Mangostin is a natural

xanthonoid A xanthonoid is a chemical natural phenolic compound formed from the xanthone backbone. Many members of the Clusiaceae The Clusiaceae or Guttiferae Juss. (1789) (''nom. alt. et cons.'' = alternative and valid name) are a family (biology), fami ...

, a type of organic compound isolated from various parts of the

mangosteen Mangosteen (''Garcinia mangostana''), also known as the purple mangosteen, is a tropical evergreen tree with edible fruit native to Island Southeast Asia, from the Malay Peninsula to Borneo. It has been cultivated extensively in tropical Asia ...

tree (''Garcinia mangostana''). It is a yellow crystalline solid with a

xanthone Xanthone is an organic compound with the molecular formula C13H8O2. It is a white solid. In 1939, xanthone was introduced as an insecticide and it currently finds uses as ovicide for codling moth eggs and as a larvicide. Xanthone is also use ...

core structure.

Source

The rind of partially ripe mangosteen fruit yields mangostin and also the related compound β-mangostin. Researchers conducted the optimization steps in order to increase the yield of α-mangostin extraction from the pericarp of the mangosteen and was able to achieve 9.2 g/kg DW. The rind of fully ripe fruits also contains the xanthonoids gartanin, 8-disoxygartanin, and normangostin.

Research

Mangostin and a variety of other xanthonoids from mangosteen have been investigated for biological properties including

antioxidant Antioxidants are Chemical compound, compounds that inhibit Redox, oxidation, a chemical reaction that can produce Radical (chemistry), free radicals. Autoxidation leads to degradation of organic compounds, including living matter. Antioxidants ...

, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities. In animal studies, mangostin has been found to be a

central nervous system The central nervous system (CNS) is the part of the nervous system consisting primarily of the brain, spinal cord and retina. The CNS is so named because the brain integrates the received information and coordinates and influences the activity o ...

depressant which causes

sedation Sedation is the reduction of irritability or agitation by administration of sedative drugs, generally to facilitate a medical procedure or diagnostic procedure. Examples of drugs which can be used for sedation include isoflurane, diethyl ether, ...

, decreased motor activity, and ptosis.

Related compounds

A derivative of mangostin, mangostin-3,6-di-O-glucoside, is a

depressant Depressants, also known as central nervous system depressants, or colloquially known as "downers", are drugs that lower neurotransmission levels, decrease the electrical activity of brain cells, or reduce arousal or stimulation in various ...

and causes a rise in blood pressure.

References

{{xanthonoid Xanthonoids Dietary antioxidants