Caralluma fimbriata ( Wall.)

ORDER	: Gentianales.
FAMILY	: Apocynaceae
GENUS	: Caralluma
SPECIES	: fimbriata

BOTANICAL NAME	: Caralluma fimbriata (Wall.) Gravely & Mayur
SYNONYMS	: ---
COMMON NAME	: Caralluma.
TAMIL NAME	: Kullee mooliyan
HINDI NAME	: ---

HABIT: Caralluma is an erect branched herb, 20-30 cm tall. Stems are leafless, 4-angled,

fleshy, green, tapering to a point.

LEAVES: Leaves are minute, present only on young branches, soon falling off, leaving a

tooth-like projection on the angles.

FLOWERS: Flowers are borne at the end of branches, singly or 2-3 together on short stalks.

Flowers are like wheels, 2 cm across. Petals are narrow, purple with yellow marking, and

margins frilly with hairs.

FRUITS: Fruits are 10-12 cm long, cylindric with one of the pairs often suppressed.

Caralluma fimbriata is an edible cactus, used by tribal Indians to suppress hunger and enhance endurance.

The effect of Caralluma extract was assessed in overweight individuals by a placebo controlled randomized trial.

Developing evidence suggests that taking a caralluma extract for 60 days might decrease waistline, feelings of hunger, and fat and calorie intake.

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