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In 1937 a Dutch anthropologist noticed that the nomadic hunters of the Kalahari Desert in South Africa used a plant to help stave off hunger and thirst. This plant was Hoodia Gordonii. It was found that these South African hunters used the stem of this plant when food and water became scarce. Albeit not the tastiest plant, but the desired affect was produced. Fast forward to present day and Hoodia is now the leading drug available for weight loss.
The 20th Century Discovery
Even though the use for Hoodia was discovered in 1937 it would take almost three more decades before scientists began to study its weight loss properties. It was in 1963 that the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in South Africa reported their findings. It was found that in a lab setting, animals fed the Hoodia Gordonii plant did indeed lost weight. The British pharmaceutical company, Phytopharm, took notice of Hoodia in the 1990’s and further tests were performed.
It was this British pharmaceutical company that discovered the "P57" compound in Hoodia that is the active molecule responsible for the appetite suppressant properties. "P57" was then patented in 1995 and it is said that Phytopharm spent about 20 million dollars conducting further research on "P57." Phytopharm them sub-liscenced the rights to Hoodia in 1998 to Pfizer who is currently one of the leading manufactures of Hoodia.
The Hoodia Gordonii plant truly is amazing in its weight loss ability. But manufacturers have a slight dilemma to contend with. The Hoodia Gordonii plant requires extreme conditions for survival, such as high temperature and can take four to five years for maturation. Pharmaceutical companies can perform research, but it takes mother nature to germinate and grow a plant.
If you are interested in Hoodia, it is recommended to take the product for a length of time. You may notice an immediate effect, but for some it can take a few weeks before any difference in appetite is noticed. You may need to also adjust your dosage. Each person will require a different amount for optimal results. To date there are no known side effects to Hoodia.
Source: by Rachael Wellwood, from EzineArticles.com |
