The Hoodia Cactus, from the Kalahari Desert in Southern Africa,
is believed to contain an appetite suppressant of enormous benefit to weight
watchers.
The knowledge of this plant has been handed down for generations by
the San people (the Bushmen of the Kalahari) from Angola, South Africa,
Botswana, and Namibia. Patents taken out by Phytopharm, an English company,
excluded the rightful hereditary owners from all benefits. A successful
court challenge was won by representatives of the San people, who now stand
to benefit from growing the plant. This is not to say they will gain anything
like a fair share of the millions, perhaps billions, of dollars at stake
- but they may at least get something. Licensing rights have been sold
to Pfizer (the company which markets Viagra) in the US, which has reportedly
invested US$21 million into development. The active ingredient of hoodia
is named P-57.
Click here to read research on Hoodia
Gordonii
Links:
The
Guardian: In Africa the Hoodia cactus keeps men alive
Komo TV:
New Wonder Diet Drug?
Kordis
News: Bush medicine set to deliver breakthrough obesity remedy
Books on Cacti
