David A. Morton Ph.D.:  Over the past year a number of journal articles have surfaced demonstrating the diverse medicinal properties of the xanthones isolated from the rind of the mangosteen fruit. Research is continuing to demonstrate what folklore medicine has handed down for centuries regarding anti-tumor, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. The following is a short list reviewing a sample of these articles:

Cancer continues to be a leading cause of death around the world. Synthetic and natural products are continually being investigated for potential anti-tumor properties.

Researchers from the Department of Medical Research and Education at the Veterans General Hospital in Taipei, Taiwan, tested a panel of 14 different human cancer cell lines (including hepatocellular carcinoma) against six xanthone compounds from the rind of the mangosteen fruit. Researchers noted that the xanthone "garcinone E has potent cytotoxic effect on all hepatocellular carcinoma." They suggest, "garcinone E may be potentially useful for the treatment of certain types of cancer." ¹

In Gifu, Japan, researchers examined six xanthones from the mangosteen rind against human leukemia cell line HL60. Researchers noted that the study showed the "pericarps of mangosteen contain a variety of xanthones which exhibit anti-proliferative activity against human leukemia." The researchers are hoping their research helps determine "the mechanism underlying alpha-mangos tin-induced apoptosis (cell death)" in leukemia cell lines. ²

Tuberculosis continues to be a global concern as it infects millions of people annually. To compound this problem there is a search for new drugs capable of killing resistant strains of the mycobacterium. Data has shown an anti-tuberculosis effect in xanthone molecules.

Professor Suksamrarn (Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok, Thailand) tested a variety of xanthones from the pericarp of the mangosteen fruit against the mycobacterium (tuberculosis) in vitro. Her research demonstrated that the xanthones Alpha and Beta mangostin and garcinone B "exhibited strong inhibitory effect against Mycobacterium tuberculosis." It is interesting to note that Professor Suksamrarn also published a paper in the fall of 2002 detailing the discovery of three new xanthones (mangostenol, mangostenone A and mangostenone B) found in the rind of green mangosteen fruit. ³

Each year more than 50 million Americans suffer from allergic diseases with allergies being the sixth leading cause of chronic disease in the United States. In 1999 the Center for Disease Control estimated 16.7 million office visits to health care providers were attributed to allergic rhinitis costing the health care system more than 18 billion dollars. There is a need for natural supplements to help allergy sufferers

Histamine is a major chemical mediator in the development of allergic reactions. Dr. Nakatani (Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan) examined the effects of mangosteen extracts on histamine release and prostaglandin synthesis in laboratory rats. His results demonstrated that the mangosteen fruit has "potent inhibitory activities of both histamine and prostaglandin E2 synthesis." Dr. Nakatani believes the pericarp of the mangosteen will help allergy sufferers. ⁴

Dr. J. Frederic Templeman and I are constantly amazed at the number of research articles surfacing from around the world that demonstrate the medicinal properties of the mangosteen fruit. The enthusiasm among medical experts around the world continues to grow. It is obvious that there is a great future in store for the mangosteen fruit.

1. Ho C. 2002. Garcinone E, a xanthone derivative, has potent cytotoxic effect against hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines. Planta Med. 68(11):975-9.

2. Matsumoto K. 2003. Induction of apoptosis by xanthones from mangosteen in human leukemia cell lines. J Nat Prod. 66(8):1124-7.

3. Suksamrarn S. 2003. Antimycobacterial activity of prenylated xanthones from the fruits of Garcinia mangostana. Chem Pharm Bull. 51(7):857-9

4. Nakatani K. 2002. Inhibitions of histamine release and prostaglandin E2 synthesis by mangosteen, a Thai medicinal plant. Biol Pharm Bull. 25(9):1137-41.