{"schema":"https://ver.cy/schemas/card/1.0.0","id":"vr.tr.hydroxycitric-acid","code":"thing-q2823270","url":"https://ver.cy/models/thing/q2823270/","name":"hydroxycitric acid","alternateNames":["allo-2-hydroxycitric acid"],"kind":"thing","status":"published","version":"0.1.0-research.1","language":"en","classifiers":{"family":"Thing Registry","category":"Physical world and living systems","entryKind":"thing","plane":"PHY","domain":["PHY.MAT"],"industry":[],"navPath":"","tags":[],"facets":{}},"whatItIs":"Hydroxycitric acid is a hydroxylated derivative of citric acid with molecular formula C6H8O8, occurring naturally in certain plants, including Garcinia species, and possessing two stereogenic centres.","purpose":"Enable an agent to identify hydroxycitric acid, assess the composition and condition of a particular material, and determine whether evidence supports its intended use.","scope":{"in":["Molecular identity, stereochemical specification and identifier reconciliation","Free-acid content, hydroxycitrate speciation and relationships to salts and lactone derivatives","Batch composition, purity, water content and analytical evidence","Condition-dependent physical properties, stability and storage suitability","Substance-specific experimental activity and evidence supporting permitted uses"],"out":["Garcinia species, cultivation and whole-plant biology","Complete composition and quality models for botanical extracts or dietary supplements","Detailed extraction, fermentation or synthesis process models","Clinical weight-management protocols and individual treatment decisions","ATP-citrate lyase as an enzyme model","Independent substance models for particular salts or lactone derivatives"],"boundaries":[]},"distinguishingFeatures":["Confirm hydroxycitric-acid connectivity and the free-acid formula C6H8O8; a shared name or acidity measurement is insufficient. [PubChem](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/123908)","Require a stereochemical assignment before equating unspecified hydroxycitric acid with the specific substance indexed as Garcinia acid or (-)-hydroxycitric acid. [PubChem Garcinia acid record](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Garcinia-acid)","Distinguish the open acid from hydroxycitric acid lactone, which has a separate molecular identity and formula C6H6O7. [PubChem lactone record](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/9991606)","Use counterion identity and stoichiometry to distinguish free acid from a hydroxycitrate salt; report salt mass separately from acid-equivalent content.","Require compositional analysis to distinguish isolated hydroxycitric acid from an extract or product merely labelled with an HCA percentage."],"structure":{"bundles":[{"id":"identity-and-stereochemistry","name":"Identity and stereochemistry","description":"Resolve what chemical entity the registry name and each material record denote.","layers":[{"id":"molecular-identity","name":"Molecular identity","description":"Establish connectivity and reconcile structure-specific identifiers.","findings":[{"id":"structure-before-synonyms","name":"Structure before synonyms","description":"Recognize hydroxycitric acid through a verified molecular structure and record the identity boundaries of every synonym and identifier.","questions":[{"text":"Which verified structure defines hydroxycitric acid here, and does each proposed identifier encode unspecified or explicit stereochemistry?","id":"structure-before-synonyms-q01","kind":"definition"},{"text":"Which authoritative records were read to reconcile the CAS number, PubChem CID and any EC number?","id":"structure-before-synonyms-q02","kind":"provenance"}]}]},{"id":"stereochemical-resolution","name":"Stereochemical resolution","description":"Separate stereochemical assignment from generic HCA naming.","findings":[{"id":"configuration-and-mixtures","name":"Configuration and mixtures","description":"Record the assigned configuration and supporting analysis; retain unknown or mixed stereochemistry as explicit states.","questions":[{"text":"Does this material have an established absolute configuration, a measured stereoisomer distribution or only an HCA label?","id":"configuration-and-mixtures-q01","kind":"measurement"},{"text":"What reference standard and analytical evidence support interpreting labels such as (-)-HCA or Garcinia acid?","id":"configuration-and-mixtures-q02","kind":"provenance"}]}]}]},{"id":"acid-salt-and-lactone-boundaries","name":"Acid, salt and lactone boundaries","description":"Represent the chemical forms that commonly complicate HCA identification and quantification.","layers":[{"id":"acid-and-hydroxycitrate","name":"Acid and hydroxycitrate","description":"Describe neutralization state, counterions and solution conditions.","findings":[{"id":"form-and-acid-equivalents","name":"Form and acid equivalents","description":"Keep chemical form and actual material mass distinct from any calculated hydroxycitric-acid equivalent.","questions":[{"text":"Is the material free acid, a specified salt or a solution whose hydroxycitrate speciation depends on its conditions?","id":"form-and-acid-equivalents-q01","kind":"boundary"},{"text":"What