Garcinia Cambogia
Latin Name: Garcinia cambogia
Common Names: citrin, gambooge, Brindal
Berry, Gorikapuli, HCA, Hydroxycitric acid, Malabar Tamarind
Synonyms: Gutta gamba. Gummigutta. Tom Rong.
Gambodia. Garcinia Morella.
Saskrit name: Vrikshamla, Kankusta
Other Common Names of Garcinia Cambogia: Brindle
berry, brindall berry, garcinia, malabar tamarind,gambooge, gorikapuli, uppagi,
garcinia kola, mangosteen oil tree.
Introduction : Garcinia cambogia is a small,
sweet, exotic fruit native to South India and Southeast Asia. Garcinia has
garnered a lot of attention of late as a popular natural weight loss aid. The
reason is that the rind of this pumpkin like fruit is rich in a substance
called hydroxycitric acid / HCA, a principle extract of Garcinia cambogia.
Garcinia is a source for a revolutionary natural diet ingredient which is
currently a rage in America, Japan, Europe, and other western countries.
It flowers during the hot season and fruits ripen during
the rainy season..The fruit is harvested, dried and ground into a powder.
Garcinia cambogia extract is the calcium salt of hydroxyl
citric acid (Both 50% and 60% hydroxy citric acids are available), which is
obtained from water extract of Garcinia cambogia fruit .
It is non-toxic, tasteless, odorless powder and found to
be very effective herbal medicine for controlling obesity and cholesterol by
inhibiting lipogenesis in our body. It is a well established fat burning agent
all over the world.
Chemical Constituents: The plant contains
various chemical constituents such as Xanthones, Benzophenones,Garcinol and
plant acids like (-) Hydroxy Citric Acid, Maleic acid, Citric acid.
HCA is naturally occurring fruit acid found in the outer
layer covering of the fruits of Garcinia cambogia.
HCA is highly unstable and therefore extracted as a salt
of preferably as calcium or potassium.
Therapeutic Uses:
The active constituent in this herb is called
Hydroxycitric acid or HCA and is gaining a reputation for assisting weight loss
through appetite suppression and by reducing the body’s ability to form
adipose(fatty) tissue during times of overeating.
* Garcinia has also been historically used to treat
gastric ulcers. A 2002 study indicates this herb works primarily through the
action of one of these plant’s constituents, garcinol.Garcinol is known to
lower acidity in the stomach and protects the gastric mucosa.
* The rind of garcinia cambogia is also astringent, which
is why it was also historically used in the treatment of diarrhoea and dysentry
as well as having the added benefit in the treatment of gastric and duodenal
ulcers.
* The ability for Garcinia’s component, HCA, to reduce
blood lipid levels and lower blood cholesterol is another feature of this
amazing natural medicine.
* More recently, it has been proposed that Garcinia
cambogia has a hepato protective ability against external toxins, such as
alcohol. A recent study showed that Garcinia prevented liver cells from
becoming fibrotic and stopped cell damage caused by high blood lipid levels.
*Garcinia cambogia, an exotic fruit grown in South India,
has been used to impart a distinctive sour flavour to Indian cooking. It is the
source for a revolutionary natural diet ingredient which is currently a rage in
America, Japan, Europe and other western countries.
Plant Description : Garcinia cambogia is a
moderate-sized, evergreen tree and the flowers are unisexual, sessile and
axillary. The leaves are dark green, shining, elliptic to obovate. It bears
sweet-sour mixed fruits native to SE Asia and India. The fruit may resemble a
small yellow or reddish pumpkin, or it may have a unique purple color. The
fruit of Garcinia cambogia has been traditionally used in food preparation and
cooking, having a distinctive taste. Garcinia has garnered a lot of attention
of late as a popular natural weight loss aid. The reason is that the rind of
this pumpkin like fruit is rich in a substance called hydroxycitric acid / HCA.
History : In Ayurveda, it is said that the
sour flavors, such as those from Garcinia, activate digestion. Garcinia has
also been considered to make foods more filling and satisfying, and has been
used routinely for many centuries with no known toxicity. This herb has been
used historically in India to support the treatment of various health
conditions.
