Plant story
Hoodia currorii ssp. lugardii
Hoodia currorii ssp. lugardii (Photo P. Smith 2003)
South Africa's Council for Scientific and Industrial Research has isolated a compound called P57 from Hoodia gordonii, which has been found to act as an appetite suppressant. Drugs companies are now developing this into a slimming pill.
A close relative of Hoodia gordonii, Hoodia currorii is found in Botswana in the areas of the Central Kalahari and Makgadikgadi national parks. As with the South African species, San (bushmen) hunters have been known to use this species for keeping hunger pangs at bay.
Both Hoodia species are now the subject of intensive bioprospecting and harvesting from the wild. As a result Hoodia currorii is now regarded as threatened in Botswana.
In an expedition mounted by the MSBP and its partners in Botswana ( November 2003) seed from four different populations of this species was collected for safe keeping.
Story by Paul Smith
Hoodia currorii seeds