The question how does hoodia work is still being studied. Many scientists agree that it works as an appetite suppressant and clinical trials are concerned with issues concerning dosages, drug interactions and other factors. Scientists at Brown University discovered the connection between a portion of the brain called the hypothalamus and appetite. The San of southern Africa knew nothing about hoodia’s affected on the brain. They only knew that it kills their hunger and thirst.
Council for Scientific and Industrial Research were not concerned about how hoodia works. They were evaluating what is called “bush food” to determine toxicity and possibly for use as food or drugs. The connection between hypothalamus and hoodia was not made at this time. They discovered that animals which have eaten an extract of hoodia gordonii lost weight, but the weight loss didn’t appear due to any toxic affect.
Researches by Phytopharm and later Pfizer which began in 1995 didn’t address the issue of how does hoodia work, but does hoodia work. Phytopharm performed a double blind study of overweight people. After two weeks, those who had taken the extract had lost body fat. Phytopharm does not mention anything about the hypothalamus and the role played by the hypothalamus in appetite.
A study at Brown Medical School, in which the p57 molecule was isolated, revealed the hypothalamus hoodia link. A study group was given p57 molecule while a control group - with placebo. After 24 hours there was an increase in neurotransmitter and cell energy source in hypothalamic neurons and a decrease in food intake in the study group. While the control group was fed a low calorie diet for four days and exhibited a decrease of ATP in the hypothalamus of 30-50%. The control group was injected with the hoodia extract and the decrease was blocked. Interpreting the hypothalamus, hoodia and ATP results in simplest terms. This research shows that the part of the brain responsible for hunger, thirst and many other things temporarily blocks the hunger and thirst sensations and relays a sense of fullness, because hoodia gordonii causes an increase in ATP, which normally decreases when food intake is reduced.