Insights into the Chemical Composition and In Vitro Bioactive Properties of Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.) Pericarp

Abstract

The industrial processing of mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.) generates high amounts of waste, as ~60% of the fruit is formed by an inedible pericarp. However, its pericarp has been explored as a source of xanthones; nevertheless, studies addressing the recovery of other chemical compounds from such biomass are still scarce. Hence, this study intended to elucidate the chemical composition of the mangosteen pericarp, including fat-soluble (tocopherols and fatty acids) and water-soluble (organic acids and phenolic compound non-xanthones) compounds present in the following extracts: hydroethanolic (MT80), ethanolic (MTE), and aqueous (MTW). In addition, the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative and antibacterial potentials of the extracts were assessed. The mangosteen pericarp showed a composition with seven organic acids, three tocopherol isomers, four fatty acids and fifteen phenolic compounds. Regarding the extraction of phenolics, the MT80 was the most efficient (54 mg/g extract), followed by MTE (19.79 mg/g extract) and MTW (4.011 mg/g extract). All extracts showed antioxidant and antibacterial activities; however, MT80 and MTE extracts were more efficient than MTW. Only MTW did not show anti-inflammatory properties, whereas MTE and MT80 showed inhibitory activities towards tumor cell lines. Notwithstanding, MTE showed cytotoxicity towards normal cells. Our findings support the idea that the ripe mangosteen pericarp is a source of bioactive compounds, although their recovery is dependent on the extraction solvent.

Keywords: antiproliferative activity; bioactive compounds; flavonoids; food supplement; food waste recovery.

Figure 1

The Garcinia mangostana tree, its major in natura product (fruit), the major industrial by-product of its processing (fruit pericarp), and mangosteen derived-products with high added value.

Figure 2

Antioxidant potential of the mangosteen pericarp extracts. Significant differences between samples in the same assay are indicated by different letters on the top of the bars (Tukey HSD test, p < 0.05).

Figure 3

Antiproliferative potential of the mangosteen pericarp extracts. Significant differences between samples are indicated by different letters (Tukey HSD test, p < 0.05) or an asterisk (*) (Student’s t-test, p < 0.05) on the top of the bars.