Garcinia cambogia
Hydroxycitric acid is an alpha-hydroxy tribasic acid (1, 2-dihydroxypropane-1, 2, 3-tricarboxylic acid) with two asymmetric centers, hence the formation of two pairs of diasteroisomers or four different isomers: (-)hydroxycitric acid (I), (+)hydroxycitric acid (II), (-)allo-hydroxycitric acid (III), and (+)allo-hydroxycitric acid (IV). The (-)hydroxycitric acid (HCA) isomer is found in the rind of Garcinia cambogia fruit (fam. Clusiaceae). The (-)-hydroxycitric acid (HCA) is a naturally occurring acid found in the rinds of the fruit of Garcinia cambogia, Garcinia indica and Garcinia mangostana. The dried fruit rind of G. cambogia, also known as Malabar tamarind, is commonly used in Southeast Asia (particularly southern India) as a food preservative, flavoring agent and carminative. Garcinia cambogia is an herbal component which is reported to inhibit lipogenesis, lower the production of cholesterol and fatty acids, increase the production of glycogen in the liver thereby suppressing appetite, and increasing the body's production of heat by activating the process of thermogenesis. HCA suppresses the fatty acid synthesis, lipogenesis and food intake thus leading to weight reduction. In addition to suppression of fatty acid and fat synthesis, (-)-HCA is thought to suppress food intake via loss of appetite by stimulation of liver gluconeogenesis. Various researchers have evaluated HCA for its weight control properties, fat burning properties, lipid level lowering effect, appetite regulation, metabolic rate increase and other effects. Hydroxycitric acid prevents the conversion of excess carbohydrates to fatty acids by inhibiting the actions of cytoplasmic (cytosolic) ATP-citrate lyase enzyme which plays key role in the conversion of carbohydrates to fatty acids and cholesterol. The primary mechanism of action of (-)-HCA appears to be related to act as a competitive inhibitor of the enzyme ATP-citrate lyase, which catalyzes the conversion of citrate and coenzyme A to oxaloacetate and acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA).
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