Herbal tea for body weight maintenance

Garcinia atroviridis known in Malaysia as Asam Gelugor is a big-size perennial fruit tree, which is endemic to Peninsular Malaysia. The fruits are bright orange in colour when ripe. The dried sliced fruit is known locally as Asam Keping, and it is popularly used as seasoning in curries, sour relish and also for fish dressing.

Garcinia atroviridis fruits contain fruiting acids such as citric acid, tartaric acid, malic acid and ascorbic acid and hydroxycitric acid (HCA). Hydroxycitric acid (HCA) found in Garcinia spp. has been studied extensively in the animal model.

HCA was found to suppress fatty acid, cholesterol synthesis and reduce appetite. Studies have shown that HCA decreases weight by inhibiting lipogenesis, the metabolic process that changes carbohydrate into fat.

HCA also lowers blood lipid levels. Body weight maintenance nutraceutical products have been developed from fruit extract of Garcinia atroviridis. The fresh raw material for the above nutraceutical product is not readily available as the fruiting is seasonal and can only be harvested during certain period of the year. Moreover the fresh ripe Garcinia atroviridis fruits are facing storage problems as they are easily infected with fungus.

Our studies showed that HCA is detected in Garcinia atroviridis leaves. The level (w/v) of HCA in the leaves is comparable to the fruits. Based on bioactivity studies, chemistry studies, safety evaluation, processing and formulation studies that had been conducted, a body weight maintenance herbal tea was developed from Garcinia atroviridis leaves.

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Zamree M.S. , Ong B.K., Hada Masayu I., Noor Rasyila M.N., Abdull Rashih A, Mohd Shahidan M. A., Pin K.Y, Mohd Radzi A., Mohd Faizal K. and Rasadah M.A.
Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), 52109 Kepong, Selangor
E-mail: zamree@frim.gov.my