Garcinone E: Xanthone derivative in mangosteen

Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) is a fruit that grows in tropical countries, such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.

Mangosteen contains more than forty biologically active, natural chemical compounds called xanthones. Garcinone E, a xanthone derivative, is useful in cases of cancers of the stomach, lungs, and liver. Xanthones are a class of polyphenolic compounds with a xanthene-9-one skeleton.

Garcinone E belongs to the class of organic compounds known as 8-prenylated xanthones. These are organic compounds containing a C5-isoprenoid group linked to a xanthone moiety at the 8-position. Xanthone is a tricyclic compound made up of two benzene rings linearly fused to each other through a pyran ring that carries a ketone group.

It has been found that garcinone E exists in the pericarp of mangosteen has potent anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects.

Studies reported that garcinone E one of six xanthones from mangosteen pericarp had potent cytotoxic effect on all hepatocellular carcinomas cells lines as well as on the other gastric and lung cancer (Ho, C., Huan, Y., Chen, C. 2002 Planta Med. 68, pp 975-979)
Garcinone E: Xanthone derivative in mangosteen