All About Caralluma Fimbriata
For centuries, Caralluma fimbriata has been used in India as a hunger and thirst blocker. Although the extract is mainly used for weight control, recent studies have revealed other potential benefits such as its antioxidant, energy-boosting, and glucose-lowering activities. Read on to learn about the health benefits of Caralluma fimbriata, how it works, and potential side effects.
Caralluma fimbriata (also known as Caralluma adscendens var. fimbriata) is a cactus-like plant belonging to the Apocynaceae family. It is native to India and Africa and highly abundant.
In India, it has been used for centuries in times of famine and long hunts to reduce appetite and thirst. The plant is typically eaten raw or cooked with spices, as well as preserved in chutneys and pickles [R].
Caralluma fimbriata is a very popular solution for body weight control. Herbal Nutrition’s Caralluma Fimbriata is the perfect doctor recommended diet dosage, 1000mg per day in two 500mg capsules.
Composition of Caralluma
The composition analysis of the stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits (aerial) of Caralluma fimbriata revealed the following elements:
Composition analysis of Caralluma fimbriata aerial parts [R].
Caralluma fimbriata has a remarkably high concentration of fiber, which is an essential component of digestive health.
The key active compounds in the Caralluma plant family include [R]:
- Pregnane glycosides (appetite suppressants)
- Flavone glycosides (antioxidants)
- Megastigmane glycosides (anti-inflammatory)
- Polyphenols (antioxidants)
- Flavonoids (antioxidants)
- Saponins (immune system enhancers)
- Bitter principles (protectors of digestive system and pancreas)
How Caralluma Works
Although the mechanisms by which Caralluma fimbriata pregnane glycosides work are not fully understood, these compounds have been suggested to:
- Increase the release of the energy molecule ATP into the hypothalamus and thus, send a signal of energy intake that promotes satiety [R].
- Reduce the production of the hormone ghrelin, which prevents the formation of the hunger-promoting molecule, neuropeptide Y (NPY) [R].
- Block the enzyme ATP-citrate lyase and thus, prevent the formation of the building blocks for fat production (acetyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA) [R].
Effect of pregnane glycosides on the formation of fatty acids [R].
Caralluma fimbriata reduces blood glucose levels by [R, R]:
- Preventing glucose production
- Enhancing glucose uptake
- Increasing the blood concentration of insulin
The antioxidant activity of Caralluma fimbriata is due to the presence of polyphenols (natural compounds formed by several phenol units) and flavonoids (natural compounds derived from the flavone structure) [R].
Health Benefits of Caralluma Fimbriata
Weight Loss
In 50 overweight patients (DB-RCT), intake of 1 gram of Caralluma fimbriata extract per day for 60 days reduced waist perimeter and appetite [R].
In another study (DB-RCT) of 43 overweight patients, 1 gram of Caralluma fimbriata extract per day for 12 weeks reduced body weight, body mass index, waist and hip perimeter and ratio, cravings for high-sodium food, and general appetite [R].
However, in 89 overweight patients (DB-RCT), 12 weeks of Caralluma fimbriata extract failed to reduce weight or appetite [R].
The Prader-Willi Syndrome is a hereditary disease causing excessive appetite, learning disability, and short height. In a trial (DB-RCT) conducted on 15 children with Prader-Willi Syndrome, 1 gram of Caralluma fimbriata extract per day for 4 weeks reduced appetite and food intake [R].
In rats fed a high-calorie diet, supplementing Caralluma fimbriata extract decreased food intake and fat buildup in the stomach, kidneys, testicles, and small intestine. Cholesterol, fats, and leptin levels were also reduced [R, R].
In rats fed a normal diet, the addition of Caralluma fimbriata extract to the diet increased food and water intake. Regardless, the rats lost weight. The extract was thought to interfere with the absorption of fats and sugars, thus preventing weight gain [R].
Caralluma fimbriata extract blocked the growth of fat cells. This effect was seen most at high doses (over 100 μg/ml) [R].
Energy Boosting
In 2 independent trials (DB-RCT) on 43 and 50 patients, the intake of Caralluma fimbriata extract promoted fat burning [R, R].
Fat burning releases energy in form of ATP [R].
In rats fed a high-calorie diet, intake of Caralluma fimbriata extract increased the activity of the enzyme creatine kinase in muscles, thus enhancing the efficient use and transport of energy [R].
Creatine kinase transforms ATP to phosphocreatine. Phosphocreatine is then transported to tissues with higher energy demands [R, R].
Lower Glucose Levels
In rats fed a high-calorie diet, intake of the extract [R, R]:
- Prevented high blood glucose levels.
- Prevented insulin resistance
- Blocked the enzyme that breaks starch into glucose (α-amylase).
