Search Results (113)

In alignment with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and 13 (Climate Action), this research explores the sustainable valorization of mangosteen peels into mangosteen peel powder (MPP), a value-added product with pharmaceutical properties. Mangosteen peels are an abundant agricultural waste in Thailand. This study evaluates six MPP production schemes, each employing different drying methods. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is utilized to assess the global warming potential (GWP) of these schemes, and the quality of the MPP produced is also compared. The results show that a combination of frozen storage and freeze-drying (scheme 4) has the highest GWP (1091.897 kgCO₂eq) due to substantial electricity usage, whereas a combination of frozen storage and sun-drying (scheme 5) has the lowest GWP (0.031 kgCO₂eq) but is prone to microbial contamination. Frozen storage without coarse grinding, combined with hot-air drying (scheme 6), is identified as the optimal scheme in terms of GWP (11.236 kgCO₂eq) and product quality. Due to the lack of an onsite hot-air-drying facility, two transportation strategies are integrated into scheme 6 for scenarios A and B. These transportation strategies include transporting mangosteen peels from orchards to a facility in another province or transporting a mobile hot-air-drying unit to the orchards. The analysis indicates that scenario B is more favorable both operationally and environmentally, due to its lower emissions. This research is the first to comparatively assess the GWP of different MPP production schemes using LCA. Furthermore, it aligns with the growing trend in international trade which places greater emphasis on environmentally friendly production processes. Full article

Alpha-mangostin ($\alpha$-MG) is a prenylated xanthone extracted from the pericarp of the mangosteen tree (Garcinia mangostana) fruit. The compound exhibits a broad range of therapeutic properties, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and antimicrobial activity. This review highlights new findings in antibacterial studies involving $\alpha$-MG, demonstrates its potent activity against Gram-positive bacteria, including Staphylococcus and Enterococcus genera, and describes the antibacterial mechanisms involved. Most cited literature comes from 2020 to 2025, highlighting the topic’s relevance despite limited new publications in this period. The primary antibacterial mechanism of $\alpha$-MG consists of the disruption of the bacterial membrane and increased bacterial wall permeability, leading to drug accumulation and cell lysis. Other mechanisms include genomic interference and enzyme activity inhibition, which impair metabolic pathways. $\alpha$-MG can also disrupt biofilm formation, facilitate its removal, and prevent its maturation. Furthermore, $\alpha$-MG presents strong synergistic action with common antibiotics and other phytochemicals, even against drug-resistant strains, facilitating infection treatment and allowing for reduced drug dosage. The main challenge in developing $\alpha$-MG-based drugs is their low aqueous solubility; therefore, nanoformulations have been explored to improve its bioavailability and antibacterial stability. Extended research in this direction may enable the development of effective antibacterial and anti-biofilm therapies based on $\alpha$-MG. Full article

Waste products from agricultural crops can become valuable if their benefits are discovered. Mangosteen, known as the “queen of fruits”, has a pericarp extract that has been reported to possess various biological activities, including antioxidation, anti-inflammation, antimicrobial activity, and UVB protection (in vitro and in vivo). In this work, we revealed that mangosteen pericarp extract (MPE) exhibits photoprotective properties in primary human dermal fibroblasts (PHDFs) exposed to ultraviolet A (UVA). The α-mangostin content, a major compound in MPE, was determined to be 60.9 ± 1.2% using HPLC. In an in vitro, cell-based assay, we first assessed the cytotoxicity of MPE on PHDFs using the MTT assay. The highest concentration of MPE that showed no cytotoxicity was 50.0 µg/mL. For antioxidative effects, MPE reduced intracellular ROS levels induced by H₂O₂, compared to H₂O₂-treated PHDFs. To assess the photoprotective effect of MPE, cells were pretreated with MPE for 24 h before exposure to UVA at an intensity of 5 J/cm². Our data demonstrated that MPE pretreatment reduced the accumulation of senescent cells compared to UVA-induced senescent cells (7.1 ± 2.4% vs. 12.0 ± 0.2%, respectively). In addition, we examined key aging-related markers, including matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1) and collagen type I. The expression level of MMP-1 levels was 23,873.4 ± 5498.1 pg/mL in MPE-treated, UVA-induced PHDFs, compared to 38,929.1 ± 6971.4 pg/mL in untreated UVA-induced PHDFs. Meanwhile, procollagen type I in MPE-pretreated PHDFs was 56,443.3 ± 3623.8 pg/mL, compared to 37,137.4 ± 4614.8 pg/mL in UVA-induced PHDFs. These experimental results highlight the photoprotective properties of Garcinia mangostana peel extract, which contains α-mangostin as a major compound, and suggest its potential as an active ingredient in cosmeceuticals for protecting against UVA-induced aging. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report the photoprotective effects of MPE on UVA-induced senescent cells. Full article

