Clusiaceae Research Articles

Characterization of Fruit, Seed Traits and Seedling Growth Performance of Different Seed Sources of Calophyllum inophyllum

Calophyllum inophyllum is an oil-bearing tree species with seeds containing 50-70 per cent oil, mainly used for non-edible purposes. Belonging to the Clusiaceae family, it is commonly known as Undi in Kannada. This littoral tropical tree grows above the high-tide mark along coastlines and is frequently found on sandy beaches. Its prominence has increased due to high demand as biofuel and commercialization. The study aimed to examine the fruit and seed traits from various sources and the impact of seed source variation on germination and seedling growth of Calophyllum inophyllum. Experiments were conducted at the College of Forestry, Sirsi, with fruits collected from seven different regions from coastal taluks of Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka. Data on fruit, seed, and plant parameters were recorded. Results revealed that there was no such statistically significant difference was observed in fruit parameters, seed parameters, seedling parameters and germination percentage of Callophyllum inophyllum among the selected seed sources inferring no greater variations. However, the seeds from the Ramangindi (48.66%, 17% higher than the next best region, Ankola) region in Kumta taluk performed better in germination of seeds, fruit and seed traits, as well as growth compared to other sources.

Anti-Malarial Activity of Amentoflavone Isolated from Leaf of Calophyllum Tomentosum Wight.

Calophyllum tomentosum belonging to Clusiaceae family is an Indian medicinal plant used as folklore medicine to cure various kinds of diseases reported in Ayurveda, and the leaves of the plant are also used as an active ingredient for the preparation of a botanical medicine known as 'Punnaga', 'Surapunnaga' and 'Tamoil' among other common names. Chemical profiling of the methanol extract of the defatted leaf revealed the presence of amentoflavone (1) as one of the constituents along with coumarins, terpenoids, steroids, and apetalic acids. Structural determination of amentoflavone (1) has been conducted by chemical, spectral, and spectrometric methods in comparison with spectral values available in the literature and confirmed by a single crystal X-ray diffraction study. Amentoflavone (1) and its derivative (2-5) tested to check the efficacy of anti-malarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum. Amongst them, only tetra methoxy amentoflavone, (2) exhibited moderate anti-malarial activity with IC50 value 1.99±0.42 μM against Plasmodium falciparum in comparison with artemisinin as control, whereas the other products possessed almost negligible activity although their structural skeletons are identical with little variation of number and nature of substituents. The structure activity relationship (SAR) of the active constituent and its derivatives is reported herein.

The potential role of Hypericum perforatum in wound healing: A literature review on the phytochemicals, pharmacological approaches, and mechanistic perspectives.

St. John's Wort, commonly known as Hypericum perforatum L., is a flowering plant in the Clusiaceae family that traditionally been employed for treating anxiety, depression, wounds, burns, sunburn, irritation, and stomach ailments. This review provides a synopsis of H. perforatum L. phytoconstituents and their biological effects, highlighting its beneficial therapeutic properties for dermatological indications, as well as its antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-angiogenic activity in various applications including wound healing and skin conditions such as eczema, sun burn and minor burns also spastic paralysis, stiff neck and mood disorders as anti-depressant and nerve pains such as neuralgia. The data were collected from several databases as Web of Science PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus and Google Scholar using the terms: "H. perforatum L.", "H. perforatum L. /phytochemistry," and "H. perforatum extracts/wound healing" collected from 1994 to 2023. The findings suggest H. perforatum L. acts through various mechanisms and plays a role in each phase of the wound healing process, including re-epithelialization, angiogenesis, wound contraction, and connective tissue regeneration. H. perforatum L. enhances collagen deposition, decreases inflammation, inhibits fibroblast migration, and promotes epithelialization by increasing the number of fibroblasts with polygonal shape and the number of collagen fibers within fibroblasts. H. Perforatum L. extracts modulate the immune response and reduce inflammation were found to accelerate the wound healing process via inhibition of inflammatory mediators' production like interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, cyclooxygenase-2 gene expression, and inducible nitric oxide synthase. Thus, H. perforatum L. represents a potential remedy for a wide range of dermatological problems, owing to its constituents with beneficial therapeutic properties. H. perforatum L. could be utilized in the development of novel wound healing therapies.

