Garcinia gummi-gutta

In Kerala, India

Ripe fruit

Garcinia gummi-gutta is grown for its fruit in Southeast Asia and South Asia. Garcinia gummi-gutta is one of several closely related Garcinia species from the plant family Clusiaceae.[1][2] With thin skin and deep vertical lobes, the fruit of G. gummi-gutta and related species range from about the size of an orange to that of a grapefruit; G. gummi-gutta looks more like a small yellowish, greenish, or sometimes reddish pumpkin.[6] The color can vary considerably. When the rinds are dried and cured in preparation for storage and extraction, they are dark brown or black in color.

Although few high-quality studies have been done to define the composition of the fruit, its phytochemical content includes hydroxycitric acid which is extractable and developed as a dietary supplement.[4][5][7] Other compounds identified in the fruit include the polyphenols, luteolin, and kaempferol.[8]

In the Malabar Coast, it is known as kudam puli and in Tamil speaking areas of Sri Lanka and India, it is called goraka.[9][10]

In late 2012, a United States celebrity doctor, Dr. Oz, promoted Garcinia cambogia extract as "an exciting breakthrough in natural weight loss".[11][12] Dr. Oz's endorsements of dietary supplements having no or little scientific evidence of efficacy have often led to a substantial increase in consumer purchases of the promoted products.[12]

While it has received considerable media attention purporting impact on weight loss, the evidence for Garcinia cambogia supports no clear effect,[3][4][13][14] while gastrointestinal adverse events were two-fold more common over the placebo in a 2011 meta-analysis, indicating the extract may be unsafe for human consumption.[4][5] Adverse events associated with use of such supplements ("side effects") — especially, liver toxicity, as well as gastrointestinal issues — led to one preparation being withdrawn from the market.[15]

When the fruit is sun dried for several days, it becomes black with a shrivelled body

Garcinia gummi-gutta is used in cooking, including in the preparation of curries to add a sour flavor.[4] The fruit rind and extracts of Garcinia species are used in many traditional recipes used in food preparation in Southeast Asian countries.[3][18] In the Indian Ayurvedic medicine, "sour" flavors are said to activate digestion. The extract and rind of G. gummi-gutta is a curry condiment in India.[18][19][20] It is an essential souring ingredient in the southern Thai variant of kaeng som, a sour curry.[21][22]

• 
  Bark
• 
  Cross section
• 
  Drying in smoke

• Garcinia binucao
• Garcinia dulcis
• Garcinia morella