The Hoodia plant is a relatively

unspectacular succulent of the genus

Hoodia, of which a number of species are

indigenous to Southern Africa. Were it not for

the fact that the plant contains certain

chemicals that appear to act as appetite

suppressants, the Hoodia cactus would be

of little interest to anyone other than

botanists. However, it appears that the San

people have knowledge of the appetite

suppressant properties of the plant and

have used it for this purpose.