Biological Activities of Species of the Genus Clusia L (Clusiaceae): A General Approach.

The genus Clusia L. is highly diverse in Central and South America, comprising about 300 species, including trees and shrubs, hemiepiphytes, epiphytes, and lianas. This genus deserves attention due to its wide range of biological activities. Clusia belongs to the Clusiaceae family, chemically characterized by the presence of xanthones, benzophenones, flavonoids, coumarins, terpenoids, and other substances with bioactive activity already described. This review aims to highlight the biological activity associated to extracts and isolated substances from species of the Clusia genus, including anti-HIV, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antinociceptive, antitumor, leishmanicidal, modulator of inflammatory processes, neutralization of toxic effects caused by snake bites, and others. This review gathered information on biological activities associated with different types of extracts and isolated substances of the genus Clusia, traditional use, chemical profile, and biological properties of plants of the genus, published in the last 23 years (1998 to 2021) and that can provide support for future research. The paper aims to provide an overview of existing knowledge about the biological properties of the genus Clusia plant species.

Garcinia livingstonei T. Anderson: A Potential Source for Bioactive Constituents

Abstract: Garcinia livingstonei T. Anderson (African mangosteen) is a member of family Clusiaceae and is native to South Africa. It is distributed from Malaysia to the Philippines, Burma and India. The plant is used traditionally in the treatment of diarrhea. It contains various chemical constituents belonging to biflavonoids, benzophenones and xanthones. Garcinia livingstonei is reported to possess beneficial pharmacological activities as anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-viral and cytotoxicity. This review aims at summarizing the available literature on the botanical features, phytochemical, ethnomedicinal and pharmacological activities of Garcinia livingstonei.

Garcinia mangostana L. Pericarp Extract and Its Active Compound α-Mangostin as Potential Inhibitors of Immune Checkpoint Programmed Death Ligand-1.

α-Mangostin, a major xanthone found in mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L., Family Clusiaceae) pericarp, has been shown to exhibit anticancer effects through multiple mechanisms of action. However, its effects on immune checkpoint programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) have not been studied. This study investigated the effects of mangosteen pericarp extract and its active compound α-mangostin on PD-L1 by in vitro and in silico analyses. HPLC analysis showed that α-mangostin contained about 30% w/w of crude ethanol extract of mangosteen pericarp. In vitro experiments in MDA-MB-231 triple-negative breast cancer cells showed that α-mangostin and the ethanol extract significantly inhibit PD-L1 expression when treated for 72 h with 10 µM or 10 µg/mL, respectively, and partially inhibit glycosylation of PD-L1 when compared to untreated controls. In silico analysis revealed that α-mangostin effectively binds inside PD-L1 dimer pockets and that the complex was stable throughout the 100 ns simulation, suggesting that α-mangostin stabilized the dimer form that could potentially lead to degradation of PD-L1. The ADMET prediction showed that α-mangostin is lipophilic and has high plasma protein binding, suggesting its greater distribution to tissues and its ability to penetrate adipose tissue such as breast cancer. These findings suggest that α-mangostin-rich mangosteen pericarp extract could potentially be applied as a functional ingredient for cancer chemoprevention.

A Review of Ethnopharmacological Uses, Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Attributes of Mesua ferrea Linn.

Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance: Mesua ferrea Linn. belonging to family Guttiferae. The plant widely grows in the hills and is planted in gardens in many parts of India. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant because of its graceful shape, pink to red hanging leaves and enormous wonderful, fragrant white blossoms. The current review summarizes different significant, fundamental and medicinal properties of this Indian therapeutic herb. It is known to be an evergreen tree 20-30 m in height. Along with its elaborate utilization, entire plant has different therapeutic values in the conventional system of drugs. The main aim of this review is to provide a brief overview of the pharmacological, phytochemical, pharmacognostic, ethanomedical and toxicological studies of M. ferrea. A comprehensive review of the literature was conducted using multiple search sites such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Springer, and Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science, SciFinder, etc. Other literary sources include Wikipedia, ethnobotanical books, and botanical journals. Numerous phytochemicals have been discovered and isolated from Mesua ferrea plant parts which include xanthones, terpenoids, sterol, β-amyrin, β-sitosterol, mesuaferrol, mesuaferrin-A, mesuaferrin B, caloxanthone C,1,8-dihydro-3-methoxy-6- methylanthraquinone, friedelin, fats, flavanoids and betulinic acid. All of the documented pharmacological activities, such as antioxidant and antibacterial activity, antiarthritic, antiinflammatory, antivenom, antiulcerogenic, anticonvulsant, wound healing, depressant, analgesic are due to the presence of certain phytochemical substances. This review mainly targets the botanical aspects of Mesua ferrea along with their phytochemical constituents, ethnomedicinal use, different pharmacological activity, and future possibilities. Mesua ferrea is very important in the traditional Indian system. More research is needed to uncover important features of Mesua ferrea in medical practice.