α-Mangostin, a bioactive xanthone derived from the Garcinia mangostana L. Clusiaceae (G. mangostana) fruit, has demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. Chronic inflammation plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of various diseases, including metabolic disorders, autoimmune conditions, and cancer. Conventional anti-inflammatory therapies, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), often carry undesirable side effects, prompting the need for safer, natural alternatives. This review consolidates the existing literature on the mechanisms by which α-mangostin exerts its anti-inflammatory effects, including the suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, modulation of immune cell activity, and inhibition of key signaling pathways such as nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Additionally, α-mangostin exhibits immunomodulatory properties by influencing both innate and adaptive immune responses, affecting macrophage polarization, T cell differentiation, and cytokine production. Its efficacy has been observed in numerous disease models, including joint disorders, digestive and metabolic conditions, hepatic diseases, neurological disorders, and respiratory ailments. The potential therapeutic applications of α-mangostin as an anti-inflammatory agent warrant further investigation through preclinical and clinical studies to validate its efficacy and safety. Full article

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations have brought great challenges to the medical treatment in the world. Current treatment strategies, such as EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), have reached certain achievements, however, patients inevitably experienced resistance after undergoing a period of treatment with these drugs. Hence, more novel therapy strategies need to be urgently developed. Natural compounds have become popular topics in drug development. α-Mangostin, which is derived from mangosteen, possesses multiple biological properties, yet the antitumor mechanism against NSCLC has not been further elucidated. In this study, an MTT assay, Western blotting, a colony formation assay, and flow cytometry were performed to detect the antitumor activity of α-Mangostin on NSCLC cell NCI-H1975. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were performed to analyze the interactions between α-Mangostin and the core target proteins. The results indicated that α-Mangostin exerts its antitumor activity by inhibiting cell proliferation and migration, reducing cell cycle arrest, promoting cell apoptosis, and regulating the phosphorylation expression levels of EGFR and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). Moreover, the results of the molecular simulation study revealed the potential binding mode of α-Mangostin to EGFR and STAT3. In summary, we characterized that α-Mangostin may be used as a potent pro-drug against NSCLC via the EGFR/STAT3 pathway. Full article

Mangosteen seed fat (MSF), a novel tropical seed fat, predominantly comprises 1,3-distearoyl-2-linoleoyl-glycerol (StLSt) and 1,3-distearoyl-2-oleoyl-glycerol (StOSt). The fat was blended with cocoa butter (CB) in proportions of 5%, 25% and 60% in the present study, and the binary blends achieved acceptable miscibility. It was indicated that StLSt could be mixed well with the symmetrical monounsaturated triacylglycerols in CB, especially StOSt, 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-3-stearoyl-glycerol (POSt) and 1,3-dipalmitoyl-2-oleoyl-glycerol (POP). Although the solid fat contents of the binary blends gradually decreased with the addition of MSF, which resulted from low-melting triacylglycerols in MSF, the well-compatible fat matrix contributed to keeping their desirable melting behaviors and hardness at hot temperatures. A chocolate fat bloom test showed that replacing CB with 25–60% MSF improved fat-bloom-resistant stabilities effectively. The effective steric hindrance of StLSt crystals may improve fat compatibilities and further delay liquid–oil migration and recrystallization in chocolates during temperature fluctuations. Full article

