Garcinia mangostana L.: A phytochemical and pharmacological review

Garcinia mangostana L. (mangosteen, Clusiaceae) has a long history of use as a medical plant, mostly in Southeast Asia. This is a review of the phytochemistry and pharmacology of mangosteen. Traditionally mangosteen is famous for its antiinflammatory properties and is used in the treatment of skin infections and wounds. Other applications include the therapy of various conditions such as dysentery, different urinary disorders, cystitis and gonorrhoea. This review highlights the development of this botanical drug into a widely used nutraceutical. Products derived from G. mangostana are now distributed increasingly all over the world. This has given rise to a concomitant increase in research on the phytochemical constituents and biological activity of mangosteen. Central to the biological activity of the species are xanthones which are reviewed in detail. A comprehensive assessment of the biological activities of individual xanthones as well as extracts of G. mangostana is included. In addition, its potential in terms of developing novel drug leads is assessed. Products containing its fruits are now sold widely as ‘liquid botanical supplements’, but evidence for the health benefits of these products is still lacking. As shown here, a serious weakness in our knowledge is the lack of clinical data and it is not yet clear to what extent the findings about pharmacological activities are of potential clinical relevance

Garcinia Fruits: Their Potential to Combat Metabolic Syndrome

The genus Garcinia belonging to the Clusiaceae family consists of more than 250 species and is traditionally used for diseases such as dysentery, rheumatism, and inflammation; as an antiparasitic or antimicrobial medication; or as food and flavoring. The genus is native to many countries around the tropical region. Phytochemical analyses have identified the presence of α‐mangostin, γ‐mangostin, hydroxycitric acid, guttiferone A, garcinol, morelloflavone, atroviridin, xanthochymol, kolaviron, and 7‐epiclusianones, among other compounds. These compounds may improve health by their antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, anti‐obesity, and antiproliferative actions. Metabolic syndrome involves increased oxidative stress and chronic low‐grade inflammation to produce conditions including hypertension, hyperglycemia, abdominal obesity, changes in the plasma lipid profile, and non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease, thereby increasing the risk of stroke, diabetes, and heart disease. This chapter will discuss the potential of the bioactive compounds found in Garcinia species as treatments for metabolic syndrome