Metabolic effect of short term administration of Hoodia gordonii, an herbal appetite suppressant

AbstractHoodia gordonii (family: Apocynaceae) is used traditionally by the Khoi-San tribes to control hunger. It has become extremely popular and has triggered commercial interest due to its appetite suppressant property. The present study was undertaken to investigate the appetite regulatory mechanism and associated metabolic changes induced by the herb. Effect of organic solvent extract of H. gordonii on food intake and body weight of male Sprague Dawley rats was monitored at three different doses 50, 100 and 150mg/kg body weight, given orally for five days. Subsequently, the dose of 100mg/kg body weight was selected for further studies on the regulatory hormones and biochemical variables. Dose-dependent reduction in food intake (12–26%) was observed at a dose of 100 and 150mg/kg body weight (p