Nanocomposites based on metal nanoparticles (MNP) prepared with mangosteen (_mgt) peel extract-mediated biosynthesis of Ag_mgt/Zn_mgt have attracted considerable interest due to their potential for various practical applications. In this study, their role in developing antibacterial protection for rubber cotton gloves is investigated. The process of mangosteen-peel-extract-mediated biosynthesis produced Ag_mgt/Zn_mgt nanocomposites with respective diameters of 23.84 ± 4.08 nm and 30.99 ± 5.73 nm, which were assessed in the context of antimicrobial rubber-coated gloves. The rubber glover surface exhibited a very dense deposition of the Ag+Zn_mgt nanocomposite, which subsequently demonstrated level 4 resistance to punctures under the ANSI-ISEA 105-2016 standard. This could be attributed to the Zn-cellulose double formation on the rubber surface. Notably, on testing the inhibition of bacterial growth, the extract with the Ag_mgt nanoparticles presented the least concentration capable of growth inhibition in comparison to the extracts with Zn_mgt and Ag+Zn_mgt nanoparticles. Each of the mangosteen extracts was shown to inhibit bacterial growth when tested against both Gram-positive cocci and Gram-negative bacilli, with MIC in the range 40–320 µg/mL. The growth of drug-resistant bacteria (MRSA) could also be inhibited with an MIC value of 160 µg/mL, and with 30 min of contact, gloves with respective coatings of Zn_mgt and Ag+Zn_mgt extract nanocomposites were shown to inhibit K. pneumoniae and MRSA. However, while effective bacterial inhibition occurred with the suspensions, the coatings on glove surfaces required a lengthy incubation period (contact time) of at least 30 min for efficacy. Full article

The utilization of mangosteen biomass not only solves environmental problems but also raises the value of agricultural waste. The current study aimed to evaluate the potential of mangosteen pericarp extract (MPE) for enhancing the immunity and productivity of Thai native crossbred chickens on-farm. A total of 180 three-week-old chickens were divided into negative control and supplemented groups, with 1000 mg MPE/kg of diet. The safety of MPE was further confirmed by the absence of noticeable differences in mortality and biochemical parameters during the entire study period. The MPE-supplemented group displayed significant differences in the relative transcription levels of IL-10 compared to the basal diet group (p ≤ 0.01). Preslaughter body weight, average daily gain, and carcass weight in the MPE-supplemented group were higher than those in the basal diet group (p ≤ 0.05). Furthermore, MPE supplementation improved meat quality by enhancing the nutritional composition of protein and fat (p ≤ 0.05), as well as improving water-holding capacity, lowering boiling, and lowering grilling losses (p ≤ 0.01). These findings indicate that MPE can be an effective supplement for enhancing flock immunity, growth performance, and meat quality in poultry. This contributes to more sustainable agriculture and food security within agroecosystems. Full article

α-Mangostin, a xanthone derivative extracted from the pericarp of the mangosteen fruit (Garcinia mangostana L.), has garnered significant attention for its potential as a natural anti-cancer agent. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the current literature on the anti-cancer properties of α-mangostin across various cancer types. Through an extensive analysis of in vitro and in vivo studies, this review elucidates the multifaceted mechanisms underlying α-mangostin’s cytotoxicity, apoptosis induction through both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways, and modulation of key cellular processes implicated in cancer progression in a diverse array of cancer cells. It causes mitochondrial dysfunction, activates caspases, and regulates autophagy, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and oxidative stress, enhancing its anti-cancer efficacy. Moreover, α-mangostin exhibits synergistic effects with conventional chemotherapeutic agents, suggesting its utility in combination therapies. The ability of α-mangostin to inhibit cell proliferation, modulate cell cycle progression, and induce apoptosis is linked to its effects on key signaling pathways, including Akt, NF-κB, and p53. Preclinical studies highlight the therapeutic potential and safety profile of α-mangostin, demonstrating significant tumor growth inhibition without adverse effects on normal cells. In summary, understanding the molecular targets and mechanisms of action of α-mangostin is crucial for its development as a novel chemotherapeutic agent, and future clinical investigations are warranted to explore its clinical utility and efficacy in cancer prevention and therapy. Full article