counterion stoichiometry, water content and calculation basis support its stated acid-equivalent amount?","id":"form-and-acid-equivalents-q02","kind":"measurement"}]}]},{"id":"lactone-accounting","name":"Lactone accounting","description":"Track the lactone as a separately identified component.","findings":[{"id":"open-acid-versus-lactone","name":"Open acid versus lactone","description":"Require explicit reporting of whether an HCA result measures open acid, lactone or a combined quantity.","questions":[{"text":"Does the analytical method resolve open hydroxycitric acid from its lactone, and what amount of each is reported?","id":"open-acid-versus-lactone-q01","kind":"measurement"},{"text":"Could preparation or analysis alter the acid-to-lactone distribution, and how was that possibility checked?","id":"open-acid-versus-lactone-q02","kind":"measurement"}]}]}]},{"id":"batch-composition-and-authenticity","name":"Batch composition and authenticity","description":"Establish what a supplied HCA material contains and how that conclusion was reached.","layers":[{"id":"assay-and-mass-balance","name":"Assay and mass balance","description":"Interpret measured HCA content against a declared reporting basis.","findings":[{"id":"interpretable-hca-percentage","name":"Interpretable HCA percentage","description":"Require an assay basis and account for water, counterions, lactone and other quantified components.","questions":[{"text":"Is the stated HCA percentage based on as-received mass, dry mass, free acid or total acid equivalents?","id":"interpretable-hca-percentage-q01","kind":"definition"},{"text":"How much of the batch mass remains unexplained after HCA, lactone, counterions, water and measured impurities are accounted for?","id":"interpretable-hca-percentage-q02","kind":"measurement"}]}]},{"id":"origin-and-analytical-traceability","name":"Origin and analytical traceability","description":"Connect source history and analytical records to the supplied batch.","findings":[{"id":"source-is-not-identity","name":"Source is not identity","description":"Treat botanical or manufacturing origin as provenance requiring chemical confirmation, and link matrix information to neighbouring extract or product models.","questions":[{"text":"What batch records establish botanical, synthetic or other manufacturing origin without substituting origin for chemical identification?","id":"source-is-not-identity-q01","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Which validated measurements and reference standards distinguish HCA from co-occurring acids and matrix interference?","id":"source-is-not-identity-q02","kind":"measurement"}]}]}]},{"id":"condition-and-stability","name":"Condition and stability","description":"Assess HCA properties and compositional change under defined handling conditions.","layers":[{"id":"form-specific-properties","name":"Form-specific properties","description":"Attach physical measurements to characterized material.","findings":[{"id":"qualified-property-values","name":"Qualified property values","description":"Record solubility and thermal behaviour with chemical form, purity and measurement conditions.","questions":[{"text":"What solubility is measured for this HCA form at a specified temperature, solvent composition and pH?","id":"qualified-property-values-q01","kind":"measurement"},{"text":"Does a reported thermal value represent melting, dehydration or decomposition, and is a boiling point actually established?","id":"qualified-property-values-q02","kind":"measurement"}]}]},{"id":"storage-and-reanalysis","name":"Storage and reanalysis","description":"Connect environmental history to demonstrated changes in material quality.","findings":[{"id":"composition-over-time","name":"Composition over time","description":"Base storage suitability and retesting decisions on evidence for the specified HCA material.","questions":[{"text":"How do temperature, humidity, solution pH and elapsed time affect the measured HCA, lactone and impurity profile?","id":"composition-over-time-q01","kind":"measurement"},{"text":"Which documented excursion or analytical change requires reanalysis before this batch is used?","id":"composition-over-time-q02","kind":"action"}]}]}]},{"id":"activity-and-use-evidence","name":"Activity and use evidence","description":"Bound biochemical interpretation, handling and use decisions by material-specific evidence.","layers":[{"id":"biochemical-activity","name":"Biochemical activity","description":"Link experimental results to the tested stereoisomer, form and assay.","findings":[{"id":"assay-specific-enzyme-effects","name":"Assay-specific enzyme effects","description":"Hydroxycitrate isomers have been investigated for enzyme reactivity and inhibition; record each result with its tested identity and conditions. [Primary study](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/334761/)","questions":[{"text":"Which HCA stereoisomer and chemical form were tested against ATP-citrate lyase, using which enzyme source and assay conditions?","id":"assay-specific-enzyme-effects-q01","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"What measured