5-HTP or 5-Hydroxytryptophan, an amino acid that is the link between tryptophan and the brain chemical serotonin. The 5-HTP used in Banitrim is used to reduce cravings for food and promote feelings of well being.

7-Keto, or 7-oxo-DHEA, as it is less commonly known, was developed through the research of the steroid dehydroepiandrosterone, or DHEA, and the correlated aging effects. DHEA metabolite 7-Keto, discovered as 3b -Acetoxyandrost - 5 - ene-7, 17- dione roughly sixty years ago, was just recently developed as the DHEA supplement. DHEA is the most common steroid, naturally appearing in the human blood. The DHEA levels in blood decline with the age, therefore a DHEA supplement may make sense even outside the body building circles. Touted as not hormonal and not androgenic derivative of DHEA it is supposed to activate thermogenic enzymes, thereby increasing the metabolic rate, which leads to an increase in burned calories per day, no matter if actually working out or not.

Cassia Extract, also known as Cinnamomum aromaticum or Cinnamomum cassia, is a species in the Family Lauraceae, a very close relative of Cinnamomum verum, or cinnamon. Just like the more famous true cinnamon, the aromatic bark is being used as a spice. Cassia trees are evergreens and can grow up to fifteen meters tall. Interestingly enough, in the United States and Canada, Cassia is sold as cinnamon, the spice, and the true cinnamon, the C. verum, is largely unknown. It is native to Asia, mainly south of China, India, Vietnam and Bangladesh. Cassia bark is one of the fifty fundamental herbs of the traditional Chinese medicine and recent studies have established that Cassia extract may lower the fasting blood sugar. The caused insulin sensitivity is due to the ingredients polyphenols.

Chromium.

Evodiamine, a bioactive alkaloid extract from the Evodiae Fructus plant, sometimes called Wu-Chu-Yu. Evodiamine is related to capsaicin, found in cayenne pepper. Evodiamine is a vanilloid receptor agonist, and may enhance lipolytic activity. Evodiamine has been shown to raise the body’s skin temperature and decrease core temperature, which is thought to burn calories and fat for energy.

Gymnema Sylvestre is at home in India, predominantly southern and central tropical forests, and has been widely used in traditional Indian medicine as a herb for naturopathic treatment of diabetes, but also in connection with digestive problems, obesity, hyperglycemia, anemia and high cholesterol. It is known to block sweetness receptors in the tongue and is widely considered a sugar blocker. It is also able to reduce cravings for carbohydrates, such as sweet tooth, by simply chewing the leaves of the plant. Main active components are so called gymnemic acids, which are a group of oleanane type saponins. Dammarene saponins, also an ingredient, are gymnemasides. It has been observed that gymnemic acids display some antidiabetic, anti inflammatory and anti sweetener effects, making it an interesting weight control agent.