Garcinia Cambogia Extract

Garcinia Cambogia Extract is derived from the rind of the Garcinia Cambogia fruit, a tropical plant native to Southeast Asia and India. It is widely used as a dietary supplement primarily for weight management due to its active ingredient, hydroxycitric acid (HCA) which is thought to help reduce appetite and inhibit fat production by blocking an enzyme involved in fat synthesis. The extract is commonly found in forms like powders, capsules, or teas.

Appearance:  Off-white to ivory white or light grey powder.

Solubility: Varies by salt form; calcium salt forms are water-insoluble and alcohol-insoluble, while calcium-potassium salt forms are water-soluble but alcohol-insoluble.

Moisture Content: Typically low, with usual loss on drying around 5% (not explicitly given here but typical).

Primarily centers on its active compound, hydroxycitric acid (HCA), which constitutes about 50-60% of the extract. A typical serving (such as one capsule) often contains around 400 mg of Garcinia Cambogia fruit extract standardized to 60% HCA, providing approximately 240 mg of HCA.

Garcinia Cambogia Extract is primarily known for its potential benefits related to weight management, though the scientific evidence is mixed and modest overall.

Key benefits include:

• Weight Loss and Fat Reduction: Garcinia Cambogia’s active ingredient, hydroxycitric acid (HCA), may help produce modest weight loss by inhibiting an enzyme called citrate lyase that the body uses to synthesize fat. Some human studies show it can cause a small reduction in body weight (about 2 pounds more than placebo over a few weeks) and reduce abdominal (visceral) fat accumulation, particularly in overweight people.

• Appetite Suppression: HCA may increase serotonin levels in the brain, which potentially reduces appetite and promotes a feeling of fullness, leading to decreased food intake in some individuals. However, this effect varies and is not consistently observed in all studies.

• Improved Lipid Profiles: Some studies indicate Garcinia Cambogia extract might lower total cholesterol, LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, triglycerides, and increase HDL (“good”) cholesterol, thereby potentially supporting cardiovascular health in overweight individuals.

• Other Potential Effects: There are suggestions of antioxidant properties and positive effects on inflammation and blood lipid levels, but these require further research for confirmation.