Amarasate, described as a "bitter brake", has been developed by researchers from Plant & Food Research and Auckland University and they have a registered a trademark for the product.
"Activation of the bitter brake mechanism by a bitter plant extract can stimulate the release of gut peptide hormones involved in appetite regulation and suppress subsequent feeding behaviour in healthy men," they say.
Auckland City Hospital diabetes and obesity expert, Dr Robyn Toomath, said such research was important. The only effective solution for obesity currently is bariatric surgery, she said, but it would be preferable to create a healthier food environment.
"Many years ago I thought that obesity would be treated ... with a range of medications targeting different aspects of the problem, but sadly they have all proved to be failures or to have unacceptable side effects.
"Even if [this drug] and other drugs did work, we can't have two-thirds of the population [the adult overweight/obesity rate] medicated for what is essentially an environmental problem."
Food control
• Amarasate is an experimental appetite suppressant.
• 19 men of normal weight took active capsules or placebos.
• Amarasate was associated with eating less in the following hours.