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Botany
Mangosteen is a smooth, conical tree growing up
to 10 meters high, outer bark smooth, dark brown, inner bark yellowish,
branches nearly horizontal; leaves opposite, thick, leathery,
15 to 25 centimeters long, 6 to 11 centimeters wide, lanceolate, base tapering,
apex acuminate, upper surface glossy, under surface dull, lighter
color, petioles about 1 centimeter long; fruit a berry, dark purple,
globose, 5 to 7 centimeters in diameter, smooth; rind firm, spongy, thick,
resinous; seeds 4 to 8, dark brown, flattened, each surrounded
by white or pinkish-white, juicy, sweet, edible pulp.
Distribution
and Production
Propagated by seeds which are immediately sown after extraction to obtain
a high percentage of germination. Grows well in high rainfall area like
Mindanao, with deep, fertile, and well-drained, slightly acidic soils.
Under optimal conditions, maximum fruit yield ranges from 200 to 800
fruits per tree per cropping season.
Constituents
• Rind contains 5.5% tannin, and
a resin.
• Also from the rind, a bitter principle, mangostin.
• Fruit flesh (aril) contains saccharose 10.8%; dextrose, 1%;
and kerrelose 1.2 %.
• Acidity of fruit due to malic acid.
• Recent studies have isolated a new xanthone from the pericarp,
mangostinone, and a new polyoxygenated xanthone, mangostanol, from the
fruit hulls.
• From the green fruit hulls, 3 new xanthones: mangostenol, mangostenone
A and mangostenone B.
• Bark yielded a new xanthone, mangosharin (2,8-dihydroxy-6-methoxy-5-(3- methylbut-2-eny1)-xanthone) together with six other xanthones, a-mangostin, Pmangostin, garcinone D, xanthone 1, 1,6-dihydroxy-3,7-dimethoxy-2-(3-methylbut-2- eny1)-xanthone and mangostanol and one triterpenoid, friedelin.
Parts
utilized
Pericarp (peel) and seeds.
Pericarp which is used as medicine is separated from the edible
portion and is sliced into desired sizes immediately after the
fruit is opened. The pericarp pieces are strung and dried (air-drying,
sun-drying, and "tapahan" method where the pericarp
is dried by smoking) immediately to avoid fungi infestation.
Sun-dried pericarp yield the highest tannin concentration of
5.5%.
Uses
Folkloric
Abdominal pain and diarrhea.
Decoction of roots used for dysmenorrhea and genitourinary ailments.
Bark and young seeds used in diarrhea, dysentery, and GI problems; also,
a wash for stomatitis.
Decoction of leaves and bark used as febrifuge and to treat thrush.
Decoction of powdered rind used for external astringent application.
In Cambodia, the bark and fruit rind are
used for diarrhea and dysentery.
In Malaya, infusion of leaves mixed with unripe banana and benzoin used
for the circumcision wound.
Used for cystitis and gonorrhea.
2004 Rage
Now, it is XANTHONES,
an ingredient in the mangosteen fruit that is being touted as the new
"miracle" supplement-drink. As much hype and fanfare as the
"Noni" juice craze that spawned a short-lived industry that
flooded many a distant shore. See: Xanthones.html
Others
Dye: (1) In Malaya, a black dye is obtained
from the shell. (2) Aqueous extract of pericarp of Garcinia extracted a camel brown to dark chocolate brown dye for dyeing cotton silk and wool yarn.
Chewstick: In Ghana, mangosteen twigs used as chewsticks.
Studies
• Antifungal activity: Antifungal
activity of xanthones isolated from the fruit hulls of GM.
• Antibacterial: Extracts of GM showed inhibitory effects against
S aureus.
• Antioxidant: The methanol extract
of fruit hulls was found to possess potent radical scavenging effect.
• Acne vulgaris: (1) Effect of Garcinia
mangostana on inflammation caused by Propionibacterium acne: Study
showed that G mangostana possess significant antioxidant activity –
highly effective in scavenging free radicals and suppressing the production
of pro-inflammatory cytokines. It suggests a potential source of an
agent for the treatment of acne vulgaris. (2) Study concludes that the aqueous extract of Garcinia mangostana and Aloe vera can be formulated in an aqueous based gel system for the topical treatment of mild acne vulgaris. The microbial assay of the formulations demonstrated better inhibitory activity against Propionibacterium acne and Staph epidermis.
