The South African CSIR

The first scientific investigation of the plant was conducted at South Africa 's Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in the 1960’s. Because Bushmen were known to eat hoodia, it was included in a study of the toxic effects of indigenous foods. These scientists studied the properties of Hoodia and discovered that not only was it not toxic, but it caused weight loss in animals.

They identified a molecule now classified as P57 that is reputed to be responsible for its appetite suppressing qualities. They discovered that steroidal glycosides from the P57 molecule have the ability to affect nerve cells in the hypothalamus that monitors blood glucose. The steroidal glycoside P57 is believed to be 10,000 times stronger than glucose, thus signaling to the central nervous system that the body has consumed enough even before a person has eaten. They obtained a patent for P57 in 1997.

Phytopharm

Additional clinical studies have also shown Hoodia to be an effective aid in controlling appetite. Phytopharm (link to phytopharm below), a pharmaceutical company in Leicester, England performed two clinical studies in 2001, one on animals and the other a human clinical trial.

Animal Trial
In one study, lab animals given Hoodia reduced caloric intake by 30% to 50%.

Human Trial
In the human clinical trial healthy but overweight men were subjected to equal diets and an environment that only allowed sedentary activities such as television watching, sleeping, eating, and reading. Between the Hoodia and placebo group, the Hoodia group reduced caloric intake by approximately 50% or 1000 calories per day.*

Brown University
Similarly, researchers at Brown University in 2004 also concluded that Hoodia has the potential to suppress appetite.

All these studies reaffirm what the Bushmen have known for generations; Hoodia works!

*Source: Phytopharm