Garcinia the 'cambodge tree' is a good-sized glabrous and
evergreen tree belonging to the family Clusiaceae and presently known under the
scientific name, Garcinia Cambogia (L.). It is commonly seen in the western
ghats of Kerala, Karnataka, and in Sri Lanka. In Kerala the tree is seen in
plenty in mid-Travencore tract and in Karnataka in Konkan tract. Garcinia shows
wide variability in yield, growth habit, and fruit qualities. Both male and
hermaphrodite trees are met with in the genus.
The tree is very much adapted to both hilltops and plain
lands alike. But, its performance is best in riverbanks and valleys. It grows
well in dry or occasionally water logged or flooded soils. Usually seedling
takes 10-12 years to start bearing. The percentage of male trees in population
varies from 50-60 per cent and this also creates much difficulty in the
cultivation of the crop. Problems such as lack of high yielder, planting grafts
prepared from elite mother trees can solve variability in population and
occurrence of male trees.
The economic part of the plant is its mature fruit which
are highly acidic. The rinds of the ripe fruit are processed and used as a
condiment in fish and prawn preparations to impart flavour and taste and to
improve the keeping quality. The extracts obtained from the mature fruit rind,
Hydroxy Citric Acid, attracts foreign markets - thanks to its use in medicines
controlling obesity. It is also one of the ingredients in many ayurvedic
medicines.
Varieties
Even though garcinia is one of the oldest tree spices of
the State, only recently that it has attained international importance. Hence
research work in the field of crop improvement and crop husbandry is very
meagre. Most of the trees in the field are of seedling origin and hence they
exhibit wide variability. Recently Kerala Agricultural University has
identified a few promising types which are being multiplied for cultivation.
Planting Materials
Use grafts prepared through Soft grafting/ side grafting
or the healthy seedlings raised in the nursery, for cultivation. If seedlings
are planted, 50-60 percent will be male, and hence planting of grafts are
advocated as they ensure maternal characters and early bearing tendency.
Propagation by seedlings
Selection of mother trees: Mother trees which give steady
annual yield, having a mean fruit weight of 200-275g, high acid content and low
tannin content are located, Seeds are collected from freshly harvested and
fully ripened fruits and washed in running water and spread in a thin layer
under roof. By twentieth day, seeds will be ready for sowing. Seeds at the rate
two per bag are sown in poly bags during the month of August-September. It
takes five to seven months for the seed to start germination. Usually seeds
start sprouting in the month of December and they come above the soil surface
by February. In order to avoid delayed germination, simple seed treatment
methods are employed.
Method 1: Processed seeds (after drying under
shade) are given a mechanical treatment. Seed coat of such seeds are removed
using a sharp knife without injuring the ivory coloured cotyledon. These ivory
coloured cotyledons are sown afresh in poly bags at a depth of 2 inches and
they start germinating in 20-25 days after sowing.
Method 2: Seeds, after removing the seed
coat, are treated with gibberelic acid @ 250 ppm for six hours, and later they
are soaked in Dithane M-45 @ 4g/I for two hours. They are sown in nursery bags
and irrigated daily. Seeds germinate in 16-20 days time.
Method 3: After removing the seed coat, seeds
treated with gibberelic acid @ 250 ppm for six hours, and later they are soaked
in Dithane M-45 @ 4g/I for two hours. These seeds are then transferred to a
white poly propylene cover of the size 20 cm x 25 cm along with 30-50 ml of
filtered water. The poly bag along with the air inside is tied tightly using a
rubber band. Such seeds germinate in 10-12 days after sowing. In a poly bag,
about 500-750 seeds can be incubated at a time. Sprouted seeds are picked up
and sown in the nursery bags kept under shade.
Raising seedlings: Seedlings can be kept
under open condition or under shade. They are to be watered regularly on
alternate days during summer months. Those seedlings, which are kept under
shade, after 3-4 months, are placed under direct sun light to trigger growth.
At this age, apply FYM @ 50g per bag. In six to seven months time, seedlings
will be ready for planting.
Propagation by grafting
Seedling usually takes 10-12 years for bearing. Fifty
percent of the population will be male and unproductive. There will be
variation in the inheritance of maternal characters in the progenies. For these
reasons, grafts are preferred to seedlings. Grafts start bearing in three-four
years time, true to type progenies are obtained, height of the tree can be
controlled and more number of trees can be planted in a unit area. Two types of
grafting methods are employed: soft-wood grafting and approach grafting.
