Research into this plant began in the 1960's and in 1977 a compound, P57, was isolated from Hoodia gordonii by the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
Lucwalingo lwalesitjalo lucale ngemnyaka wa 1960 kwatsi nga 1977 indzawo, P57, yashiywa yodvwa kusuka eHoodia gordonii yiKhansela yase Ningizimu Afrika kwentelwa Lucwalingo Lwe Tesayensi neNdzawo yekusebentela (CSIR).