Question
Hoodia: Does this dietary supplement help weight loss?Is hoodia an effective appetite suppressant?

Answer
from Brent A. Bauer, M.D.

Although hoodia is marketed as an appetite suppressant that aids in weight loss, there's no solid evidence that hoodia is effective.

Hoodia — whose scientific name is Hoodia gordonii — is a succulent plant that grows in the Kalahari Desert in southern Africa. Interest in its use for possible appetite control and weight loss was piqued because of reports that native Africans use hoodia to reduce hunger during long hunts. However, there's no solid evidence from scientifically sound clinical trials that hoodia is an effective tool for weight loss.

Still, some dietary supplement manufacturers market products containing hoodia as a way to suppress appetite and aid in weight loss. Herbal and dietary supplements don't require approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before going on the market. But the FDA has warned some manufacturers of hoodia products to stop making unsubstantiated and misleading claims about weight loss. Evidence about the safety of hoodia is also lacking. And there have been past reports that products promoted and sold as hoodia supplements don't actually contain any hoodia.

Oct. 17, 2009

Source:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hoodia/AN01182

Also:

What the Science Says

There is no reliable scientific evidence to support hoodia's use. No studies of the herb in people have been published.

Side Effects and Cautions

Hoodia's safety is unknown. Its potential risks, side effects, and interactions with medicines and other supplements have not been studied.

The quality of hoodia products varies widely. News reports suggest that some products sold as hoodia do not contain any hoodia.

http://nccam.nih.gov/health/hoodia/