Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34758791›Full record

SynthesisBMC complementary medicine and therapies2021

The use of Caralluma fimbriata as an appetite suppressant and weight loss supplement: a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials.

Ranil Jayawardena, Tormalli V Francis, Sachith Abhayaratna, Priyanga Ranasinghe

Open access · goldAbstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC complementary medicine and therapies, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
0.4field-weighted citation impact, top 42% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 10 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. The impact ofFrontiers in dental medicine · 2025
    Article
  2. Review
  3. Delving the Role ofOxidative medicine and cellular longevity · 2022
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.

Ranil JayawardenaDepartment of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka. ranil@physiol.cmb.ac.lk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7352-9365
Tormalli V FrancisHealth and Wellness Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2060-4974
Sachith AbhayaratnaDepartment of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4377-1246
Priyanga RanasingheDepartment of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1522-9276
University of Colombo · LKQueensland University of Technology · AU

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundObesity prevalence has increased during the past few decades, causing a pandemic with an influx in other co-morbidities. Many factors influence weight gain in an obesogenic environment therefore strategies for treating obesity may vary from conventional dietary and physical activity interventions to pharamacotherapy. A shift in unconventional strategies as herbal products for treating obesity have been investigated and one such plant extract is Caralluma fimbriata (C. fimbriata). Further, the studies included were systematically reviewed to gather evidence on potential effects of C. fimbriata as an appetite suppressant and weight loss supplement.

methodsA systematic review of clinical trials reporting the effects of C. fimbriata as appetite suppression and anti-obesity supplement was reported according to PRISMA guidelines. Data were obtained by searching three databases: PubMed®, Web of Science® and SciVerse Scopus® for studies published until 30th April 2020.

resultsA total of 7 articles studying C. fimbriata satisfied the inclusion and exclusion criteria and were sourced from various countries including Australia (3), Cuba (1), India (2) and Spain (1). Almost all studies recruited adults who were overweight or obese with a BMI > 25 kg/m

conclusionAppetite parameters showed no significant changes and metabolic parameters did not improve with C.fimbriata supplementation therefore it is unlikely to recommend C. fimbriata as a weight loss supplement and an appetite suppressant.

Indexed as

ApocynaceaeAppetite DepressantsClinical Trials as TopicHumansObesityPlant ExtractsWeight LossAppetite DepressantsPlant ExtractsAppetiteCaralluma fimbriataObesitySlimlumaWeight loss

Identifiers

PMID34758791
PMCPMC8579607
OpenAlexW3214207633

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.