activity supports the proposed experimental use, and what remains unestablished beyond that assay?","id":"assay-specific-enzyme-effects-q02","kind":"boundary"}]}]},{"id":"handling-and-use-status","name":"Handling and use status","description":"Resolve safety and regulatory evidence for the actual material and intended use.","findings":[{"id":"material-specific-use-decisions","name":"Material-specific use decisions","description":"Record applicable hazard and regulatory evidence without transferring conclusions automatically between pure HCA and multicomponent products.","questions":[{"text":"Which current safety data and jurisdictional records establish GHS classification, any exposure limits and restrictions for this exact material?","id":"material-specific-use-decisions-q01","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Does the available evidence support the intended laboratory, manufacturing or food-related use, or is a material-specific assessment still required?","id":"material-specific-use-decisions-q02","kind":"action"}]}]}]},{"id":"evidence-and-external-alignment","name":"Evidence and external alignment","description":"What the world already says about this thing, gathered so the model can be checked against it.","layers":[{"id":"reported-evidence","name":"Reported evidence","description":"Findings from the breadth pass, kept separate from the structural claims.","findings":[{"id":"evidence-confidence-notes","name":"Check these first","description":"Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.","questions":[{"text":"Which of these check these first hold for the sense of hydroxycitric acid this model covers, and on what evidence?","id":"evidence-confidence-notes-q01","kind":"provenance"}]},{"id":"evidence-kinds","name":"Kinds and varieties","description":"Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.","questions":[{"text":"Which of these kinds and varieties hold for the sense of hydroxycitric acid this model covers, and on what evidence?","id":"evidence-kinds-q01","kind":"provenance"}]},{"id":"evidence-identifiers","name":"Identifiers and schemes","description":"Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.","questions":[{"text":"Which of these identifiers and schemes hold for the sense of hydroxycitric acid this model covers, and on what evidence?","id":"evidence-identifiers-q01","kind":"provenance"}]},{"id":"evidence-real-world-use","name":"Real-world use","description":"Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.","questions":[{"text":"Which of these real-world use hold for the sense of hydroxycitric acid this model covers, and on what evidence?","id":"evidence-real-world-use-q01","kind":"provenance"}]},{"id":"evidence-measurements","name":"Typical measurements","description":"Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.","questions":[{"text":"Which of these typical measurements hold for the sense of hydroxycitric acid this model covers, and on what evidence?","id":"evidence-measurements-q01","kind":"provenance"}]},{"id":"evidence-failure-modes-and-hazards","name":"Failure modes and hazards","description":"Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.","questions":[{"text":"Which of these failure modes and hazards hold for the sense of hydroxycitric acid this model covers, and on what evidence?","id":"evidence-failure-modes-and-hazards-q01","kind":"provenance"}]},{"id":"evidence-neighbours","name":"Neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart","description":"Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.","questions":[{"text":"Which of these neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart hold for the sense of hydroxycitric acid this model covers, and on what evidence?","id":"evidence-neighbours-q01","kind":"provenance"}]}]}]}]},"agentConduct":{"may":["Describe hydroxycitric acid, its plant sources and the evidence on its effects from reliable sources.","Report ingredients and warnings from a supplement label."],"mustNot":["Promote hydroxycitric acid as a proven weight-loss treatment.","Recommend doses for a particular person.","Downplay reports of liver harm linked to some supplements containing it.","Target weight-loss claims at people with eating disorders or at minors."],"requiresHuman":["Advice to people with liver disease, pregnancy or other medical conditions about supplements."]},"ethics":{"considerations":["Weight-loss supplements are marketed to people who are vulnerable about their bodies.","Supplements are often less tightly regulated than medicines, so honest claims matter."],"affectedParties":["Consumers of supplements","People with eating disorders","People with liver disease"]},"owners":{"steward":"The maker or seller of each product; food and supplement regulators oversee claims.","roles":[],"masterSystems":[]},"relations":[{"target":"Q421948","type":"parent","note":"registry parent class"}],"interaction":{"identity":{"applicability":"required","items":["Vercy registry: vr.tr.hydroxycitric-acid","Wikidata: Q2823270 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2823270)"]},"properties":{"applicability":"required","items":["Stereochemical identity: Assigned absolute