• Geranylated Biphenyl Derivative:
Extracts of root bark, stem bark and latex yielded compounds with antibacterial,
anti-inflammatory and antifungal activities supporting its use in indigenous
medicine.
• Antiproliferative / Antioxidant / Apoptosis Inducing: Study on human breast cancer cell line showed the methanolic extract from the pericarp of G mangostana had strong antiproliferation, potent antioxidation and induction of apoptosis and suggests a potential use for cancer chemoprevention.
• Tuberculosis: Antimycobacterial
Activity of Prenylated Xanthones from the Fruits of Garcinia mangostana:
Prenylated xanthones, alpha- and beta- mangostins and garcinone B showed
strong inhibitory activity against M tuberculosis.
• Antioxidant / Cytoprotective: Antioxidant and Cytoprotective Activities of Methanolic
Extract from Garcinia mangostana Hulls: Study suggests GM extract
possess antioxidant and chemoprotective activities through a reducing
mechanism and inhibition of intracellular oxidative stress.
• Antimicrobial / Anti-Acne: In a study of Thai medicinal plants against the etiologic agents of acne vulgaris, Garcinia mangostana was one of the plants with strong inhibitory effects against Propionibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermis. One of the active compounds in G mangostana could be mangostin, a xanthone derivative.
• Free Radical Scavenging / Cytokine Reducing: Study showed G mangostana possessed significant antioxidant activity and reduced reactive oxygen species production. It was able to suppress the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
 • Panaxanthone / Anti-Tumor / Antimetastatic: Study showed the antitumor effects of panaxanthone were associated with elevation of apoptotic cell death, antiproliferation and antiangiogenesis. The antimetastatic activity of panaxanthone may be of clinical significance as adjuvant therapy in metastatic breast cancer and also useful as a chemopreventive of breast cancer development.
• Antioxidant / Cytoprotective: Study showed the methanolic extract of the hulls of G mangostana possessed antioxidant and chemopreventive activities via a reducing mechanism and inhibition of intracellular oxidative stress.
• Anti-Inflammatory: Study showed the extract of G mangostana showed the highest anti-inflammatory dose-dependent activity.
• Antiproliferative / Anti-Cancer: Study showed EtOAc extract with strong antiproliferative activity and induced apoptosis in human ovarian SKOV3 cells, suggesting a possible important role in cancer chemotherapy. Results indicate cancer in-vitro and in-vivo antiproliferation from active components of mangosteen.
• Cytotoxicity / Anti-Cancer: The crude hexane extract of G. mangostana showed activity against the CEM-SS cell-line with an IC50 value of 17 pg/ml. The pure compounds a-mangostin, mangostanol and garcinone D also exhibited significant activities with ICso values of 5.5,9.6 and 3.2 pg/ml against CEM-SS cell line, respectively.
Caution
• Mangosteen / Cancer
Information / Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: Despite claims
by marketeers, the efficacy and safety of mangosteen products for cancer
treatment in humans have not been established. Studies have shown antiinflammatory,
cytotoxic, aromatase-inhibitory, antioxidant, antiproliferative and
apoptotic effects. However, there is no data from clinical trials to
verify these effects in humans. Caution is given that mangosteen products
may interfere with certain chemotherapeutic drugs. For diabetics, the caution
is because of its high sugar content. (July 2008)
• Severe
Lactic Acidosis Associated With Juice of the Mangosteen Fruit Garcinia
mangostana: A case of severe lactic acidosis associated
with the use of mangosteen juice as a dietary supplement. (Mar 2008)
• Toxicity Study / Pericarp Extract: Ethanolic extracts from the fruit pericarp have been shown to possess many biological and pharmacological activities. A six-month study in Wistar rats showed of high dose mangosteen pericarp extract affected both liver and kidney. Although the MPE did not produce overt pharmacotoxic signs and hematologic abnormalities, , higher doses affected hepatic and renal laboratory parameters. There was also hepatocellular degeneration after higher dose withdrawal which may suggest persistence in liver pathology. Safety constituents in the extract should be further investigated before use for health promotion.
Availability
Wild-crafted.
Cultivated for its fruit.
Extracts, pills in the cybermarket.
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