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An extract of the hoodia cactus-like plant, also long used by the San to control hunger, was explored as an appetite suppressant by Pfizer and Unilever.

The endangered Hoodia plant, seen here in South Africa’s Tankwa Karoo National Park, is used as as an appetite suppressant in popular weight-loss products.

It abandoned research aiming to commercialize a drug for the management of obesity derived from a southern African cactus called Hoodia gordonii three years ago, to focus its efforts on Cogane instead.

While Unilever has known this since 2008, the news is bound to disappoint consumers, who can buy Hoodia for less than $20 on the Internet.

One website, for instance, claims that Hoodia "will curb your appetite almost immediately, after taking only a few milligrams," and "will not make your heart race."