The South African Research Institute, CSIR, started a study on Hoodia Gordonii, a succulent growing wild in the Kalahari Desert. This plant has a reputation amongst the San tribe as a hunger suppressant. They chew this plant during their long hunting expeditions to prevent hunger. CSIR isolated the active molecule, named it P 57 and patented it in 1997. They sold the rights to a British company, Phytopharm, in 1998 to test and market the product.

In a double blind test, conducted by Phytopharm, 400 mg per day of Hoodia Gordonii powder, for 15 days, reduced the calorie intake by 1,000 compared to the control group. Capsules, pills, tincture and diet gum all followed. This obviously includes genuine as well fly-by-night operators. The only thing that they could not do is to claim that their product is an aid for weight loss. That would be a patent violation. So they market it as a food supplement.

Phytopharm teamed with Pfizer of USA, a pharmaceutical MNC, to produce P 57 synthetically and market the same. But in 2004 Pfizer withdrew from the agreement, as it was not economically viable.

One of the companies marketing the Hoodia capsule is Pure Hoodia, with a registered trademark. They claim that each capsule contains 400 mg of Pure Hoodia Gordonii, imported legally from South Africa, grown in privately owned farms. The recommended dose is 1-2 capsules an hour before each meal. They make no claim that it is a drug, but say that it is an all-natural dietary supplement.

Truth Publishing, a website for independent consumer guidance, came out with a strong accusation against Pure Hoodia. They claim that tests done on Pure Hoodia by Alkanist pharmaceuticals, could not confirm the identity of Hoodia Gordoni. Pure Hoodia capsules do not have 400mg of powder, as claimed by the company, but less. Truth Publishing alleges that the same company also sells products under the brand names Hoodini and Slimtron.

In view of the facts that Pfizer gave up the attempt for synthetic P 57 in 2004, it takes 5-7 years for the plant to mature, there is a limited amount of wild Hoodia in the Kalahari Desert and the trade in Hoodia is restricted by CITES, the guiding factor in Hoodia purchases should be consumer beware.