The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a key role in the pathogenesis of kidney fibrosis, and kidney fibrosis is associated with an adverse renal prognosis. Beta-mangostin (β-Mag) is a xanthone derivative obtained from mangosteens that is involved in the generation of antifibrotic and anti-oxidation effects. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of β-Mag on renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis both in vivo and in vitro and the corresponding mechanisms involved. As shown through an in vivo study conducted on a unilateral ureteral obstruction mouse model, oral β-Mag administration, in a dose-dependent manner, caused a lesser degree of tubulointerstitial damage, diminished collagen I fiber deposition, and the depressed expression of fibrotic markers (collagen I, α-SMA) and EMT markers (N-cadherin, Vimentin, Snail, and Slug) in the UUO kidney tissues. The in vitro part of this research revealed that β-Mag, when co-treated with transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), decreased cell motility and downregulated the EMT (in relation to Vimentin, Snail, and N-cadherin) and phosphoryl-JNK1/2/Smad2/Smad3 expression. Furthermore, β-Mag co-treated with SB (Smad2/3 kinase inhibitor) or SP600125 (JNK kinase inhibitor) significantly inhibited the TGF-β1-associated downstream phosphorylation and activation of JNK1/2-mediated Smad2 targeting the Snail/Vimentin axis. To conclude, β-Mag protects against EMT and kidney fibrotic processes by mediating the TGF-β1/JNK/Smad2 targeting Snail-mediated Vimentin expression and may have therapeutic implications for renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Full article

Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.) fruits are high in nutrients and phytochemical compounds. The use of fresh whole mangosteen fruit pulp, including the seeds (MFS), instead of flour and sugar in crackers not only enhances the functional nutritional and medicinal benefits for consumers but also adds value to the products. The study investigated the nutritional value of MFS and then employed MFS to formulate MFS-based crackers with varying levels of MFS substitution in order to develop crackers enriched with functional ingredients. Proximate compositions, amino acids, sugars, minerals, fatty acids, color, texture, and antiradical properties were analyzed in fresh MFS and MFS-based crackers. The results indicated that MFS can be a source of crude fiber, minerals, amino acids, omega-6, and omega-9 fatty acids. Adding 13%, 18%, and 23% ground MFS to the crackers improved their nutritional value and physical characteristics compared to the control (0% MFS). MFS-based crackers promoted significantly (p < 0.05) higher fiber (4.04 ± 0.00–5.66 ± 0.01%gdw), ash (2.45 ± 0.00–2.74 ± 0.01%gdw), and protein (4.72 ± 0.00–7.72 ± 0.05%gdw) than the control without MFS addition. Carbohydrates (including dietary fiber) and total sugar decreased significantly (p < 0.05) to 57.68 ± 0.00–55.21 ± 0.11%gdw and 2.37 ± 0.00–4.42 ± 0.01%gdw, respectively, in all MFS-based crackers compared to the control basal cracker with added sugar. Moreover, MFS-based crackers contained oleic acid (C18:1, omega-9) at 5.19–5.78%gdw and linoleic acid (C18:2, omega-6) at 0.63–0.77%gdw. Furthermore, the MFS-based crackers had higher levels of minerals (i.e., potassium, phosphorus, sulfur, calcium, and magnesium) and bioactive compounds such as total phenolic acid and total flavonoid, as well as antiradical activity. This study revealed that MFS can be applied as an alternative functional ingredient in the manufacturing of nutritious cracker products, and the findings could potentially be implemented to promote the utilization of mangosteen seed as a sustainable agricultural product and waste-reducing method. Full article

This study investigated the efficacy and safety of a propolis–mangosteen extract complex (PMEC) on gingival health in patients with gingivitis and incipient periodontitis. A multicentered, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 104 subjects receiving either PMEC or placebo for eight weeks was conducted. The primary focus was on the changes in inflammatory biomarkers from gingival crevicular fluid (GCF), with clinical parameters as secondary outcomes. The results revealed that the PMEC group showed a significantly reduced expression of all measured GCF biomarkers compared to the placebo group (p < 0.0001) at 8 weeks, including substantial reductions in IL-1β, PGE2, MMP-8, and MMP-9 levels compared to the baseline. While clinical parameters trended towards improvement in both groups, the intergroup differences were not statistically significant. No significant adverse events were reported, indicating a favorable safety profile. These findings suggest that PMEC consumption can attenuate gingival inflammation and mitigate periodontal tissue destruction by modulating key inflammatory mediators in gingival tissue. Although PMEC shows promise as a potential adjunctive therapy for supporting gingival health, the discrepancy between biomarker improvements and clinical outcomes warrants further investigation to fully elucidate its therapeutic potential in periodontal health management. Full article

