Garcinia cambogia is a herbal weight loss agent that has rarely been associated with hepatotoxicity.
Source: Malabar tamarind tree (Garcinia gummi-gutta) in Southeast Asia *Sri Lanka, Nepal, India)
Intended action: appetite suppressant
Chemicals present: hydroxycitric acid (HCA), xanthones, benzphenones
Adverse effects:
(1) hepatitis, which can be severe
(2) ocular complications
(3) testicular complications
Risk factors for adverse effects may include:
(1) long-term use of a high dose
(2) presence of HLA-B*35:01 allele
(3) concurrent use of green tea extracts
