When unripe, it is green; when ripe, it turns golden yellow. Shaped like a small pumpkin and with flesh similar to mangosteen when split open—that is the garcinia fruit. It is not a common fruit; its flesh is slightly sticky, with a sweet-and-sour taste that stimulates the appetite.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​And Garcinia Cambogia Extract Tablets is extracted from garcinia fruit.

Garcinia fruit, also known as "crooked neck fruit," "tooth-yellow fruit," or "Malabar tamarind," belongs to the genus Garcinia in the Clusiaceae family, under the class Dicotyledoneae. It thrives in warm and humid environments, originating in Southeast Asia and distributed in southern, southwestern, and western China. Garcinia trees can grow up to 20 meters tall, with a crown resembling an upside-down umbrella with a long handle, and dense foliage that flourishes in simple yet vibrant rural areas.

Every March, the lush garcinia trees burst into bloom. Male inflorescences are terminal, upright, and paniculate cymes; female flowers usually grow in pairs or singly at the top of branches. The flower stalks are stout, the flowers are large, and the petals are broadly ovate, nearly round, with membranous edges. The calyx is yellow, while the petals are rose-colored—delicate and beautiful. After the flowers fade, small green "heads" quietly emerge, growing into green fruits. The flowering period is from March to May, and the fruiting period from August to November. When the cute green fruits ripen, the once ordinary garcinia tree becomes charming. Ripe garcinia fruits are golden all over, and the tree is covered with green and yellow fruits, which are very tempting, making people want to take a bite.

Garcinia fruit is oblate, with its outer surface resembling a mini pumpkin, evenly covered with several longitudinal grooves. It also looks like mangosteen: the fruit stalk is 5 cm long, with a few cute "small ears." The surface is smooth; when split open, the interior is also similar to mangosteen, with a thick pericarp enclosing segmented flesh. In rural areas, when garcinia fruits ripen, they show a mix of yellow and green—darker colors indicate ripeness and sweeter taste. Children love to pick and eat them; the flesh is soft, with a sweet-and-sour flavor that whets the appetite. After eating, there is a sticky feeling in the mouth, and teeth get stained yellow, hence the name "tooth-yellow fruit" in some regions, which is quite vivid.

People in Lingnan seem to prefer the pericarp of garcinia fruit: after washing and drying, it is pickled with salt for a period of time. When they want to eat it, they take some to make tea, which promotes saliva and quenches thirst. The pickled pericarp can also be used as a seasoning for braising fish. Many people know garcinia fruit because it is a low-fat, low-calorie healthy fruit. Proper consumption can also promote metabolism, making it popular among women. Of course, garcinia fruit also has other nutritional values, containing rich citric acid and vitamins.

Garcinia fruit is a treasure, and the garcinia tree also plays an important role. When the bark of the garcinia tree is cut, yellow resin oozes out. This resin is refined to produce "gamboge."

Gamboge is a natural plant pigment, also known as "jade yellow" or "moon yellow." Li Shizhen recorded in Compendium of Materia Medica: "The gamboge used by painters today is all refined." In traditional painting, gamboge is an indispensable color—full and bright. Gamboge is a gift from nature, with every part being valuable; it also has rich cultural connotations, reflecting people’s wisdom in exploring and using it.

Efficacy and Effects of Garcinia Cambogia Extract Tablets

As a traditional herbal medicine, garcinia fruit is generally believed to have effects such as promoting fat metabolism, suppressing appetite, aiding weight management, regulating blood sugar levels, and improving digestive function. However, potential side effects should be noted.

Promoting fat metabolism

The hydroxycitric acid (HCA) component in garcinia fruit may affect the activity of fatty acid synthase in the body, thereby interfering with fat production and helping reduce fat accumulation. This mechanism has been observed in animal experiments, but its effect in humans requires more research verification.

Suppressing appetite

 Its extract may affect the transmission of neural signals in the brain’s satiety center and prolong gastric emptying time, thereby inducing a sense of fullness. This effect has been observed in short-term small-sample trials, but individual differences are significant.

Aiding weight management

When combined with dietary adjustments, garcinia fruit may limit calorie intake and promote fat breakdown through dual mechanisms. It should be noted that its weight loss effect alone is limited, and there is a lack of authoritative long-term safety research data.

Regulating blood sugar levels

Animal experiments have shown that some components may enhance insulin sensitivity, but this effect has not been fully confirmed in diabetic patients. Improper use may even cause blood sugar fluctuations.

Improving digestive function

Traditional medicine believes it can promote bile secretion, which may aid in the digestion of lipids. However, modern medicine has not clearly defined its specific mechanism of action and effectiveness.

Contraindicated Groups and Precautions

Garcinia fruit detox products are not suitable for all human；the following contraindicated groups should pay special attention: pregnant women, patients after coronary artery bypass grafting, those with metal implants in blood vessels after surgery, individuals with blood pressure higher than 150, children aged 1–16, those unable to replenish water or exercise, those with increased intracranial pressure, and women during menstruation.

The only pre-administration foods prepared are for people with low blood sugar, low blood pressure, and large appetites, including 10 jujubes, 10 hawthorns, 10 grams of astragalus, and 10 grams of wolfberries. However, during administration, only water can be consumed—jujubes and hawthorns cannot be eaten.

Before taking garcinia fruit, be sure to prepare a strainer to collect excreta. At the same time, record body weight, take photos, measure blood pressure and waist circumference. When taking the product, take a video to prove consumption, and take videos of excreta for teachers to assess physical condition.

Administration Regulations

For the first four meals, consume millet porridge and cabbage stewed with tofu, with little oil and salt.

On the first day: take once at noon and once in the evening.

On the second day: take once in the morning and once at noon, then start taking 2 small packets of garcinia fruit between 5:30 PM and 6:00 PM. No other food can be consumed during this period.

Dissolve in 37°C water (300 ml each time). After drinking, replenish plenty of water and exercise appropriately. These two small packets mainly act as a laxative; after 2 hours, they will flush out the food residues from the morning and noon.

From the third day: switch to taking 8 large packets each day, with 2 packets at 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 3:00 PM respectively.

Remember: healthy people during administration can only take the product, drink water, and exercise moderately. Water intake must be sufficient until a sense of fullness is felt to ensure detoxification effectiveness.

During garcinia fruit administration, hypertensive patients should avoid strenuous exercise; instead, replenish plenty of water and gently massage the abdomen.

For patients with low blood sugar or low blood pressure, prepare brown sugar, red dates, wolfberries, jujubes, and astragalus in advance to make water. If symptoms such as dizziness or blurred vision occur, drink plenty of this brown sugar water (note: only drink the water, do not eat jujubes or hawthorns) and rest appropriately.

The 8 large packets of garcinia fruit mainly function to expand, cleanse, and wrap intestinal toxins, dissolving intestinal contents. Be sure to use a strainer to collect excreta during bowel movements to observe physical conditions.

On the fourth day, continue to drink plenty of water and exercise appropriately. Finish the remaining 2 small packets of garcinia fruit at 9:00 AM, and replenish plenty of warm water. After gently massaging the abdomen, if there is an urge to defecate, be sure to use a strainer to collect excreta to judge the body’s response.

After successful detoxification, properly consume millet porridge (as staple food) and cabbage stewed with tofu (as side dish), with little oil and salt, to nourish the spleen and stomach.

Reference:

1.Chinese Wild Plant Resources

2.China Pharmaceuticals

3.Strait Pharmaceutical Journal

4.Central South Pharmacy