Garcinia species

Phongpaichit S et al., Antimicrobial activity in cultures of endophytic fungi isolated from Garcinia species, FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol, 2006. 

Maximum density of the Garcinia species is seen in the north of the Malaysian Archipelago, with approximately 28 species in Malaysia, about 23 in Thailand, about 20 in Indonesia and 19 in the Philippines. Myanmar and Indochina have fewer species. The Malaysian distribution is linked to the 18 tropical species found in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. In other parts of India also, e.g. the north-east, Assam, Tamil Nadu and Western Ghats, the species are linked to the Malaysian distribution (Bin Osman and Rahman Milan, 2006). Table 19.1 shows the area and production of G. mangostana in major producing countries. 

Of the Garcinia species, only three appear to have been moved to another... 

In general, the Garcinia species contains xanthones and phenolic compounds. Xanthones and xanthone derivatives have been isolated from the various species of Garcinia (Rama Rao et al., 1980 Minami et al., 1994). However, the isolation of (-)-hydroxycitric acid [(-)-HCA] from a few species of Garcinia and its biological properties has attracted the attention of biochemists and health practitioners. (-)-HCA is found in the fruit rinds of G. cambogia, G. indica and G. atroviridis (Lewis and Neelakantan, 1965 Lewis, 1969), which are abundant in the Indian subcontinent and western Sri Lanka (CSIR, 1956 Watt, 1972). 

Traditionally, Garcinia species have been used as anti-inflammatory, anti-immunosuppressive, antiprotozoal and antimicrobial agents. The various medicinal properties attributed to Garcinia are ... 

Ampofo, S.A. and Waterman, P.C. (1986) Xanthones from three Garcinia species. Phytochemistry 25(10), 2351-2355. 

Chattopadhyay, S.K. and Kumar, S. (2006) Identification and quantification of two biologically active polyiso-prenylated benzophenones, xanthochymol and isoxanthochymol, in Garcinia species using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Journal of Chromatography B 844(1), 67-83. 

Yapwattanaphum, C., Subhadrabandhu, S., Sugiura, A., Yonemori, K. and Utsunomiya, N. (2002) Utilization of some Garcinia species in Thailand. Acta Florticulturae 575(2), 563-570. 

The diallyl ether 56 derived from 1,3,5,6-tetrahydroxyxanthone undergoes tandem Claisen and Diels-Alder reactions to produce the caged 4-oxatricyclo[4.3.1.0]decan-2-one, a feature of a number of natural products obtained from Garcinia species <07OBC494, 07TL6586>. 

This reaction was used in the synthesis of biflavonoid structures (85), which are analogues of natural compounds isolated from Garcinia species, members of the Guttiferae famOy.1 2,169... 

Historically, reviews of benzophenones were included as small sections with the biogenetically related xanthones. Previous reviews include Bennett and Lee [1] who discussed the distribution and isolation of 20 benzophenones included in a review focused on xanthones. They also discussed the biosynthetic relationships between xanthones and benzophenones. Kumar and Baslas [2] summarized the chemical composition, medical importance, and biologically active benzophenones, biflavonoids, and xanthones isolated from Garcinia species. Two reviews by Waterman focused on the chemotaxonomic significance of benzophenones, along with biflavonoids and xanthones, of ten African Garcinia species [3,4], Locksley and Murray [5] discussed the distribution of thirteen benzophenones in higher plants and Sultanbawa [6] included five benzophenones in a review on xanthonoids from tropical plants. Sultanbawa also discussed the biosynthesis of benzophenones and xanthones. Erdelmeier et al. [7] discussed 20 polyprenylated benzophenones in a chapter on the various properties of St. John s Wort Hypericum perforatum). 

Venkataraman (1973) Venkataraman, K. Pigments of Garcinia species Proceedings of the Indian National Science Academy Part A 39 (1973) 365-381... 

---