Recent research on bioactive xanthones from natural medicine: Garcinia hanburyi

Abstract

Garcinia hanburyi, a tropical plant found in south Asia, has a special long history in the development of both medicine and art. This review mainly focuses on the pharmacy research of the bioactive compounds from the plant in recent years. Preparative and analysis separation methods were introduced. Moreover, the chemical structure of the isolated compounds was included. The studies of biological activities of the caged xanthones from the plant, including antitumor, anti-HIV-1, antibacterial, and neurotrophic activities, were reviewed in detail. Furthermore, the mechanisms of its antitumor activity were also reviewed. As mentioned above, some of the xanthones from G. hanburyi can be promising drug candidates, which is worth studying. However, we still need much evidence to prove their efficacy and safety. So, further research is critical for the future application of xanthones from G. hanburyi.

Fig. 1

The chemical skeleton of Garcinia xanthones

Fig. 2

Isolation method of nine compounds from gamboge

Fig. 3

Isolation method of five compounds from the fruit of Garcinia hanburyi

Fig. 4

Isolation method of two compounds from gamboge

Fig. 5

Isolation method of gambogenic acid