Information From the Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City

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

LITERATURE SUMMARY AND CRITIQUE

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