Hoodia gordonii - a bitter, spiny botanical plant – is only found in the arid areas of the North Western parts of South Africa, Botswana and Namibia. It has been used for generations by the Kalahari San people to stave off hunger and thirst on long hunting trips.

Although Western scientists became aware of the plant’s potential 100 years ago, it was only recently that the major active ingredient was isolated and identified by the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). Subsequently, a British biotechnology company, Phytopharm, and the pharmaceuticals giant Pfizer acquired the rights to its development and commercialization as an anti-obesity drug for use in the West. Phytopharm patented Hoodia's major active ingredient, named "P-57", and granted the pharmaceutical company Pfizer the rights to study the "P-57" molecule in order to develop a synthetic extract for use as an anti-obesity drug in 1998. However, the synthesized molecule showed little or no effect in comparison to the natural Hoodia gordonii powder. Pfizer returned the rights in 2003. Subsequently, in December 2004, Phytopharm granted the exclusive global rights for its Hoodia gordonii extract to Unilever. The first hoodia products from Unilever will most likely come under the SlimFast brand.

Demand for the natural milled powder from this cactus plant has sky-rocketed in the past two years. Supply of authentic Hoodia gordonii from South Africa remains limited. It is expected that this will change in 2006 when larger amounts of commercially cultivated plant become available.

In 2004, the species was placed on the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) and can only be grown, harvested and exported through permits issued by the South African Government.

CITES is an agreement between governments to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.

Herbal Teas International is your "direct from source" supplier of Hoodia Gordonii to the North American market.

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Used by the bush people of the Kalahari desert for centuries, today Hoodia gordonii is available to consumers as a natural aid to maintaining healthy weight. read more about Hoodia gordonii and healthy weight maintenance>