How does Hoodia Gordonii work?

No detailed research on hoodia gordonii has been conducted so far. Some studies have reported the hunger suppressant effect of Hoodia Gordonii. In animal studies on hoodia, caloric intake appeared to reduce by 30 to 50 percent.

1. Recently, Phytopharm's Dr. Richard Dixey and researchers at the Brown University in Rhode Island, USA said that the steroidal glycosides (a molecule that is about 100,000 times as active as glucose) present in gordonii hoodia affects nerve cells in brain's hypothalamus that monitor blood glucose. As a result of this, the brain thinks that there is enough sugar in the blood and there is no need to eat any more (the sensation of fullness), disabling the hunger mechanism. Phytopharm is developing the appetite suppressing component, P57 from hoodia gordonii.
    
2. In a research paper [Brain Res. 2004 Sep 10;1020(1-2):1-1]), the researchers have isolated steroidal glycoside from hoodia gordonii and found to have a likely central (CNS) mechanism of action.
    
3. In a recent clinical trial in Leicester, England, volunteers were given hoodia gordonii plant extract. After 15 days, they had reduced their caloric intake by 1000 calories per day. The important point to note that in this trial, none of the volunteers did any exercise. This trial study shows that the hoodia gordonii extract reduces hunger or curbs appetitive.