Authentic Hoodia gordonii grows only in parts of South Africa and Namibia, according to the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. Hoodia gordonii is a succulent plant with blossoms that smell strikingly similar to rotten meat. Consequently, flies tend to pollinate the plants. Certain medicinal effects are attributed to Hoodia gordonii.
Appetite Supression
The primary effect of Hoodia gordonii, the factor that makes it in wide demand, is its ability to suppress appetite. Over the course of several centuries, the flesh from the Hoodia gordoni plant was consumed by the indigenous population in the Kalahari Desert to suppress hunger during extended hunting trips, according to CBSNews.com. The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research identified the specific element in Hoodia gordonii that caused appetite suppression in 1977, calling it P57. British pharmaceutical company Phytopharm obtained a patent for it in 1996, according to the "The Seattle Times."
Gastric Acid Reduction
Research also demonstrates that consuming Hoodia gordonii reduces the level of gastric acid. Individuals who suffer from such conditions as acid reflux benefit from a reduction in the level of acid in the gastro-intestinal system. Studies suggest that Hoodia gordonii reduces the level of acid by 40 to 60 percent, according to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. As is the case with appetite suppression, the element P57 found in Hoodia gordonni is credited with reducing acid levels, according to CBSNews.com.
Unsubstantiated Claim
There are a number of unsubstantiated claims about the effects of Hoodia gordonii. For example, some marketers claim that Hoodia gordonii is effective in lowering blood pressure. As of 2010, no research exists to support this contention, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
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