January 09, 2026 | Natural Product Research |
This study conducted by International Islamic University Malaysia investigated alternative plant sources of alpha-mangostin (AM), a bioactive xanthone found in mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.). AM has been studied for its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties and is commonly extracted from mangosteen fruit pericarps. However, reliance on fruits limits its availability because mangosteen production is seasonal. Identifying other plant organs containing AM could provide more consistent sources for extraction.
The researchers extracted AM from different organs of the mangosteen tree using Soxhlet extraction and gravitational column chromatography. The concentration and purity of the isolated compound were subsequently evaluated using high-performance liquid chromatography.
Among the plant materials examined, stem bark provided the highest extraction yield at 1.3%. The resulting extract contained an AM concentration of 324.593 µg/mL with a purity of 95.215%, indicating that stem bark can serve as a suitable alternative source of the compound.
The findings demonstrate that AM extraction does not need to rely solely on seasonal mangosteen fruits. The use of other plant organs, particularly stem bark, may provide an alternative source of AM and support broader utilization of mangosteen plant materials.