Soft wood grafting
Scions are selected only from specific elite trees
showing regular bearing tendency, yielding large sized and quality fruits.
Collection of scions: Straight growing,
healthy young shoots emerging from the primary branches with whorled leaf arrangement
are selected. They are cut at a length of 6-10 cm length and stored in poly
bags under humid condition. Leaves are partly removed and the cut end is shaped
to a wedge of three-four cm long by giving slanting cuts on the two opposite
sides.
Preparation of root stock: Stock plants
having 3-4 mm stem thickness is ideal for grafting. Selected plants will be
deheaded at two nodes below the terminal bud and all the leaves are partly
removed. Grafting is done using scion and root stock of same thickness.
Grafting: The wedge of the scion is inserted
into the cleft of the root stock and the graft joint is secured firmly by black
polythene tape of 1.5-2 cm wide and 30 cm long.
Care In the nursery: Immediately after
grafting they are kept either in mist house or covered with transparent
poly-propylene cover and kept under shade. By the thirtieth day the grafts
would have established and new leaves start emerging. The grafts are then
removed from the mist house or the polythene cover and kept under shade. Grafts
are to be watered daily using rose can or microsprinkler. Care should be taken
to remove sprouts emerging from root stock at frequent intervals. Three months
after grafting the plants will be ready for planting in the main field. just
before planting in the main field the grafts are left under open condition for
hardening.
Approach grafting: Here also stock plants
having three-four mm thickness are preferred and they are brought to the place
where the mother tree is located. Grafting is done as in other crops and they
are kept intact for 45 days by which time union occurs. Graft is detached from
the mother tree in three steps. The main disadvantage is that only a limited
number of grafts can be produced in this method. Forty five days after grafting,
they will be ready for transferring to the main nursery for hardening. Grafts
are to be watered daily using rose can or micro-sprinkler. Care should be taken
to remove sprouts emerging from rootstock at frequent intervals. Leaf folder
pests are very common in the nursery. Spray Ekalux @ 2ml/L of water at monthly
intervals.
Planting and Management of Plantations
The crop can be raised as a pure or as a perennial
intercrop of coconut, arecanut etc. Pits of the size 75x75x75 cm in hard and
laterite soils, 50x50x50 cm in sandy and alluvial soils, at a spacing of 4m x
4m for grafting and 7m x 7m for seedlings, are prepared. In hill slopes of 15%
or more, for planting grafts rows are spaced at 5 to 5.5 m and 3.5m between
trees in a row. For planting seedlings, rows are spread at 8 to 12 m apart and
at 6 to 8 m for trees in row. Planting is generally done during July-October
months. Under existing coconut plantations of 25 years and above, spacing shall
be so adjusted that it should alternate with the palms in the rows. Under
Kuttanad conditions, where bunds and channels alternate, planting can be done
in between two palms. Planting pits are filled with top soil and two kg of
compost or well decomposed cattle manure and Iog of sevin or lindane dust, to
avoid white ants attack, before planting. The graft union shall remain just
above the ground level. Plants are to be supported with bamboo split of 2.5'
long. One month after planting the polythene tape around the graft union is
gently removed.
Manuring
Apply 10 kg of cattle manure or compost per
seedling/graft during the first year. Increase the quantity gradually till a well
grown tree of 15 years and above receives 50 kg of organic manure per year.
Apply NPK mixture at the rate of 20:18:50 g/plant during the first year. This
is doubled in the second year and gradually increased to 500:250: 1000
g/plant/year so as to obtain full dose at 15th year onwards.
Purning
Grafts will grow fast from second year onwards. Strong
support of casuarina poles are to be given at this stage. By fifth year the
tree will have 3 to 4m height. From third year onwards some of the fast growing
branches are to be pruned so as to balance the weight. In the fifth year the
height of the plant may be maintained at 3.5 to 4m and by seventh year at 4 to
4.5m.
Pests and Diseases
Hard scales and beetles are the common pests infesting
the crop. The hard scales desap the leaves and tender shoots. Both the beetles
and grubs defoliate the crop inflicting heavy loss on yield. These can be
controlled by spraying Rogor or Nuvacron @ 1.5 ml/l. Sooty mould is seen
associated with the hard scales. Seedling blight in the nursery stage is very
common and this can be controlled by spraying I% Bordeaux mixture or Dithane M
45 @ 4 g/l. Leaf folders are very common in the nursery. Spray Ekalux @ 2ml/lit
at monthly intervals to control the pest.
