen used parts of this plant to cope with hunger. Greater interest in this plant began in 1963 when South Africa's national laboratory began to study it. Their experiments showed that animals that were given Hoodia gordonii lost weight. The British company Phytopharm did further research and concluded that the plant's effectiveness was due to a steroidal glycoside, which they named p57. Since then, this company has invested more than $20 million (as of 2010) in research on Hoodia. Several other companies joined the research, mainly Pfizer and Unilever.

The Stem Extract

• Out of the approximate 20 types of Hoodia, the only variety that has been identified to contain p57 is Hoodia gordonii. But the pharmaceutical companies have not been able as yet to manufacture a synthetic form of p57. Perhaps they never will, for the costs are very high. Herbalists agree that only the Hoodia gordonii from the Kalahari Desert is effective for suppressing the appetite, and only a portion of it--the stem extract. Yet, the supply of this plant is insufficient to meet the growing demand.

Difficulties in Securing Hoodia Gordonii

• There is little control over the quality of herbal products on the market. When the news media touted the effectiveness of Hoodia gordonii for weight control, dozens of distributors saw dollar signs. But this exact Hoodia is not easy to secure and costs can be high. So, according to Mike Adams of News Target website, at least two-thirds of the Hoodia products are impure, poorly formulated and untested by independent labs. You can't trust "independent" websites either, for some were created by distributors themselves to make their product appear superior to others.

Guidelines for Buyers

• "Whole Hoodia plant concentrate" is not the same as the effective extract. Not just any Hoodia will do. It should be Hoodia gordonii from the Kalahari desert. You'll want an independent lab test to verify this, along with the concentration of the extract. Some companies claim lower prices than others, even lower than the raw costs of the plant. They could be using imports from China or Mexico, costing about one-quarter as much as that from the Kalahari.

Side Effects

• Clinical studies have not been done on long-term results. The main problem with any diet product is a person's dependence or overuse as a way to lose weight. Nutrition and exercise must be combined with effective supplements. Also, be aware that some manufacturers add other ingredients, such as caffeine and ephedrine, to their Hoodia. These can cause jitters, sleepiness and rapid heart rate.