Hoodia Gordonii: The Wonder Plant

The hoodia gordonii, just as other Hoodia species, has a cacti-form, which makes it easily mistaken as a cactus although it is not related to the cactus family. It is a spiny and succulent plant, bearing huge purple-colored stinky flowers. It has spiny stems, which can branch as much as fifty. It can usually reach an average height of 18 inches but at a perfect environment, it can grow as tall as 1 meter and weigh around 30 kilos. It also bears purple flowers, which bloom in August or September. Its seeds appear in October and November and from afar, they resemble like small goat horns, that they are colloquially called bokhorings by the Afrikaans.

Although the plant Hoodia is widespread through a large extent of the African continent, the species Hoodia gordonii, however, can only be found in the countries of Namibia and South Africa. It can thrive in extreme environments like high temperatures above 40° Celsius and low temperatures like -3° Celsius.

They are abundant in the sands of the Kalahari Desert, on rocky areas and flat terrains. They could naturally live a good 15 years but under a perfect environment, they could last 10 years longer.

Hoodia gordonii is used in Africa as garden plant although it is difficult to propagate. Although it tastes bitter, it is also consumed as food. It's more popular use, however, is for medicinal purposes like as cure for indigestion and small infections. It is even an alternative medicine for other severe diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. Its most popular therapeutic use, however, is for weight loss.

Records show that in the Kalahari Desert, the San Bushmen, one of the world's most primitive and oldest tribes, had been using Hoodia gordonii as a natural appetite and thirst suppressant for around 20,000 years already. During long hunting trips and famine, when food and water are scarce, the San Bushmen eat the plant to curb their hunger and thirst.

According to the scientists at the Center for Scientific and Industrial Research in South Africa, the plant contains a molecule known as P57, which is proven to suppress appetite. In a clinical study conducted in Leicester, England, results showed that severely obese men and women who were given Hoodia reduced their calorie intake as much as 1,000 a day.

Although records show that the San Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert had been using Hoodia gordonii as an appetite suppressant since time immemorial, it was only in 1977, that it was found and proven by the South African Council for Scientific Research or the CSIR, when it was able to isolate the molecule P57 from the plant, which is an appetite suppressant. It was only in 1996, however that the component P57 was patented.

In 1998, the CSIR granted the pharmaceutical company Pfizer and a UK company, Phytopharm, to conduct synthesis tests on the product. The former, however withdrew from the project in 2002. In the same year, the San Bushmen, known to be the first users of the plant as appetite suppressant, were granted the right over the profits and commissions from growing and selling hoodia.

In April 2006 Today, Unilever, maker of food products, has entered into a partnership with Phytopharm for the synthesizing P57. They are currently moving towards Stage 2 of the 5 research programs on the appetite suppressant effects of hoodia gordonii.