What is Garcinia Cambogia?

Factual Questions
1

I’m fat. My cousin sent me a link touting the miracle fat burning qualities of this stuff called Garcinia Cambogia. Googling turns up a bunch of ads for miracle pills. I guess it’s made from tamarinds? I do like Pickapeppa sauce …

I’m assuming it’s quackery but I’ve never heard of it before so somebody educate me, please.

2

Apparently the active ingredient is supposed to be hydroxycitrate, which was shown in some early animal studies to suppress fat accumulation. However, it looks like subsequent studies have found no effect in terms of weight loss in humans, although the stuff is harmless.

Quackwatch article