Garcinia Cambogia

Garcinia cambogia Garcinia cambogia is popularly known as Kodampuli or Malabar Tamarind bears small to medium-sized fruits. These trees are mostly found growing naturally in the evergreen forests of Western Ghats. It is a native of Indonesia. It is also grown in Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and parts of Africa. Now it is not technically called Garcinia cambogia anymore. Cambogia is profusely grown in the southern districts of Kerala, Tamil Nadu & Karnataka and is specially used in fish curries for delicate flavour instead of tamarind.

Nature has given many remedies to human beings specifically Ayurvedic and Siddha medicine utilizes a lot of herbal therapies. One such therapy against obesity is the herbal extract derived from the pericarp of Garcinia. It contains 30% acid (calculated as Citric acid) essentially hydroxy-citric acid. Camboginol and cambogin was also identified. The fruit rind is the richest source of hydro citric acid (HCA), which has an excellent therapeutic value against obesity.

Many cardiovascular rich factors associated with abdominal obesity like inefficient insulin function, high blood pressure, high triglyceride levels and high blood clotting get correct even before the obesity is corrected. Side effects of Garcinia cambogia may include headache, nausea, dizziness, and dry mouth. It is an evergreen and high-growing tree producing male and female flowers in separate plants. It flowers during Dec – Jan. Male flowers are short and roundish but female flowers are oval in shape. The leaves are dark green, shining, elliptic to obovate. Fruits are ovoid, about 2 inches in dia, yellow or red when ripe, with 6-8 grooves. Seeds are 6-8 surrounded by a succulent aril. It is generally propagated either by seeds or grafted seedlings.

After 6 to 7 years the tree produces flowers. The grafted plants will give more yield and they start bearing flowers early. The fruits are harvested when they are matured and ripe, which takes about 5 months after flowering, usually the fruits will drop after they are fully ripe. Fruit rind has 7 to 10 ridges. Immediately after harvest, fruits are cut opened and seeds along with the pulp are separated, then the rind is dried under the sun or smoked for about 1 to 2 weeks. The rind turns to a coal color with a characteristic flavor. The dried rinds used for culinary purposes can be preserved by rubbing them with salt and coconut oil which further improves appearance and quality. A well-maintained tree of about 5 to 7 years gives a yield of 300 to 400 kg of fresh fruits. The fruit rinds are purchased in bulk by many manufactures for extracting HCA salts in different forms. The HCA calcium and potassium salts are prepared by a process that includes treating an aqueous extract of Garcinia cambogia or Garcinia Indica.

The main chemical constituents are tartaric acid, citric acid, phosphoric acid, two polyisoprenylated derivatives, camboginol and camdogin. Hydroxycitric acid inhibits the accumulation of fat as a result of consumption of carbohydrates and sugar, it activates the process of thermogenesis, It neutralizes the function of the enzyme ATP citrate lyase, thus lowering the fat and cholesterol accumulation, it increases serotonin level (a neurotransmitter) and reduces the appetite, it inhibits the lipid and fatty acid synthesis and lowers the synthesis of triglycerides and LDL and it promotes the glycogen storage in liver and muscles.The fruits extracted and purified and converted desired salt-like, Ca, K, & Na, at various concentrations.