- Stabilized glucose uptake.
- Promoted the activity of enzymes involved in the breakdown of glucose.
- Reduced the activity of enzymes involved in glucose production.
- Restored normal levels of glycogen in liver and muscles.
In rats fed a normal diet, intake of Caralluma fimbriata extract increased blood insulin levels and reduced blood glucose [R].
In diabetic rats, treatment with Caralluma fimbriata extract resolved the following symptoms [R]:
- Lower weight
- Higher blood glucose, transaminase, and glycosylated hemoglobin levels
- Lower blood insulin and protein levels
- Tissue damage to liver and kidneys
Caralluma fimbriata extract blocked 2 enzymes used for glucose production (α-amylase and α-glucosidase), and enhanced glucose transport in cells [R].
Antioxidant Properties
High-calorie diets cause oxidative stress and cell damage. Intake of Caralluma fimbriata extract had the following protective effects in the testicles, kidneys, and liver of rats [R, R, R]:
- Prevented breakdown of fats from cellular membranes
- Prevented protein oxidation
- Increased activity of antioxidant enzymes
- Increased levels of the antioxidant molecule glutathione
Different Caralluma fimbriata extracts were prepared and tested for their antioxidant activity in cells. Of all the tested extracts, those with the highest contents of polyphenols showed the highest antioxidant activities [R].
The abundance of flavonoids and polyphenols, which target free radicals in the body, suggests its potential use as an anti-aging supplement.
May Protect Testicular Function
In rats fed a high-calorie diet, Caralluma fimbriata extract protected counteracted the following abnormalities in testes [R]:
- Decreased volume
- A higher fat buildup in the region responsible for sperm storage and growth (epididymis)
- Deterioration of the region responsible for sperm cell formation (spermatogenesis tubules)
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May Improve Kidney Function
Caralluma fimbriata extract prevented the following symptoms of kidney failure in rats fed a high-calorie diet [R]:
- Higher concentration of urea, uric acid, and creatinine in the blood
- Higher activity of enzymes making amino acids (transaminases)
May Protects Liver Function
In rats fed a high-calorie diet, intake of Caralluma fimbriata extract prot
- Higher concentration of enzymes making amino acids (transaminases) in blood
- Higher buildup of fat
- Enlargement
- Pale color
- Abnormal cell appearance
- Cell death
- Bleeding
May Help Digestive System Function
Caralluma fimbriata has high amounts of fiber (15%) and is a good source of this plant component when eaten as a vegetable [R].
Fiber has several health benefits, such as increasing the digestive transit, facilitating nutrient uptake and digestion, and protecting from diseases [R].
May Prevent Harding of the Arteries
Feeding rats a high-calorie diet led to the buildup of fat in the arteries. Intake of Caralluma fimbriata extract reduced fat accumulation and restored normal blood vessel functions [R].
May Help Build Muscle
Because it increases the availability of ATP, Caralluma fimbriata extract may help gain lean muscle weight through exercising [R].
In rats fed a high-calorie diet, the intake of Caralluma fimbriata extract restored normal muscle appearance, with the absence of injuries and fat accumulation [R].
May Help Brain Functions
In a study in mice, the extract of Caralluma fimbriata improved object recognition and spatial memory. It also reduced anxiety (elevated maze test) [R].
May Have Antimicrobial Properties
The extract of Caralluma fimbriata killed the bacteria Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Staphylococcus aureus, the fungi Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans, and the worm Pheretima posthuma in plate studies [R, R].
Its efficiency against the fungi and the worm was comparable to that of the standard drugs miconazole nitrate and piperazine citrate, respectively [R].
May Help Fight Colon Cancer
Caralluma fimbriata extract killed colon cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner [R].
Side Effects
In a study (DB-RCT) with 50 overweight patients, 24% of individuals experienced one or more of the following side effects [R]:
- Stomach Bloating
- Flatulence
The symptoms were mild and disappeared within a week.
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Disclaimer / Limitations
Most of the health claims above described have only been tested in cell and animal studies. Studies with humans are therefore needed to confirm the benefits of Caralluma fimbriata [R, R, R, R].
New clinical trials with more patients are needed to confirm the potential benefits of Caralluma fimbriata in weight control [R, R, R, R].
It should be noted that several of the studies included were performed by companies manufacturing or funding the manufacture of Caralluma fimbriata [R].
Dosage
Based on a safety study and the historical use of this plant in India without any reported adverse effects, Caralluma fimbriata extract was assigned the Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) status in 2006 [R].
The long-term safety of Caralluma fimbriata extract in humans is not known, but it is recognized as safe at the recommended dosage of 500 mg twice a day for up to 12 weeks [R, R, R].
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