Harvesting
Seed-grown plants start bearing generally at the age of
10-12 years. Grafts start bearing from the third year onwards and will attain
the stage of full bearing at the age of 12 to 15 years. Flowering occurs in
January-March and fruits mature in July. There are reports of off season
bearers, which bear two times a year, ie., during january-july and
September-February. Mature fruits which are orange yellow in colour, either
drop from the tree or are harvested manually. The fruit rind is separated for
processing immediately after harvest.
Processing
Separated fruit rind is first sun dried and then either
smoked or oven dried. In order to increase the storage life and impart
softness, the dried rind is mixed with common salt @ 150 g and coconut oil @ 50
ml per kg of dried rind.
Method for collection of the Resin : In order
to obtain the gum-resin incisions are made into the tree, or a large slice is
pared from the bark, from which the juice flows thick, viscid, and
bright-yellow, which is scraped off and dried in the sun. If left on the tree,
it speedily concretes into dry tears or irregular masses.
1.Ceylon gamboge:- It is generally collected, by
making incisions into the bark, into which bamboo joints are inserted to catch
the oozing fluid, which subsequently solidifies. It is removed from the bamboo
by slowly rotating them over a fire until the water has dried out sufficiently
to allow the receptacle to be detached from the hardened gamboge.
2.Pipe gamboge:- The best kinds are the pipe
gamboge, consisting of cylindrical pieces, often cohering together, forming irregular
masses weighing several pounds.
Phytochemistry : The plant contains acids
tartaric, citric and phosporic. The latex of Garcinia cambogia contains two
polyisoprenylated benzophenone derivatives, camboginol (I) and cambogin (II).
Chemistry : The major phytoconstituent in
Garcinia cambogia is Hydroxycitric acid. This principal acid has been found to
suppress the fatty acid synthesis, lipogenesis, food intake, and promotes
glycogenesis, gluconeogenesis and induced weight loss.
How it works : Garcinia Cambogia fills the
glycogen stores in the liver and other tissues, thereby reducing appetite while
increasing energy levels. Garcinia Cambogia lowers the production of
triglycerides and cholesterol and may also increase thermogenesis, the burning
of calories. Unlike chemical stimulants commonly used in weight loss products,
Garcinia Cambogia does not act on the central nervous system. This means that
Garcinia Cambogia will not cause insomnia, nervousness, changes in blood
pressure or heart rate and its effectiveness will not diminish with time.
Who can take Garcinia? Because herbal medicines are
relatively mild and gentle on the human body, Garcinia can be taken by
practically everyone, regardless of age and gender. Garcinia can be taken for
the following reasons:
· Helps
reduce body’s ability to store fat.
· Lowers
body weight through appetite control.
· Lowers
serum triglycerides.
· Creates
a process in the body called thermogenesis.
· Helps
with catarrhal conditions of the throat, urinary system, and uterus.
Benefits & Uses :
· Garcinia
has also been considered to make foods more filling and satisfying.
· Garcinia
cambogia was able to decrease the acidity and to increase the mucosal defence
in the gastric areas, thereby justifying its use as an antiulcerogenic agent.
· Garcinia
does not contain any addictive components and can be taken without fear of
addiction for extended periods of time.
· Garcinia
also contains significant amounts of Vitamin C and has been used as a heart
tonic.
· Garcinia,
when taken over a period of time, has the ability to slow production of fat and
help the body metabolize it more efficiently.
ABSTRACT
Obesity is a major problem in the effluent societies of
developing and developed world and the Health Risks associated with the obesity
are Diabetes mellitus, Heart disease, High b.p.,etc.
WHO report –Globally with more than 1 billion adults
overweight
- at least 300 million of them clinically obese.
Main cause of obesity is a person consumes more calories
from food than he or she burns.
Now a days herbal drug are used because of its lesser
side effects as compared to synthetic drugs.
This review provides complete information about the
herbal drug Garcinia cambogia and its action in controlling weight.