Hypericum sampsonii Hance: a review of its botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, biological activity, and safety.

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Hypericum sampsonii Hance, also known as Yuanbao Cao in Chinese, is a traditional medicinal herb from the Guttiferae family and has been widely used in China to treat various conditions, including dysentery, enteritis, mastitis, scrofula, and contusion. Aim of the review: This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, biological activity and safety of H. sampsonii and to highlight its potential for medical application and drug development. Materials and methods: We searched several databases, i.e., Web of Science, SciFinder, PubMed, CBM, CNKI, Google Scholar, etc., for relevant information on H. sampsonii. Additionally, we also consulted some books on Chinese medicine. Results: To date, 227 secondary metabolites have been isolated from H. sampsonii, including polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols (PPAPs), benzophenones, xanthones, flavonoids, naphthodianthrones, anthraquinones and aromatic compounds. These metabolites exhibit various biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-depressant, anti-oxidant, anti-viral and anti-bacterial effects. PPAPs are considered the main active metabolites with rich biological activities. Despite being known as rich source of PPAPs, the full extent of H. sampsonii biological activities, including their potential as PDE4 inhibitors, remained unclear. Since, previous studies have mainly been based on structural identification of metabolites in H. sampsonii, and efficacy evaluations of these metabolites based on clinical applications of H. sampsonii lack sufficient data. However, current evidence suggest that PPAPs are the most likely material basis for efficacy. From the limited information available so far, there is no evidence of potential safety issues and the safety data are limited. Conclusion: Collectively, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and safety of H. sampsonii, a valuable medicinal plant in China with various pharmacological activities. Based on pharmacological studies, H. sampsonii shows potential for treating gastrointestinal and gynecological disorders as well as traumatic injuries, which aligns with traditional medicinal use due to the presence of PPAPs, benzophenones, xanthones, and flavonoids. Therefore, further studies are needed to evaluate the pharmacological effects and elucidate the pharmacological mechanisms. In addition, pharmacological mechanisms and safety evaluation of PPAPs on animal models need to be clarified. Yet, further comprehensive studies are required to elucidate the phytochemical constituents, pharmacological mechanisms, structure-activity relationships, safety evaluation, and quality standards of this plant. Takentogether, this review highlights the potential of H. sampsonii for medical application and drug development.

Essential Oils of Garcinia spp. and Their Biological Activities

Garcinia is the largest genus in the Clusiaceae family. Plants of Garcinia are widely distributed in Africa, Asia, Australia, Central America, Madagascar, and Polynesia. There are over 400 species of Garcinia found in the lowland tropical forests. Garcinia are known for their medicinal values due to the presence of biologically active constituents. Plants with medicinal values play a key role in human health and disease prevention. Plant-based natural products such as essential oils (EOs) have been employed for centuries owing to their beneficial effects. Generally, EOs are a mixture of volatile chemical constituents comprising mainly terpenoids and phenylpropanoids. They play diverse roles as biologically active agents. To date, EOs have found wide applications in pharmaceutical, food, flavour and fragrance. This review discusses the volatile chemical constituents of EOs extracted from different plant parts of Garcinia. The biological activities of Garcinia EOs are highlighted to explore their therapeutic potential.

