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Information From the Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in
New York City
MANGOSTEEN (Garcinia mangostana L.)
.
CLINICAL SUMMARY
Mangosteen is a plant native to Southeast Asia. The fruits are used in traditional
medicine to treat skin infections, wounds, and diarrhea. Recent studies have revealed that xanthones from the fruit hulls
exhibit antibacterial (3), antifungal (4), and antiinflammatory (5) properties. Alpha-mangostin, a xanthone, inhibited growth of human leukemia HL60 cells (1) (6), reduced the synthesis of prostaglandins (5), and prevented oxidative damage of LDL (7) in vitro. There is also preliminary evidence that alpha- and gamma-mangostins act as histamine and serotonin receptor
blockers (8), and also inhibit HIV-1 protease (9). Garcinone E, another xanthone, exerts cytotoxic effects against human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (10). Extract from the pericarp of mangosteen has antiproliferative, antioxidative, and apoptotic effects against human
breast cancer SKBR3 cells (11). There is no data from clinical trials to verify these effects in humans. No adverse effects have been reported with
the use of mangosteen.
SCIENTIFIC NAME
Garcinia mangostana L.
PURPORTED USES
- Bacterial Infections
- Diarrhea
- Fungal infections
- Inflammation
- Skin infections
- Wound healing
CONSTITUENTS
- Xanthones: alpha-mangostin, beta-mangostin, gamma-mangostin, garcinone B, garcinone E
- Mangostinone
- Tannins
- Flavonoid: epicatechin (1) (2)
MECHANISM OF ACTION
The xanthones, alpha- and beta-mangostins, and garcinone B
exhibit strong inhibitory effect against Mycobacterium tuberculosis in vitro (3). Alpha-mangostin has been shown to inhibit growth of human leukemia HL60 cells by inducing caspase-3-dependent apoptosis
(1) (6), reduce the synthesis of prostaglandins by inhibiting the activities of COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes (5), and prevent oxidative damage of LDL by functioning as a free-radical scavenger (7). Alpha- and gamma-mangostins also antagonize the activities of histamine and serotonin by acting as receptor blockers
(8). Garcinone E has cytotoxic effects against human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (10). In vitro studies have also demonstrated that a crude methanolic extract from the pericarp of mangosteen has antiproliferative,
antioxidative, and apoptotic effects against SKBR3 human breast cancer cells (11).
LITERATURE SUMMARY AND CRITIQUE
There is no clinical data available to support the beneficial effects
of mangosteen in humans.
REFERENCES
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