@article{ref1,
title="Hoodia gordonii: to eat, or not to eat",
journal="Journal of ethnopharmacology",
year="2014",
author="Smith, Carine and Krygsman, Annadie",
volume="155",
number="2",
pages="987-991",
abstract="Ethnopharmacological relevance: Hoodia gordonii (family Apocynaceae) has become known globally for its claimed effect of appetite suppression. Despite a relatively large body of evidence of the plant's chemical make-up, peer-reviewed studies to provide scientific information on physiological effects of Hoodia gordonii are relatively sparse. The role of the pregnane glycoside P57 - commonly accepted to be responsible for appetite suppression - has been questioned recently. Furthermore, a variety of physiological side-effects associated with consumption of the plant in extracted form questions its suitability for consumption. Although adverse effects have been described before, the relative abundance of non-peer-reviewed data originating from patent documents and lay publication for advertising, which specifically only focus on beneficial outcomes, skews the view of the risk-benefit-balance. Here we provide a review of peer-reviewed studies on the plant's physiological effects. Novel data from an in vivo rodent study further elucidate the benefit-to-risk ratio associated with consumption. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that although Hoodia gordonii seems to have a desired effect on appetite and weight loss, this effect may at least in part be a secondary symptom of the serious adverse effects that are associated with consumption of the high doses required to achieve therapeutic clinical effect.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0378-8741",
doi="10.1016/j.jep.2014.06.033",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2014.06.033"
}