Hoodia is a plant that belongs to the milkweed family and consists of about twenty different species. It is a leafless, spiny plant, with fleshy finger-like stems. Along the stems, there are rows of thorns, while the plant bears flesh-colored flowers.

Hoodia is most well known appetite suppressant that is thought not to produce any negative side effects. Hoodia products that contain other ingredients may not be as side effect free.