Chemistry and Biochemistry of (−)-Hydroxycitric Acid from Garcinia

(−)-Hydroxycitric acid [(−)-HCA] is the principal acid of fruit rinds of Garcinia cambogia, Garcinia indica, and Garcinia atroviridis. (−)-HCA was shown to be a potent inhibitor of ATP citrate lyase (EC 4.1.3.8), which catalyzes the extramitochondrial cleavage of citrate to oxaloacetate and acetyl-CoA: citrate + ATP + CoA → acetyl-CoA + ADP + Pi + oxaloacetate. The inhibition of this reaction limits the availability of acetyl-CoA units required...