Can Botanicals Really Promote Weight Loss?

Plants have been used for millennia in traditional medicine to suppress the appetite, promote fullness and enhance weight loss. Today there are innumerable botanical supplements that claim to promote weight loss. Recent studies on botanicals like hoodia gordonii, konjac (glucomannan), citrus (naringin), green tea and cocoa help back claims they support weight loss but more research needs to be done.

Hoodia Gordonii

Hoodia gordonii, obtained from a South African succulent, is a natural appetite suppressant. Hoodia contains P57, an appetite-suppressing compound that tells the brain that the body is not hungry. A double-bind, placebo-controlled study published in Brain Research reports that overweight subjects taking Hoodia consumed 1,000 calories a day less than those in the control group.

Konjac (Glucomannan)

Glucomannan, extracted from the Amorphophallus konjac plant, is a dietary fiber that promotes satiety (fullness). An Italian study published in La Clinica Terapeutica suggests that glucomannan promotes the feeling of fullness and slows down digestion. However, a 2007 study published in Clinical Toxicology, found that glucomannan may increase the risk of choking in people with upper gastrointestinal problems. The FDA recalled some products containing konjac or glucomannan as choking hazards.

Citrus (Naringin)

Naringin, extracted from citrus plants such as grapefruit, may help curb the appetite, control cravings and increase satiety. Naringin is a bioflavonoid that inhibits enzyme cytochrome P450, which may interfere with drug absorption and metabolism. Due to this risk, naringin should be avoided while taking medications. A study published in The Journal of Nutrition reports that naringin helps regulate carbohydrate (sugar) metabolism in mice. This suggests that naringin may be a blood-sugar curbing nutrient that can help prevent body-fat storage.

Green Tea

Green tea contains potent catechin polyphenol antioxidants known as EGCG (epigallocatechin-3-gallate). A 2009 study published in Obesity suggests that green tea antioxidant catechins is a metabolism-boosting nutrient that can reduce abdominal fat and body weight.

Cocoa

Cocoa extract, derived from cacao beans, contains potent alkaloids like caffeine, phenylethylamine, tyramine and theobromine. A recent study published in Nutrition suggests that cocoa promotes lipid (fat) metabolism and thermogenesis (fat burning).

Sources

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Jung UJ et al. The hypoglycemic effects of hesperidin and naringin are partly mediated by hepatic glucose-regulating enzymes in C57BL/KsJ-db/db mice. J Nutr. 2004 Oct;134(10):2499-503.

Wang H et al. Effects of catechin enriched green tea on body composition. Obesity (2009) doi:10.1038/oby.2009.256.

Matsui N et al. Ingested cocoa can prevent high-fat diet-induced obesity by regulating the expression of genes for fatty acid metabolism. Nutrition. 2005 May;21(5):594-601.

Gavalas, Elaine. The Yoga Minibook for Weight Loss. Simon & Schuster Fireside.. elainegavalas.com.