Side Effects and Potential Health Benefits of Mangosteen Extracts, Supplements

Potential Health Benefits of
Mangosteen Extracts, Supplements

The fruit hull of mangosteen, Garcinia mangostana L., has been used for many years
as a medicine for treatment of skin infection, wounds, and diarrhea in Southeast Asia.
[9]

Researchers from Thailand reported antiplasmodial activities of mangostin, the major
xanthone of Garcinia mangostana, and a series of synthetic derivatives. [2]

Extracts of mangosteen exhibited antioxidative activities and neuroprotective activity
on NG108-15 cells in a study conducted in Thailand. The highest activity was observed
at the concentration of 50 microg/ml for both the water and 50% ethanol extracts. [3]

Japanese researchers found that Alpha-Mangostin, isolated from the stem bark of
Garcinia mangostana L., was active against vancomycin resistant Enterococci (VRE)
and methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), with MIC values of 6.25 and
6.25 to 12.5 microg/ml, respectively. [4]

Japanese researchers demonstrated the anti-cancer effects of crude alpha-mangostin
(a major xanthone derivative in mangosteen pericarp (Garcinia mangostana) in
short-term colon carcinogenesis bioassay system. [5] While in another study,
Japanese researchers examined the effects of six xanthones from the pericarps of
mangosteen, Garcinia mangostana, on the cell growth inhibition of human leukemia cell
line HL60. They found all xanthones displayed growth inhibitory effects. [12] Japanese
scientists also demonstrated that alpha-mangostin (a xanthone from the pericarps of
mangosteen) preferentially targets mitochondria in the early phase, resulting in
indication of apoptosis in HL60 cells. [6]

Researchers from Taiwan extracted and purified 6 xanthone compounds from the
rinds (peel) of the fruits of Garcinia mangostana L and then tested the cytotoxic
effects of these compounds on a panel of 14 different human cancer cell lines. They
found that garcinone E has potent cytotoxic effect on all HCC cell lines as well as on
the other gastric and lung cancer cell lines included in the screen. [11] While,Thai
researchers showed that Garcinia mangostana has antiproliferative activity against
SKBR3 human breast adenocarcinoma cell line. [7]

Mangosteen may enhance immunity.
Thai researchers extracted the polysaccharides from mangosteen and found these
extracts inhibited the growth of Salmonella enteritidis in cultured monocyte. [8]

Mangosteen has anti-allergic activities.

Japanese researchers found that the 40% ethanol extract of mangosteen inhibited
IgE-mediated histamine release from RBL-2H3 cells with greater potency than the
water extract of Rubus suavissimus that has been used as an anti-allergy crude drug
in Japan. [10]

A crude methanolic extract of the fruit hull of Mangosteen, Garcinia mangostana L.
inhibited the contractions of isolated thoracic rabbit aorta induced by histamine and
serotonin. It is suggested that alpha-mangostin and gamma-mangostin are a
histaminergic and a serotonergic receptor blocking agent. [1]

Mangosteen extract inhibit COX activities.

Researchers from Tohoku University, Japan, demonstrated that gamma-mangostin, a
xanthone derivative, directly inhibited COX activity in a in vitro study.
gamma-mangostin inhibited the activities of both constitutive COX (COX-1) and
inducible COX (COX-2) in a concentration-dependent manner, with the IC50 values of
about 0.8 and 2 microM, respectively. [9]

This article is for reference only. Discuss with your doctor for medical advice. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2008.
DO NOT COPY THIS ARTICLE TO OTHER WEBSITE(S) NOR BLOG(S). Not much studies have been done with
mangosteen.

[1] Chairungsrilerd N, et al, Histaminergic and serotonergic receptor blocking substances from the medicinal
plant Garcinia mangostana. Planta Med. 1996 Oct;62(5):471-2. [2] Mahabusarakam W et al, Prenylated
xanthones as potential antiplasmodial substances. Planta Med. 2006 Aug;72(10):912-6. Epub 2006 Aug 10.
[3] Weecharangsan W, et al, Antioxidative and neuroprotective activities of extracts from the fruit hull of
mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana Linn.). Med Princ Pract. 2006;15(4):281-7. [4] Sakagami Y, Iinuma M,
Piyasena KG, Dharmaratne HR. Antibacterial activity of alpha-mangostin against vancomycin resistant
Enterococci (VRE) and synergism with antibiotics. Phytomedicine. 2005 Mar;12(3):203-8. [5] Nabandith V, et
al, Inhibitory effects of crude alpha-mangostin, a xanthone derivative, on two different categories of colon
preneoplastic lesions induced by 1, 2-dimethylhydrazine in the rat. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2004
Oct-Dec;5(4):433-8. [6] Matsumoto K, et al, Preferential target is mitochondria in alpha-mangostin-induced
apoptosis in human leukemia HL60 cells. Bioorg Med Chem. 2004 Nov 15;12(22):5799-806. [7] Moongkarndi
P, et al, Antiproliferative activity of Thai medicinal plant extracts on human breast adenocarcinoma cell line.
Fitoterapia. 2004 Jun;75(3-4):375-7. [8] Chanarat P, Chanarat N, Fujihara M, Nagumo T.
Immunopharmacological activity of polysaccharide from the pericarb of mangosteen garcinia: phagocytic
intracellular killing activities. J Med Assoc Thai. 1997 Sep;80 Suppl 1:S149-54. [9] Nakatani K, et al,
Inhibition of cyclooxygenase and prostaglandin E2 synthesis by gamma-mangostin, a xanthone derivative in
mangosteen, in C6 rat glioma cells. Biochem Pharmacol. 2002 Jan 1;63(1):73-9. [10] Nakatani K, et al,
Inhibitions of histamine release and prostaglandin E2 synthesis by mangosteen, a Thai medicinal plant. Biol
Pharm Bull. 2002 Sep;25(9):1137-41. [11] Ho CK, et al, Garcinone E, a xanthone derivative, has potent
cytotoxic effect against hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines. Planta Med. 2002 Nov;68(11):975-9. [12]
Matsumoto K, et al, Induction of apoptosis by xanthones from mangosteen in human leukemia cell lines. J
Nat Prod. 2003 Aug;66(8):1124-7.

Discuss with your doctor before taking any alternative medicine. This article is for
reference only, it is not a medical advice. All rights reserved. Do not copy this article to
other website or blog.