Is The Jury Still Out On Hoodia?

It has been suspected for more than 40 years that the tiny hoodia gordonii plant, indigenous to South Africa , might contain qualities that could be used as an appetite suppressant. The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) evaluated numerous native South African plants looking for those that might have potential as marketable food products. However, it wasn't until British pharmaceutical giant Phytopharm became involved in 1995 that the p57 molecule was identified and patented. It is p57 which is believed to contain hoodia gordonii's powerful appetite suppressing qualities.

Building on what CSIR had done, Phytopharm began working with Pfizer, allowing them the rights to develop pure p57. Phytopharm's goal was to develop a synthetic version of the molecule. Since then, Phytopharm has developed a relationship with Unilever, most commonly known as a parent company for the widely popular line of SlimFast weight loss products. Together, Phytopharm and Unilever are working on a new supplement based on p57. It is also speculated that Phytopharm continues its own development of the p57 molecule with intentions of using it in a powerful prescription drug that would help treat metabolic and extreme obesity problems.

Today, products that contain some form of hoodia can be purchased just about anywhere. You can find these products online, and in drug and grocery stores across the world. While many supplement manufacturers advertise that their products contain pure hoodia gordonii, they continue to very careful about claims that their products contain pure hoodia p57. Hoodia gordonii, as a naturally occurring plant, cannot be patented by companies such as Phytopharm or its partners. But, the p57 molecule can, and is, patented. However, because most hoodia gordonii products are made from entirely ground hoodia plants, they will inevitably contain will contain some form of the p57 molecule as part of their being.

We can only speculate how much more effective any product with Phytopharm's patented p57 molecule might be when compared to products that use the entire hoodia gordonii plant. What we can be sure of is that controls have become tighter over what claims are being made by manufacturers now. Media and watchdog groups have called the question as to whether certain manufacturer's products contain exactly what their products advertise. As a result, some producers of hoodia gordonii products have begun posting certifications of authenticity on their websites, certifying that that they use true hoodia gordonii from South Africa .