Polyprenyl phloroglucinols and methyl esters of citric acid from the fruits of Garcinia multiflora

Garcinia multiflora belonging to the Clusiaceae family is one of the medicinal plant species native to Viet Nam and southern China and its use is an ethno-medicinal remedy to treat acne, scabies, constipation, and inflammation. The major bioactive classes of secondary metabolites were found in different parts of this plant such as phloroglucinol, xanthone, bioflavonoid, organic acid… In this paper, the chemical investigation on the fruits of Garcinia multiflora growing in the north of Vietnam was reported. Six compounds including two polyprenyl phloroglucinols (garcinol (1), isogarcinol (2)), one triterpene (friedelin (3)), and three methyl esters of citric acid (1,5,6-trimethyl citrate (4), 1,5-dimethyl citrate (5) and 6-methyl citrate (6)) were isolated from the methanol extract of fresh fruit pericarp using repeated column chromatography on different absorbents (silica gel, RP-18 and Sephadex). Their chemical structures were determined using spectroscopic methods (ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR) and comparison with the spectroscopic data in the literature. The absolute configurations of two polyprenyl phloroglucinols 1 and 2 were determined by comparison of its experimental optical rotation and NMR data with the reported values of their stereoisomers. This is the first report on the occurrence of the phytochemicals 1-6 in the fruits of Garcinia multiflora growing in Viet Nam.

A review on the genus Calophyllum (Clusiaceae): a potential medicinal tree species

Calophyllum is the genus of evergreen tropical flowering plants in the Clusiaceae family. They are predominantly located in Asia with some of its genus distributed in the Pacific Islands, Americas, Australasia and Africa. Plants of the genus are well known for their chemical properties with lots of secondary metabolites such as triterpenes, flavonoids, coumarins and xanthones. Compounds from Calophyllum have been reported to have cytoprotective, anti-HIV, anti-secretory, cytotoxic, antinociceptive, molluscicidal and antimicrobial properties. Some of the plants in Calophyllum are used in folk medicine to treat conditions like peptic ulcers, tumours, inflammation, infections and pain. Calophyllum genus is important with respect to their ecological as well as their medicinal properties. But in India, some species located in Western Ghats are in vulnerable stage. Even so, there is no remarkable studies carried out about this genus. So, for a sustainable environment, we should focus on the conservation, restoration and rehabilitation of the genus that makes huge differences in their population. This article reviews the genus Calophyllum of Western Ghats as a potential medicinal tree species.

Mangosteen Garcinia mangostana L. simplicia effect on bone structure and behaviour of Wader Fish Rasbora lateristriata (Bleeker, 1854) Embryo

Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.) is a fruit originating from the tropics which belongs to the Clusiaceae family and has become a commodity with many enthusiasts from various countries. Previous research has shown that mangosteen peel extract has tremendous potential to be developed as an ingredient in herbal medicine. Mangosteen fruit contains anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antihistamine, antidiabetic, anticancer, and so on. The results of the phytochemical screening test of 95% ethanol extract on mangosteen rind showed that it contained flavonoid compounds, saponins, alkaloids, triterpenoids, tannins and polyphenols. There is no data on the effect of exposure to mangosteen pericarip simplicia, therefore it is necessary to study the effect of exposure to mangosteen peel decoction on animal models of Wader Pari Fish (Rasbora lateristriata), with parameters such as morphology and bone structure in larvae wader fish (Rasbora lateristriata). Alcian Blue Alizarin Red staining were used to study bone structure in wader fish (Rasbora lateristriata). Data were statistical analysis with SPSS ver. 25 and the significance was determined using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The morphological examination results revealed that the embryo and larvae had no morphological abnormalities. The cranial cartilage examination also revealed that the larvae had no abnormalities, the length and the angle of the cranial cartilage did not change between the control and mangosteen pericarp simplicia treatment.

Dulxanthone A from Ethyl Acetate Extract of Garcinia nigrolineata Stem Bark

The genus Garcinia is the largest genus of the Guttiferae family which is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions. There are 64 species of Garcinia in Indonesia, one of which is Garcinia nigrolineata known as “Kandis keling". This plant is reported as a source of secondary metabolites like xanthones. Xanthones are known to have interesting activities, such as anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic and antibacterial. This study aims to isolate xanthone compounds from stem bark of G. nigrolineata and determine their structures by using various spectroscopic methods. Samples were macerated with ethyl acetate. The ethyl acetate extract was then separated and purified by chromatographic method to obtain pure C6e isolates. The C6e isolates were characterized using UV, IR, 1HNMR, 13C-NMR, HMQC, 1H-1H COSY, HMBC and mass spectroscopy methods. The C6e isolates obtained were in the form of yellow oil as much as 5.6 mg. Based on the results of structural elucidation, the C6e isolates were xanthone compounds with the molecular formula of C19H18O6, namely dulxanthone A.

