Hoodia
Encyclopedia
Hoodia is a genus
of 13 species in the flowering plant
family
Apocynaceae
, under the subfamily Asclepiadoideae. They are stem succulent
s, described as "cactiform" because of their remarkable similarity to the unrelated cactus
family. They can reach up to 1m high and have large flower
s, often with tan colour and strong smell.
Many Hoodia species are protected plants, typical of the Namib Desert
, ranging from Central Namibia
to southern Angola
, especially in plains and rocky areas. Common names include "Bushman's Hat" and "Queen of the Namib".
Several species are grown as garden
plants, and one species, Hoodia gordonii
, is being investigated for use as an appetite suppressant
. However, in 2008 UK-based Unilever PLC, one of the largest packaged-food firms in the world, abandoned plans to use hoodia in a range of diet products. In a document on Unilever's website entitled "Sustainable Development 2008: An Overview," signed by Paul Polman, CEO, Unilever states: "During 2008, having invested 20 million [pounds] in R&D, Unilever abandoned plans to use the slimming extract hoodia in a range of diet products. We stopped the project because our clinical studies revealed that products using hoodia would not meet our strict standards of safety and efficacy."
Hoodia is currently listed in Appendix II to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which includes species not currently considered endangered but are at risk if trade is not controlled.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of 13 species in the flowering plant
Flowering plant
The flowering plants , also known as Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta, are the most diverse group of land plants. Angiosperms are seed-producing plants like the gymnosperms and can be distinguished from the gymnosperms by a series of synapomorphies...
family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Apocynaceae
Apocynaceae
The Apocynaceae or dogbane family is a family of flowering plants that includes trees, shrubs, herbs, and lianas.Many species are tall trees found in tropical rainforests, and most are from the tropics and subtropics, but some grow in tropical dry, xeric environments. There are also perennial herbs...
, under the subfamily Asclepiadoideae. They are stem succulent
Succulent plant
Succulent plants, also known as succulents or fat plants, are water-retaining plants adapted to arid climates or soil conditions. Succulent plants store water in their leaves, stems, and also in roots...
s, described as "cactiform" because of their remarkable similarity to the unrelated cactus
Cactus
A cactus is a member of the plant family Cactaceae. Their distinctive appearance is a result of adaptations to conserve water in dry and/or hot environments. In most species, the stem has evolved to become photosynthetic and succulent, while the leaves have evolved into spines...
family. They can reach up to 1m high and have large flower
Flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
s, often with tan colour and strong smell.
Many Hoodia species are protected plants, typical of the Namib Desert
Namib Desert
The Namib Desert is a desert in Namibia and southwest Angola that forms part of the Namib-Naukluft National Park, the largest game reserve in Africa. The name "Namib" is of Nama origin and means "vast place"...
, ranging from Central Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
to southern Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
, especially in plains and rocky areas. Common names include "Bushman's Hat" and "Queen of the Namib".
Several species are grown as garden
Garden
A garden is a planned space, usually outdoors, set aside for the display, cultivation, and enjoyment of plants and other forms of nature. The garden can incorporate both natural and man-made materials. The most common form today is known as a residential garden, but the term garden has...
plants, and one species, Hoodia gordonii
Hoodia gordonii
Hoodia gordonii is a leafless spiny succulent plant with medicinal uses. It grows naturally in South Africa and Namibia. The flowers smell like rotten meat and are pollinated mainly by flies. The indigenous Bushmen call this plant ǁhoba ....
, is being investigated for use as an appetite suppressant
Anorectic
An anorectic or anorexic , also known as anorexigenic or appetite suppressant, is a dietary supplement and/or drug which reduces appetite, food consumption, and as a result, causes weight loss to occur.-List of anorectics:Numerous pharmaceutical compounds are marketed as appetite suppressants.The...
. However, in 2008 UK-based Unilever PLC, one of the largest packaged-food firms in the world, abandoned plans to use hoodia in a range of diet products. In a document on Unilever's website entitled "Sustainable Development 2008: An Overview," signed by Paul Polman, CEO, Unilever states: "During 2008, having invested 20 million [pounds] in R&D, Unilever abandoned plans to use the slimming extract hoodia in a range of diet products. We stopped the project because our clinical studies revealed that products using hoodia would not meet our strict standards of safety and efficacy."
Hoodia is currently listed in Appendix II to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which includes species not currently considered endangered but are at risk if trade is not controlled.
Species
- Hoodia alstonii
- Hoodia cactus
- Hoodia currorii (syn. H. lugardii, H. macrantha)
- Hoodia dregei
- Hoodia flava
- Hoodia gordoniiHoodia gordoniiHoodia gordonii is a leafless spiny succulent plant with medicinal uses. It grows naturally in South Africa and Namibia. The flowers smell like rotten meat and are pollinated mainly by flies. The indigenous Bushmen call this plant ǁhoba ....
(syn. Stapelia gordonii, H. barklyi, H. burkei, H. longispina) - Hoodia juttaeHoodia juttaeHoodia juttae is a species of plant in the Asclepiadaceae family. It is endemic to Namibia. Its natural habitats are rocky areas and cold desert. It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:* Craven, P. 2004. . Downloaded on 21 August 2007....
- Hoodia mossamedensis
- Hoodia officinalis (syn. H. delaetiana)
- Hoodia parviflora
- Hoodia pedicellata
- Hoodia pilifera (syn. H. annulata, H. grandis, H. pillansii)
- Hoodia ruschiiHoodia ruschiiHoodia ruschii is a species of plant in the Asclepiadaceae family. It is endemic to Namibia. Its natural habitats are rocky areas and cold desert.-References:* Craven, P. 2004. . Downloaded on 21 August 2007....
(Queen of the Namib) - Hoodia triebneriHoodia triebneriHoodia triebneri is a species of plant in the Asclepiadaceae family. It is endemic to Namibia. Its natural habitat is rocky areas.-References:* Craven, P. 2004. . Downloaded on 21 August 2007....
(syn. H. foetida)