Identification and Differentiation between Hoodia gordonii (Masson) Sweet ex Decne., Opuntia ficus indica (L.) P. Miller, and Related Hoodia Species Using Microscopy and PCR

Sympathomimetic Activity of a Hoodia gordonii Product: A Possible Mechanism of Cardiovascular Side Effects

Hoodia gordonii, a popular appetite suppressant, is widely used as an ingredient in many food supplements despite the fact that supporting scientific evidence is scarce. Recently alarming side effects of H. gordonii products (increased blood pressure and elevated pulse rate) have been reported. The aim of our study was to elucidate the underlying mechanism of these symptoms. A H. gordonii-conta...

First evidence for the presence of weddellite crystallites in Opuntia ficus indica parenchyma.

Calcium oxalate crystallites occur very often in the plants tissues and their role is still poorly known. We report here the experimental protocol leading to the isolation of two forms of calcium oxalate crystallites differing in their hydration level in the parenchymal tissues of Opuntia ficus indica (Miller). Whereas the whewellite crystallites are habitual in all Opuntia species, the weddell...

The steroid glycoside H.g.-12 from Hoodia gordonii

21 Steroid glycosides extracted from the succulent plant Hoodia gordonii are suggested to have 22 appetite suppressant effects both in animals and humans. Yet, the mechanisms underlying the 23 putative satiety action of Hoodia steroid glycosides are not fully understood. We found that 24 H.g.-12, a steroid glycoside purified from Hoodia gordonii extract, initiated cholecystokinin 25 (CCK) secre...

Promising assets of Southern Africa? Cyclopia genistoides and Hoodia gordonii

University of Szeged Faculty of Pharmacy Department of Pharmacognosy PROMISING ASSETS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA? CYCLOPIA GENISTOIDES AND HOODIA GORDONII Ph.D. Thesis