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Article: Hoodia gordonii: Part II; separating science from speculation.
- Article from:
- Townsend Letter: The Examiner of Alternative Medicine
- Article date:
- December 1, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 The Townsend Letter Group. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Introduction
Hoodia gordonii is a succulent plant from South Africa that has appetite-suppressant properties. (1-3) Hoodia has been used as a dietary supplement, derived by drying the aerial parts of the plant, (3) or as a source of extracted steroidal glycosides to induce weight loss in experimental animals and humans. (4-14) Ethnobotanical studies document the use of whole, fresh, plant material by San Bushmen as a way of suppressing appetite, thirst, and hunger pangs during nomadic hunting expeditions in desert regions of South Africa. (1-3) Animal and limited human studies have shown that extracts of Hoodia gordonii can reduce body weight in free feeding rats ...