The Garcinia fruit is a rich source of hydroxycitric acid
(HCA), the active agent that aids in weight loss by inhibiting fat production
and suppressing appetite.
Garcinia cambogia extract is quickly becoming a popular
ingredient in many weight loss supplements.
GARCINIA- THE ANTI-OBESITY DRUG:
The Garcinia fruit is a rich source of hydroxycitric acid
(HCA), the active agent that aids in weight loss by inhibiting fat production
and suppressing appetite.
Garcinia contains citrine, an extract that is 50-60% HCA,
which inhibits an enzyme that helps the body synthesize fat for storage in
adipose tissue. HCA promotes energy, inhibits lipogenesis, lowers the
production of cholesterol and fatty acids, increases the production of glycogen
in the liver, suppresses appetite, and increases the body's production of heat
by activating the process of thermogenesis.
Garcinia cambogia extract is quickly becoming a popular
ingredient in many weight loss supplements. Many studies have been pointing to
strong possibilities that it will help some people to lose weight. But like
similar studies, the evidence is not conclusive. Inspite of this it is been
cited in many weight loss supplements as been an active ingredient for losing
weight.
Garcinia cambogia belongs to the citrus family like
oranges and lemons. It is a small tropical fruit that is too sour to eat but
the rind is used as a spice in Indian cooking. It is indigenous to India and
Africa. The active ingredient usually accredited for weight loss in this fruit
is its extract, hydroxycitric acid.
Hydroxycitric acid (HCA) unlike caffeine is not a
stimulant. Neither is it an appetite suppressant, both of which work directly
on the nerve centers of the brain.
Both stimulants and appetite suppressants can have
undesired side effects, including causing food binges any time you stop taking
them.
Instead, HCA satisfies the body's need for energy and
improves the signaling system that the body uses to tell the brain when it has
eaten enough. In overweight people this response is often delayed, causing them
to continue to eat more than they need.
HCA seems to work best for people who overeat when they
are anxious or stressed, as it will give the same calming effect that they get
from food. Generally you do not need to eat any special foods when you are
taking HCA, and there are no 'forbidden foods'. Choose healthy foods and you
should find that you lose weight and fat slowly but steadily without really
trying. You can take slightly smaller portions if you wish and choose fruit
instead of sugary snacks but you should not need to go hungry. This is a very
natural way to lose weight.
Garcinia cambogia extract (HCA) in weight loss
supplements is usually combined with chromium.
Chromium is a mineral that is often lacking in our diets
as we get older and a chromium deficit can contribute to weight gain and
possibly diabetes. HCA and chromium seem to work in a positive synergy to
regulate the body's blood sugar levels. However if you have diabetes already,
you should see your doctor before taking any products containing chromium.
Though HCA shows possibilities it is best to be cautious
just like with all other weight loss supplements. For example do not take HCA
if you are pregnant or breast feeding. Consult a doctor before giving it to
children.
You may also want to avoid HCA if you suffer from
migraine or arthritis which can be worsened by citrus fruits.
HCA has some significant advantages over many other
weight loss supplements ingredients because it has been extensively tested in
research laboratories on both human and animal subjects and no side effects
have been found. Consequently it is considered a natural weight loss
supplement.
COMPARISON BETWEEN HERBAL AND SYNTHETIC DRUGS:
Synthetic Drugs:
Sibutramine:
Sibutramine (usually in the form of the hydrochloride
monohydrate salt) is an oral anorexiant.
Sibutramine is a neurotransmitter reuptake inhibitor that
reduces the reuptake of serotonin (by 53%),norepinephrine (by 54%), and
dopamine (by 16%), serotonergic action, in particular, is thought to influence
appetite.thereby increasing the levels of these substances in synaptic clefts
and helping enhance satiety.
Side effects
A higher number of cardiovascular events have been
observed in people taking sibutramine versus control (11.4% vs. 10.0%).
In 2010 the FDA noted the concerns that sibutramine
increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes in patients with a history of
cardiovascular disease.
Frequently encountered side effects are: dry mouth,
paradoxically increased appetite, nausea, strange taste in the mouth, upset
stomach, constipation, trouble sleeping, dizziness, drowsiness, menstrual
cramps/pain, headache, flushing, or joint/muscle pain.
Sibutramine can substantially increase blood pressure and
pulse in some patients. Therefore regular monitoring needs to be performed.