Garcinia gummi-gutta: Phytochemicals and pharmacological applications.

Garcinia gummi-gutta, also known as Garcinia cambogia, is a member of the Guttiferae family. Garcinia is a polygamous genus consisting 200 species of trees and shrubs. It is found in different zones of the planet including Asia's tropical regions. In India alone, around 30 species have been discovered. They are widely used as a flavoring agent to garnish fish curry in southern India, particularly in Kerala and Karnataka. The fruit rind of G. gummi-gutta has traditionally been used to treat gastrointestinal problems, diarrhea, and ulcers. South Indian people have been utilizing it traditionally as evidenced by its ethnobotanical properties. In vivo and in vitro effects of the crude fruit extract showed anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anthelmintic, anti-microbial, and antioxidant activities. G. gummi-gutta fruit rind is medicinally significant and is frequently used in ayurvedic and traditional medicine for many diseases. Various secondary metabolites such as organic acids-hydroxycitric acid (HCA), flavonoids, terpenes, polysaccharides and polyisoprenylated benzophenones-garcinol, xanthochymol, guttiferone, benzophenone, xanthone, biflavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, phenols, and saponins isolated from the G. gummi-gutta have diverse pharmacological activities. This review provides a summary of G. gummi-gutta, including itsbiological activities, phytochemistry, and ethnobotanical applications.

High potential of the genus Allanblackia (Guttiferae): Phytochemistry, pharmacology, and traditional uses over the past half-century

The genus Allanblackia is part of the flowering plants of the Guttiferae family, with all its ten species growing across the rainforest belts of West, Central and East Africa. Allanblackia species have the largest fruits of all plants in the African rainforest. They are evergreen, dioecious, and medium-sized trees with average heights in the range 25–40 m and can produce more than 250 fruits per year. Their stem barks are reddish-brown, with small circular or rectangular scales over small red pits. The trunk is straight, cylindrical, without buttresses but sometimes basally thickened; with numerous branches and longitudinal grooves. Leaves are opposite, simple and entire; while flowers are unisexual, fragrant, and of pink/red or white/cream colour. Fruits are large, ellipsoid berries 10–50 cm × 15 cm in size, with five longitudinal ridges, while seeds are ovoid 3 cm × 2 cm × 1.5 cm. In addition to the numerous uses of Allanblackia in traditional medicine, the consumption and commercial exploitation of its seed oils are of great current interest. However, to date, there is no literature review collating the traditional uses, phytochemistry and biological activities of this genus. Therefore, the present review aims to provide a current, relevant and comprehensive summary of the botany, ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry, and biological activities of plants of the genus Allanblackia over the past half-century (1971 to 2021). To this end, a review of all published literature was conducted using various online scientific databases. According to the findings, the Allanblackia species are mostly used in folk medicine for the management of infectious and respiratory diseases. Chemical analysis of the genus Allanblackia revealed that xanthones and biflavonoids represent 51% and 16% of the total secondary metabolites, respectively and could therefore be considered as taxonomic markers of the genus. Extracts and isolates from some species of this genus were reported to exhibit promising antimicrobial, antileishmanial, anticholinesterase and cytotoxic activities, and therefore are vital enough to deserve further attention in new drug discovery.

A Comprehensive Review of the Phytochemical and Pharmacological Potential of an Evergreen Plant Garcinia cowa.

Garcinia cowa of the Clusiaceae family, native to South-East Asia used in traditional medicine. It has antipyretic, antimicrobial, and many other biological activities. In this review, a thorough study of this plant's chemical constituents and pharmacological and therapeutic effects was conducted from the research articles from PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and Scopus from 1977 to 2022. Reported secondary metabolites are enriched with xanthones, phloroglucinols, depsidones, steroids, etc. α-mangostin, β-mangostin, cowaxanthone, rubraxanthone, cowanin, norcowanin, etc. represent the major xanthones. This article discusses the relationship between the different functional groups in xanthone compounds and their bioactivity against cancer, diabetes, bacteria, leishmania, malaria, and inflammation. This review is a comprehensive compendium of major bioactive molecules and its implication for human disease.

