Hoodia Studies On Rats
According to the investigations carried out by scientists at Brown University Medical School situated in Providence, Rhode Island, the molecule P57 found in hoodia acts as an appetite suppressant. The scientists tried to discover the biochemical mechanism responsible for causing fullness or satiety. According to the scientists, knowing this mechanism was important for future findings related to obesity. They carried a variety of experiments on healthy and normal rats by injecting them with some quantity of P57 extracted from pure hoodia gordonii. Precisely, they put the molecule directly into a region called the third intracerebral ventricle lying just above the hypothalamus, which is present deep inside the forebrain. This part of the brain also happens to be a primordial region in the brain. As a part of the limbic system it controls various functions and drives including sex, appetite, mood and sleep. P57 may also be responsible for regulating hypothalamic ATP(adenosine triphosphate — the energy compound) to the extent of 100%. Such a high ATP concentration makes the hypothalamus inform the brain to stop food consumption.
During research the scientists subjected the animals to diets low in calorie. As a result the level of hypothalamic ATP present in their bodies declined considerably. On the other hand when administered P57 with a calorie controlled diet the animals showed normal hypothalamic ATP levels. Hoodia by increasing the levels of ATP may control hunger pangs associated with low-calorie diets. P57 works just as starch, sugar and other calories. However, one major difference is that it does not include any calories that may lead to increasing weight. It is far more potent than sugar as an appetite suppressant. In fact, it is 10,000 times more effective as compared to glucose.
The research trials showed that the food consumption reduced to the extent of 50% to 60% in the initial 24 hours post injections. The dose-dependent effect continued for around 24 to 48 hours. The Brown researchers also reported that in many unpublished studies carried out on humans and rats, pure hoodia gordonii led to a reduction in hunger that continued for about 8 weeks. The studies also comprised certain experiments on obese diabetic rats in which hoodia gordonii is believed to have achieved diabetes reversal.