The following side effects are infrequent but serious and
require immediate medical attention: cardiac arrhythmias, paresthesia,
mental/mood changes (e.g., excitement, restlessness, confusion, depression,
rare thoughts of suicide).
Symptoms that require urgent medical attention are
seizures, problems urinating, abnormal bruising or bleeding, melena,
hematemesis, jaundice, fever and rigors, chest pain, hemiplegia, abnormal
vision,dyspnea and edema.
Orlistat
Orlistat is used for the treatment of obesity. The amount
of weight loss achieved with orlistat varies. In one year clinical
trials, between 35.5% and 54.8% of subjects achieved a 5% or greater decrease
in body mass, although not all of this mass was necessarily fat.
Its primary function is preventing the absorption of fats
from the human diet, thereby reducing caloric intake.
Mechanism of Action:
Orlistat works by inhibiting gastric and pancreatic
lipases, the enzymes that break down triglycerides in the intestine. When
lipase activity is blocked, triglycerides from the diet are not hydrolyzed into
absorbable free fatty acids, and are excreted undigested instead.
Side Effects:
The primary side effects of the drug are gastrointestinal
related, and include steatorrhea (oily, loose stools with excessive flatus due
to unabsorbed fats reaching the large intestine), fecal incontinence and
frequent or urgent bowel movements.
An analysis of over 900 orlistat users in Ontario showed
that their rate of acute kidney injury was more than triple that of non-users.
The putative mechanism for this effect is postulated to
be excessive oxalate absorption from the gut and its subsequent deposition in
the kidney, with excessive oxalate absorption being a known consequence of fat
malabsorption.
A 2006 animal study linked orlistat with aberrant crypt
foci (ACF), lesions found in the colon which is believed to be one of the
earliest precursors of colon cancer.
Phentermine:
Phentermine, a contraction of
"phenyl-tertiarybutylamine", is an appetite suppressant of the
phenethylamine class.
It is an amphetamine like stimulant.
It is approved as an appetite suppressant to help reduce
weight in obese patients when used short-term and combined with exercise, diet,
and behavioral modification.
It is typically prescribed for individuals who are at
increased medical risk because of their weight and works by helping to release
certain chemicals in the brain that control appetite.
Mechanism of Action:
Phentermine works on the hypothalamus portion of the
brain to stimulate the adrenal glands to release norepinephrine, a
neurotransmitter or chemical messenger that signals a fight-or-flight response,
reducing hunger.
Phentermine works outside the brain as well to release
epinephrine or adrenaline causing fat cells to break down stored fat, but the
principal basis of efficacy is hunger-reduction.
At clinically relevant doses, phentermine also releases
serotonin and dopamine, but to a much lesser extent than that of
norepinephrine.
Adverse Effects:
Generally, phentermine appears to be relatively well
tolerated.It can produce side effects consistent with its
catecholamine-releasing properties, e.g., tachycardia (increased heart rate)
and elevated blood pressure, but the incidence and magnitude of these appear to
be less than with the amphetamines.
Because phentermine acts through sympathomimetic
pathways, the drug may increase blood pressure and heart rate. It may also
cause palpitations, restlessness, and insomnia.
Additionally, phentermine has the potential to cause
psychological dependence. After short term use, tolerance begins and can be
followed by rebound weight gain.
More common side effects:
Cardiovascular: Primary pulmonary hypertension and/or
regurgitant cardiac valvular disease, palpitation, tachycardia, elevation of
blood pressure.
Central Nervous System: Overstimulation, restlessness,
dizziness,insomnia, euphoria, dysphoria, tremor, headache.
Gastrointestinal: Dryness of the mouth,unpleasant taste,
diarrhea, constipation, other gastrointestinal disturbances.
Allergic: Urticaria, endocrine Impotence, changes in
libido.
Herbal Drugs:
Herbal Drugs is a traditional medicinal or folk medicine
practice based on the use of plants and plant extracts.
Potential Side Effects of Garcinia Cambogia:
There are no known side effects for using this herb,
however, it is not recommended for diabetics or people suffering any dementia
syndrome, including Alzheimer’s; and in pregnant and lactating women.
Garcinia cambogia does have contraindications with
certain medications, and it is important to discuss this with your health care
professional.
