potassium hydroxycitrate

Potassium hydroxycitrate is a potassium salt of hydroxycitric acid (HCA), a derivative of citric acid primarily found in tropical plants such as *Garcinia gummi-gutta*. It serves as a potent and competitive inhibitor of the enzyme ATP citrate lyase (ACLY), which is responsible for cleaving citrate into acetyl-CoA and oxaloacetate in the cytosol. This enzymatic step is critical for *de novo* lipogenesis and cholesterol synthesis, pathways that are frequently upregulated in various cancers to support rapid cell proliferation (the Warburg effect). By inhibiting ACLY, potassium hydroxycitrate disrupts these metabolic processes and has been shown to reduce the expression of downstream enzymes like fatty acid synthase (FASN) and HMG-CoA reductase (HMGCR). In oncology research, advanced delivery systems such as folate-conjugated bovine milk-derived exosomes (Exo-KH) have been developed to enhance its therapeutic efficacy and target specific tumor types, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Beyond its potential as a chemotherapeutic agent, it is widely recognized as a dietary supplement ingredient marketed for weight management.

Other names

K-HCApotassium salt of hydroxycitric acid