Hydroxycitric acid

Hydroxycitric acid

Names
IUPAC name 1,2-dihydroxypropane-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid
Other names Hydroxycitrate
Identifiers
CAS Number	6205-14-7 Y
3D model (Jmol)	Interactive image
ChemSpider	110439 Y
PubChem CID	123908
InChI InChI=1S/C6H8O8/c7-2(8)1-6(14,5(12)13)3(9)4(10)11/h3,9,14H,1H2,(H,7,8)(H,10,11)(H,12,13) Y Key: ZMJBYMUCKBYSCP-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y InChI=1/C6H8O8/c7-2(8)1-6(14,5(12)13)3(9)4(10)11/h3,9,14H,1H2,(H,7,8)(H,10,11)(H,12,13) Key: ZMJBYMUCKBYSCP-UHFFFAOYAQ
SMILES O=C(O)C(O)C(O)(C(=O)O)CC(=O)O
Properties
Chemical formula	C6H8O8
Molar mass	208.12 g·mol−1
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Y  (what is YN ?)
Infobox references

Hydroxycitric acid (HCA) is a derivative of citric acid that is found in a variety of tropical plants including Garcinia cambogia and Hibiscus subdariffa.

There are four isomers, (+)- and (-)-hydroxycitric acid, and (+)- and (-)-allo-hydroxycitric acid. The (-)-hydroxycitric acid isomer is the one found in Garcinia.

(-)-HCA is a competitive inhibitor of ATP citrate lyase, which converts citrate into oxaloacetate and acetyl CoA. The reverse of this conversion is a step in the citric acid cycle.

Laboratory and animal studies of HCA have produced results that indicate a potential for modulation of lipid metabolism. However, a clinical study has demonstrated that HCA has no effect in terms of weight loss or reduction of fat mass. A meta-analysis published in 2010 revealed that gastrointestinal adverse effects were twice as likely for users of hydroxycitric acid. The use of HCA is contraindicated in patients suffering Colitis or Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

One isomer of HCA, known as (2S,3R)-HCA, inhibits pancreatic alpha-amylase and intestinal alpha-glucosidase, leading to a reduction in carbohydrate metabolism in vitro. In a study in Zucker rats, which are genetically predisposed to obesity, Garcinia cambogia extract containing HCA showed that high doses led to significant suppression of epididymal fat accumulation, but also had high testicular toxicity. However, this study has been criticized because of possible contamination of the HCA used and various design flaws.