Chemical constituents
By methanol water (85 : 15) extract of G. mangostana pericarp:
phenolic acids (e.g. ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid, veratric acid t-cinnamic acid, vanillic acid, cinnamic acid, caffeic acid, mandelic acid, gentisic acid, sinapic acid) and flavonoids (e.g. epicatechin and quercetin)
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By methanol and water extract of G. mangostana rind:
tartaric esters, phenolics, flavonols and tannins
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By ethanol extract of G. mangostana pericarp:mangostin (α, β, γ), 1,5-dihydroxy-2-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-3-methoxy-xanthone, 1,5-dihydroxy-2-isopentyl-3-methoxy xanthone, 1,7-dihydroxy-2-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-3-methoxy-xanthone, 1,7-dihydroxy-2-isopentyl-3-methoxy xanthone 1-isomangostin, 1-isomangostin hydrate, 2-(γ,γ-dimethylallyl)-1,7-dihydroxy-3-methoxyxanthone, 3-isomangostin, 3-isomangostin hydrate, 8-deoxygartanin, 8-hydroxycudraxanthone, BR-xanthone, cudraxanthone G, garcimangosone (B, C, D), garcinone (B, D, E), gartanin, mangostanin, mangostenol, mangostenone (A, B), mangostinone, smeathxanthone A, tovophyllin (A and B), trapezifolixanthone, maclurin, kolanone, epicatechin, chrysanthemin cyanidin-3-O-sophoroside
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​By ethanol (50%) extract of G. mangostana pericarp: phenolics (e.g. gallic acid) and anthocyanins (e.g. cyanindin-3-glucoside)
Manggis (Garcinia mangostana)
Common names
- manggis, semetah, semontah (Malay)
- mangosteen (English)
- dao nian zi (Chinese)
- sulambali (Tamil)
Description
- belongs to the family of Guttiferae and is named ‘‘the queen of fruits”
- a small or medium height tree with 6–25 m, evergreen, with a straight trunk, symmetrically branched to form a conical crown
- leaves are opposite, entire and cuspidate at the apex, 19–23 cm long and 4–10 cm wide, shining and coriaceous, dark green, rarely yellow green, glabrous above, dull pale green or yellow green beneath
- flowers 4–5 cm wide, fleshy, may be male or hermaphrodite on the same tree; the former are in clusters of 3–9 at the branch tips; 4 sepals and 4 ovate, thick, fleshy petals, green with red spots on the outside, yellowish-red inside
- fruit a subglobose berry, capped by the prominent calyx at the stem end, with 4–8 triangular, flat remnants of the stigma in a rosette at the apex, dark-purple to red-purple and smooth externally
- fruit may be seedless or have 1–5 fully developed seeds, purplish-white on the inside; 4–8 triangular segments of snow-white, juicy, soft flesh (actually the arils of the seeds)
- seed ovoid oblong, somewhat flattened, 2.5 cm long and 1.6 cm wide that cling to the flesh; flesh slightly acid, mild to distinctly acid in flavour
Traditional uses
Preparation/ parts of plants used
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to treat dysentery
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for smoothing the circulation of the menstrual cycle
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for healing wounds, suppurations and chronic ulcers
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for treating eczema, hyperkeratosis and other skin disorders such as psoriasis
Leaves and bark
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to relieve diarrhea, cystitis gonorrhoea and gleet
Pericarp: decoction
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used as a febrifuge as well as in the treatment of diarrhoea, dysentery and different urinary disorders
Leaves and bark: decoction and tea from the rind
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used for the circumcision wound
Leaves: infusion of leaves mixed with unripe banana and benzoin
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used as a dye for dyeing cotton silk and wool yarn
Pericarp: black dye is obtained from the shell
Pericarp: decoction
Root: decoction
Pericarp: dried and powdered