Garcinia cambogia is the former scientific name of the species Garcinia gummi-gutta. It’s a tropical fruit tree native to Indonesia, but is cultivated in numerous other countries due to its desirable fruit.

The species has many different common names, such as Brindleberry, Malabar tamarind and Pot tamarind. The old scientific name Garcinia cambogia is also used in many texts.

The Garcinia cambogia fruit

The fruit has a thin skin and deep vertical lobes. The lobes gives it a bit of pumpkin-like appearance.

The size ranges from orange to grapefruit.

The colour is yellowish, greenish or reddish.

Chemicals

Examples of chemicals included in the fruit:

• Hydroxycitric acid
• Polyphenols
• Luteolin
• Kaempferol

The hydroxycitric acid is extracted and included in certain dietary supplements.

Production

Garcinia cambogia is chiefly grown in South-East Asia, along the Indian west coast, and in western and central Africa. It prefers a humid forest environment.

Culinary use

• Garcinia cambogia is used in various ways. Many traditional recipes from its native area and nearby regions call for rinds or extract from the Garcinia cambogia fruit; it is for instance included as a condiment in numerous curries.
• Along the western coast of India, the fruit is consumed in the same way as tamarinds, and it is even referred to as Malabar tamarind.
• In the southern Thai version of the dish kaeng som, the fruit is necessary as a souring agent.
• In the Ayurvedic tradition, the sour flavour of the fruit is believed to aid digestion.
• If the fruit is laid out to dry in the sun, it will shrivel up and turn dark brown or black. This is a traditional method for preserving the fruit longer.

Garcinia cambogia and weight loss

Dietary supplements containing Garcinia cambogia extract, or just the hydroxycitric acid, are heavily promoted as weight loss supplements. There is no clinical evidence for their alleged effectiveness.

One of the most well-known promoters of Garcinia cambogia extract as a weight loss aid is the Turkish-American TV-personality Mehmet Cengiz Öz, commonly known as Dr. Oz.

Side effects

Examples of side effects caused by the hydroxycitric acid1:

• Nausea
• Gastrointestinal discomfort
• Dry mouth
• Headache
• Liver toxicity

The fruit or extracts derived from it may interfere with certain drugs, including some used to treat asthma, diabetes or blood-clots.
A 2011 meta-analysis2 showed that adverse gastrointestinal events were two-fold more common with the extract than with placebo.

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