Caralluma
| Caralluma | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Caralluma acuntangula inflorescence | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Apocynaceae |
| Subfamily: | Asclepiadoideae |
| Tribe: | Ceropegieae |
| Subtribe: | Stapeliinae |
| Genus: | Caralluma R.Br. |
| Species | |
|
See text | |
| Synonyms | |
Caralluma is a genus of flowering plants in the dogbane family, Apocynaceae, consisting of about 120 species. The generic name is derived from the Arabic word qahr al-luhum, meaning "wound in the flesh" or "abscess," referring to the floral odour. Most of the species occur in Africa, including several taxa valued by people for their medicinal properties.
Medicinal Applications
A weight loss dietary supplement has been introduced recently consisting of material from the Caralluma fimbriata plant. A study in 2007 looked at 50 adults with a body mass of >25kg/m2 who received either 1 g of Caralluma extract or a placedo for 60 days.[2] The treatment group showed a significant decline in waist circumference and hunger levels, and weight was lower but not at a level of significance. However, a larger prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study lasting 12 weeks and involving 47 (treatment group using 1g/d of Caralluma fimbriata extract) and 42 (placebo group) subjects published in 2015 failed to show significant differences in clinical and biochemical parameters.[3] The authors did not notice harmful sideeffects and recommended further studies.
Selected species
- Caralluma adscendens (also called Caralluma fimbriata) (Roxb.) R.Br.
- Caralluma burchardii N.E.Br.
- Caralluma crenulata Wall.
- Caralluma dummeri
- Caralluma edulis (Edgew.) Benth. ex Hook.f.
- Caralluma europaea (Guss.)
- Caralluma joannis Maire
- Caralluma somalica N.E.Br.
- Caralluma speciosa (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br.
Formerly placed here
- Frerea indica Dalzell (as C. frerei G.D.Rowley)
References
- ↑ "Genus: Caralluma R. Br.". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2004-04-15. Retrieved 2010-11-03.
- ↑ Kuriyan R, Raj T, Srinivas SK, Vaz M, Rajendran R, Kurpad AV. "Effect of Caralluma fimbriata extract on appetite, food intake and anthropometry in adult Indian men and women.". Appetite 2007 48(3):338-44. PMID 17097761.
- ↑ Arora E, Khajuria V, Tandon VR, Sharma A, Mahajan A, Gillani ZH, Choudhari N. "To evaluate efficacy and safety of Caralluma fimbriata in overweight and obese patients: A randomized, single blinded, placebo control trial.". Perspect Clin Res 2015 6(1):39-44. doi:10.4103/2229-3485.148812. PMID 25657901.
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Caralluma. |
 |
Wikispecies has information related to: Caralluma |