The treatment of palm oil mill effluent (POME) poses a significant challenge for Malaysia’s palm oil industry, necessitating compliance with the Department of Environment (DOE) regulations prior to discharge. This study introduces an eco-friendly synthesis method utilizing mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.)-leaf aqueous extract to fabricate copper oxide (CuO), zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs), and their nanocomposite (CuO-ZnO NCs). The physicochemical properties of these nanomaterials were characterized using various analytical tools and their effectiveness in reducing the chemical oxygen demand (COD) of palm oil mill effluent (POME) was assessed under the illumination of two types of light sources: monochromatic blue- and polychromatic white-light emitting diodes (LEDs). CuO-ZnO NCs demonstrated superior performance, with the lowest energy bandgap (1.61 eV), and achieved a COD removal efficiency of 63.27% ± 0.010 under blue LED illumination, surpassing the DOE’s discharge limit of 100 mg/L. This study offers a cost-effective and environmentally friendly method for synthesizing heterojunction materials, which show great potential as photocatalysts in reducing POME COD to permissible levels for discharge. Full article

This research comparatively investigates different mangosteen pericarp processing schemes. The experimental pericarp processing schemes were hot air drying (HAD; control), quick freezing/HAD (QF + HAD), slow freezing/HAD (SF + HAD), and slow freezing/freeze-drying (SF + FD). For freezing, the QF temperature was −38 °C for 2 h and that of SF was −25 °C for 2 weeks. For drying, the HAD temperature was 60 °C for 7 h. In the FD process, the primary and secondary temperatures were −20 °C and 50 °C for 48 h. The experimental results showed that the freezing method (i.e., QF and SF) affected the physical properties (moisture content, water activity, and color) of dried mangosteen pericarp. The antioxidant activities (DPPH and ABTS) of the SF + HAD scheme (28.20 and 26.86 mg Trolox/g DW of mangosteen pericarp) were lower than the SF + FD scheme (40.68 and 41.20 mg Trolox/g DW of mangosteen pericarp). The α-mangostin contents were 82.3 and 78.9 mg/g DW of mangosteen pericarp for FD and HAD, respectively; and the corresponding TPC were 1065.57 and 783.24 mg GAE/g DW of mangosteen pericarp. The results of this study suggest that the drying process had a negligible effect on bioactive compounds. Essentially, the SF + HAD technology is the most operationally and economically viable scheme to process mangosteen pericarp. Full article

α-mangostin (α-MG) demonstrates antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus species. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the antibacterial activity of α-MG-rich mangosteen pericarp extract (MPE)-loaded liposomes against Staphylococcus isolates from companion animal skin diseases in vitro and evaluated their therapeutic potential in a murine model of superficial skin infection caused by S. pseudintermedius. α-MG-rich extract was purified from mangosteen pericarp and then complexed with γ-cyclodextrin (γ-CD), forming the inclusion complexes. Nanoliposomes containing MPE and γ-CD complexes were prepared by adding lecithin and casein. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) of MPE-loaded liposomes were determined using agar dilution and broth microdilution methods. The therapeutic potential of MPE-loaded liposomes was evaluated in vivo on tape-stripped skin lesions infected with S. pseudintermedius. Purified MPE and MPE-loaded liposomes contained 402.43 mg/g and 18.18 mg/g α-MG, respectively. MPE-loaded liposomes showed antibacterial activity against clinical Staphylococcus isolates in vitro but did not show antibacterial activity against Gram-negative bacterial isolates. MPE-loaded liposomes demonstrated consistent MICs and MBCs against Staphylococcus isolates. These liposomes significantly reduced bacterial numbers and lesional sizes in a superficial skin infection model. Moreover, they reconstructed the epidermal barrier in skin lesions. The therapeutic concentrations of MPE-loaded liposomes did not induce cytotoxicity in canine progenitor epidermal keratinocyte cells. In conclusion, MPE-loaded liposomes hold promise for the development of a prospective topical formulation to treat superficial pyoderma in companion animals. Full article