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Botanical Name :
Garcinia cambogia
Sanskrit Name:
Vrikshamla, Kankusta
English Name :
Vilayti imli, citrin, gambooge, Brindal Berry, Gorikapuli, HCA,
Hydroxycitric acid, Malabar Tamarind.
Family : Clusiaceae
Part used:
Fruit
Description of
Garcinia cambogia:
It is a small or medium-sized tree with a rounded crown and
horizontal or drooping branches. The leaves are dark green,
shining, elliptic to obovate. Fruits are ovoid, 2 inches in dia.,
yellow or red when ripe, with 6-8 grooves. Seeds are 6-8
surrounded by a succulent aril.
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Traditional
uses:
Garcinia Cambogia is a relative new-comer to the ranks of
Western herbalism, but has been used for thousands of years in
the Orient as a food supplement. It is used as an appetite
suppressant and to inhibit the absorption and synthesis of fat,
cholesterol and triglycerides. In other words, it is a dietary
aid. The leaves of this creeper are used as one of the most
potent agents to counteract diabetes and also benefited in the
treatment of obesity. In the Ayurvedic system of medicine, the
flavors of Garcinia cambogia are said to activate digestion and
are used as purgatives, in the treatment of worms and parasites,
tumors and dysentery.
Phytochemistry:
The fruit contains 30% acid (calculated as Citric acid)
essentially (-)-hydroxy-citric acid. Camboginol and cambogin was
also identified.
Pharmacology:
Oral administration of (-)-hydroxy-citrate depressed
significantly the weight, body lipid, and appetite in invivo
lipogenic rats. One of the factors for fat accumulation in the
body is increased quantity of the key enzyme known as ATP -
citrate lyase which facilitates the process of conversion of
carbohydrates and sugars into fats and cholesterol. The fruit
extract of Garcinia cambogia (containing 50% of HCA as the chief
ingredient) competitively blocks ATP - citrate lyase enzyme
making it ineffective which inturn hinders the production and
storage of body fats. By inhibiting this enzyme, the fruit
extract shifts the conversion of calories from fat to glycogen.
This increased production of glycogen stimulates the
glucoreceptors in the liver and sends satiety signals to the
brain. Thus appetite and food craving are suppressed. Besides
promoting glycogen production it also signals the Kreb's cycle
to initiate betaoxidation which burns the body's stored fat.
Thus the fruit extract containing highest concentration of HCA,
promotes weight loss and assists the body's natural cycles in
proper metabolism of fats. This has been verified by more than
20 years of research by the Pharmaceutical giant - Goffmann-La-Roche
and others
Marker constituent:
Hydroxycitric acid
Main Uses:
It is found useful for inhibiting lipogenesis, reducing the
production of cholesterol and fatty acids, producing more
glycogen in liver, increasing BMR or basal metabolic rate or
increasing the production of heat in body by activating the
process of thermogenesis, suppressing the appetite and
encouraging weight loss.
Disclaimer:
The authenticity of the above
information are not verified and established by us. You are
requested to get it verified. The above given information are
collected from various sources may be used for academic purpose.
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