Several innovative natural ingredients that support weight management have been discovered and developed by Sabinsa Corporation, a verticallyintegrated company. Based on their mechanisms of action, these ingredients may be divided into four groups:
- Group A: Citrin and GarCitrin
Citrin® contains only one of the bioactive ingredients of the Garcinia cambogia fruit, namely, Hydroxycitric acid (HCA). HCA is a derivative of citric acid, the agent that gives citrus fruits (oranges, lemons) their characteristic tart flavor. Citrin is standardized for a minimum of 50% HCA (1-3). Badmaev and Majeed (4) have conducted a clinical study on Citrin®. As far as inhibition of fatty acid synthesis is concerned, Hydroxycitric Acid has 100 times greater affinity for the enzyme citrate lyase, and, therefore, it acts as a potent inhibitor of citrate lyase.
Citrin® also affects appetite.
- Group B: ForsLean®
ForsLean® is an extract obtained from the dried roots of the plant Coleus forskohlii. Interestingly, Coleus forskohlii roots also have a history of food use in India (as pickle or condiment). Coleus forskohlii has been studied extensively. The most recent review is a book chapter titled “Coleus forskohlii Extract in the Management of Obesity” written by Dr. Majeed. The bioactive ingredient of ForsLean® is Forskolin, a Labdane di-terpenoid. In the
8-week, pilot open field study, 6 overweight women received 500 mg ForsLean (or 50 mg Forskolin) per day. As it can be seen, after 8 weeks, there was a considerable weight loss and fat loss, and increase in lean body mass.In this 12-week, double-blind and randomized study, 60 obese subjects received 500 mg ForsLean® (50 mg Forskolin) per day.
- Group C: LeanGard
LeanGard® is a proprietary blend of GarCitrin®, ForsLean® and BioPerine® with the suggested use level of 500 mg two times per day. LeanGard® caused 7.5% reduction in the body weight of the test group compared to 1.1% in the placebo group (50 over-weight subjects in each group comprising of 24 men and 26 women ranging in age from 25 to 55 years; – Study Duration: 12 weeks; – Dosage: 500 mg of the LeanGard® or Placebo, twice a day). LeanGard® caused 4.36% increase in the lean body mass of the test group compared to 0.67% in the placebo group. Furthermore, LeanGard® did not cause any significant changes in blood pressure or heart rate, hematological parameters, liver function, renal function, thyroid function, and plasma lipid levels.
– Group D: Fabenol
Fabenol® is an alpha-amylase inhibitory natural extract obtained from Phaseolus vulgaris (common bean, kidney bean) that blocks the digestion of dietary starch. An amylase inhibitor obstructs the digestion of starch and absorption of glucose. Therefore amylase inhibitors are valued in conditions such as diabetes (to reduce blood sugar levels) and in weight management. Since the alpha-amylase inhibitor protein binds with the active sites of alpha-amylase and prevents its starch degradation activity, it is also called “Starch Blocker”.
Innovative ingredients in support of weight management, NutraCos, nov - Dec 2012, Health ingredient, Muhammed Majeed, Reza Kamarei

Several innovative natural ingredients that support weight management have been discovered and developed by Sabinsa Corporation, a verticallyintegrated company. Based on their mechanisms of action, these ingredients may be divided into four groups:
- Group A: Citrin and GarCitrin
Citrin® contains only one of the bioactive ingredients of the Garcinia cambogia fruit, namely, Hydroxycitric acid (HCA). HCA is a derivative of citric acid, the agent that gives citrus fruits (oranges, lemons) their characteristic tart flavor. Citrin is standardized for a minimum of 50% HCA (1-3). Badmaev and Majeed (4) have conducted a clinical study on Citrin®. As far as inhibition of fatty acid synthesis is concerned, Hydroxycitric Acid has 100 times greater affinity for the enzyme citrate lyase, and, therefore, it acts as a potent inhibitor of citrate lyase.
Citrin® also affects appetite.
- Group B: ForsLean®
ForsLean® is an extract obtained from the dried roots of the plant Coleus forskohlii. Interestingly, Coleus forskohlii roots also have a history of food use in India (as pickle or condiment). Coleus forskohlii has been studied extensively. The most recent review is a book chapter titled “Coleus forskohlii Extract in the Management of Obesity” written by Dr. Majeed. The bioactive ingredient of ForsLean® is Forskolin, a Labdane di-terpenoid. In the
8-week, pilot open field study, 6 overweight women received 500 mg ForsLean (or 50 mg Forskolin) per day. As it can be seen, after 8 weeks, there was a considerable weight loss and fat loss, and increase in lean body mass.In this 12-week, double-blind and randomized study, 60 obese subjects received 500 mg ForsLean® (50 mg Forskolin) per day.
- Group C: LeanGard
LeanGard® is a proprietary blend of GarCitrin®, ForsLean® and BioPerine® with the suggested use level of 500 mg two times per day. LeanGard® caused 7.5% reduction in the body weight of the test group compared to 1.1% in the placebo group (50 over-weight subjects in each group comprising of 24 men and 26 women ranging in age from 25 to 55 years; – Study Duration: 12 weeks; – Dosage: 500 mg of the LeanGard® or Placebo, twice a day). LeanGard® caused 4.36% increase in the lean body mass of the test group compared to 0.67% in the placebo group. Furthermore, LeanGard® did not cause any significant changes in blood pressure or heart rate, hematological parameters, liver function, renal function, thyroid function, and plasma lipid levels.
– Group D: Fabenol
Fabenol® is an alpha-amylase inhibitory natural extract obtained from Phaseolus vulgaris (common bean, kidney bean) that blocks the digestion of dietary starch. An amylase inhibitor obstructs the digestion of starch and absorption of glucose. Therefore amylase inhibitors are valued in conditions such as diabetes (to reduce blood sugar levels) and in weight management. Since the alpha-amylase inhibitor protein binds with the active sites of alpha-amylase and prevents its starch degradation activity, it is also called “Starch Blocker”.
Innovative ingredients in support of weight management, NutraCos, nov - Dec 2012, Health ingredient, Muhammed Majeed, Reza Kamarei