configuration; characterized mixture; unspecified","Verified chemical identifiers: Structure-linked CAS number, PubChem CID, EC number and source record where verified","Material form: Free acid; characterized salt; solution; mixture containing hydroxycitric acid","Hydroxycitric-acid assay: % w/w or mg/g, with as-received or dry basis and explicit acid-equivalent convention","Stereoisomer distribution: Mole fraction or chromatographic fraction, with method and response assumptions","Lactone content: % w/w or mol%, with sample preparation and quantification method","Counterion and water content: Counterion molar ratios and water % w/w","Solution condition: Solvent, concentration, pH, temperature and elapsed preparation time","Physical-property evidence: Solubility in g/L; thermal events in °C; other constants with form, method and conditions","Use-specific safety and regulatory status: Verified classification or restriction; conflicting evidence; not established, with jurisdiction and date"]},"recognition":{"applicability":"required","items":["A sample label should explicitly name hydroxycitric acid, since bulk appearance cannot reliably distinguish it from citric acid or other organic acids.","Identity documentation should distinguish the free acid from salts, lactone forms and plant extracts rather than treating these materials as visually interchangeable."]},"capabilities":{"applicability":"required","items":["Resolve an HCA-labelled material to a verified structure, stereochemical specification and chemical form.","Compare batches using a common assay basis while retaining water, counterion and lactone contributions.","Select identity, stereochemical and composition tests appropriate to the material and intended use.","Assess whether storage history or solution preparation warrants reanalysis.","Evaluate whether an experimental activity result applies to the specified hydroxycitric-acid material.","Flag unsupported handling or use decisions for additional evidence."]},"hazards":{"applicability":"required","items":["Some multi-ingredient supplements containing it have been linked to liver injury.","Evidence for weight loss is weak, so users may be misled."]},"interfaces":{"applicability":"required","items":["The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals, issued by the United Nations, provides the framework for evaluating hazards and communicating any applicable classifications for supplied hydroxycitric acid chemical materials."]},"context":{"applicability":"required","items":["Hydroxycitric acid is encountered in plant chemistry, analytical research and studies of compounds present in certain fruit extracts.","It is also encountered as a constituent of dietary supplements marketed for weight management, where composition and evidence for claimed effects require separate assessment.","Research and quality control distinguish its stereoisomers, salts and lactone forms because these differences affect material identity."]}},"sources":[{"title":"Wikidata item Q2823270: hydroxycitric acid","url":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2823270","note":"identity and sense of the item"},{"title":"Wikipedia: Hydroxycitric acid","url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroxycitric_acid","note":"general description of the item"}],"openQuestions":["Does the registry intend stereochemically unspecified hydroxycitric acid or specifically (-)-hydroxycitric acid, and does an existing Vercy model already cover that intended concept?","Which CAS and EC identifiers can be verified for the intended structure without conflating free acid, particular stereoisomers, salts or lactone derivatives?","Which validated analytical methods quantify open acid, lactone and stereoisomers without materially changing their distribution during preparation?","Which reliable form-specific solubility, thermal and stability measurements are available, and which commonly reported constants belong to salts or mixtures?","What current substance-specific hazard, exposure-limit and regulatory evidence applies to the intended uses, and which safety observations concern multicomponent products instead?"],"resources":{"spec":"/models/things/publications/thing-q2823270/spec.json"},"provenance":{"origin":"thing registry research (pass 2)","builtFrom":["models/things/publications/thing-q2823270/spec.json"],"providers":["Codex"],"researchStatus":"unreviewed","generatedAt":"2026-09-12T10:22:14Z","builder":"tools/build_cards.py@1.0.0"},"completeness":{"sections":{"classifiers":"filled","whatItIs":"filled","purpose":"filled","distinguishingFeatures":"filled","structure":"filled","agentConduct":"filled","ethics":"filled","owners":"filled","relations":"filled","interaction.identity":"filled","interaction.properties":"filled","interaction.recognition":"filled","interaction.capabilities":"filled","interaction.hazards":"filled","interaction.interfaces":"filled","interaction.context":"filled","sources":"filled"},"notes":{"_gate":"Published through the thing publication gate 1.0 on 2026-10-07T10:10:29+00:00: completeness 1.00; sense: Wikidata description; 2 live sources; review by codex: pass"},"score":1.0}}