Antidotal and protective effects of mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) against natural and chemical toxicities: A review.

Chemical and natural toxic compounds can harm human health through a variety of mechanisms. Nowadays, herbal therapy is widely accepted as a safe method of treating toxicity. Garcinia mangostana (mangosteen) is a tree in the Clusiaceae family, and isoprenylated xanthones, its main constituents, are a class of secondary metabolites having a variety of biological properties, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, pro-apoptotic, anti-proliferative, antinociceptive, neuroprotective, hypoglycemic, and anti-obesity. In this review, the protective activities of mangosteen and its major components against natural and chemical toxicities in both in vivo and in vitro experiments were evaluated. The protective effects of mangosteen and its components are mediated primarily through oxidative stress inhibition, a decrease in the number of inflammatory cells such as lymphocytes, neutrophils, and eosinophils, reduction of inflammatory mediators such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), prostaglandin (PG) E2, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and nuclear factor-ĸB (NF-ĸB), modulation of apoptosis and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways, reducing p65 entrance into the nucleus, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1), improving histological conditions, and inhibition in acetylcholinesterase activity.

Antioxidant property of secondary metabolites from Garcinia genus: A short review

Species from the Garcinia genus (Clusiaceae family) are used in the treatment of many diseases and metabolic disorders frequently associated with the oxidative stress. The characteristic metabolites found in this genus are xanthones and benzophenones, which have antioxidant properties, among relevant biological potentials. This review provides a specific vision about antioxidant activity of Garcinia species, reporting in vitro and in vivo assays, described from the last five years. The research about antioxidant properties of Garcinia species and their constituents can be directed in the development of new medicines and drugs.

Safeguarding serenity: Assessing tree risks and hazards in UMK Jeli Campus for sustainable management

The UMK Campus Jeli, a renowned public university in Malaysia, has been operating for a decade. This study aimed to investigate potential risks and hazards associated with trees located near campus buildings. Such proximity can impact drainage, leading to water pooling that increases the risk of mold and rot formation. This study covered an extensive sampled area of 0.05 km²within the campus area. The Basic Tree Risk Assessment Survey was employed using a quantitative approach to systematically record and categorize information while conducting visual evaluations to assess tree risks. A total of 44 individual trees were recorded, representing 15 different species and 12 families. The Clusiaceae family dominated, accounting for 17% of the recorded trees, while the Malvaceae family constituted the smallest proportion at 2%. Notably, the Prunus avium tree posed the highest risk due to its proximity to buildings, which could potentially lead to mold and mildew growth over time. Implementing the Basic Tree Risk Assessment methodology holds significant value for the management unit at UMK Campus Jeli, providing essential insights for planning and maintaining tree health while preserving the campus's aesthetic appeal.

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS OF DICHLOROMETHANE EXTRACT FROM THE STEM BARK OF GARCINIA FAGRAEOIDES

The Garcinia genus belonging to the Clusiaceae family (Guttiferae) has been reported to be a rich source of polyisoprenylated benzophenones, xanthones and biflavonoids with various biological activities. Garcinia fagraeoides A.Chev is an evergreen hardwood tree found only in the north provinces of Viet Nam and Guangxi province of China. Its stem bark and leaves have been used in Vietnamese traditional medicine for treatment of malaria and dermatitis diseases. In our continuing studies on chemical constituents and biological activities from the genus Garcinia, the phytochemical of Garcinia fagraeoides’s stem bark collected from Thua Thien Hue province was investigated. Repeated chromatography steps over silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 of the dichloromethane partition from the methanol extract of Garcinia fagraeoides’s stem bark led to the isolation of five compounds including one polyisoprenylated benzophenone (isogarcinol (1)), two tetraoxygenated xanthones (rubraxanthone (2), a-mangostin (3)), ferulic acid (4), and pyromeconic acid (5). Their structures were elucidated mainly by analysis of their 1D, 2D NMR spectroscopy and ESI-MS data, and by comparison with reported data. The absolute configuration of isogarcinol (1) was determined by comparison of its experimental optical rotation and NMR data with the values of its stereoisomer. This is the first reported isolation of compounds 1-5 from the stem bark of Garcinia fagraeoides.