Chemistry and Biological Activities of Garcinia Resin

Abstract

Resins obtained from Garcinia spp. are referred to as “gamboges.” Phytochemical studies have shown that resins of Garcinia hanburyi, G. cowa, G. kola, G. mangostana, G. morella, G. parvifolia, and G. scortechinii contained several secondary metabolites such as xanthones, terpenoids, and flavonoids. Evidence from different studies has demonstrated that phytochemicals isolated from gamboge possess antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-HIV, and, anti-inflammatory activities. Majority of xanthones isolated from gamboge exhibited cytotoxic, antiproliferative, and antiangiogenic activities on different cancer cell lines. Xanthones such as 10-methoxygambogenic acid, desoxymorellin, gambogenic acid, gambogic acid, gambogoic acid, morellic acid, and moreollic acid have exhibited both alpha-glucosidase inhibitor and tyrosine phosphatase 1B inhibitor activities so that these compounds could be used as antidiabetic drugs against type-2 diabetes. Therefore, bioactive compounds from the resin of Garcinia spp. could be used in the preparation of pharmaceuticals. This review summarizes the information on phytochemicals of resins of Garcinia spp. and their biological activities.