Habitat: Native to Malaysia. Now cultivated mainly on lower slopes of the Nilgiris.
English: Mangosteen, Dodol.Siddha/Tamil: Sulambuli, Mangusta.Folk: Mangustaan.Action: Fruit—antileucorrhoeic, astringent, antifungal, antibacterial; used in cystitis, diseases of the genitourinary tract, diarrhoea, tropical dysentery and fevers. Pericarp—used externally for eczema and other skin diseases. Leaves—anti-inflammatory, anti- immunosuppressive, antiprotozoal, antimicrobial.
The plant contains anthocyanin gly- cosides, a benzophenone, maclurin and several prenylated and related xan- thones. The leaves contain terpenoids, xanthones and long chain hydrocarbons.The pericarp (fruit hull) contains the xanthone derivatives, mangostin, nor- mangostin, beta-mangostin, gamma- mangostin, isomangostin as major constituents.Mangostin, isolated from the rind of fruit, inhibited primary and secondary responses to adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats. Mangostin, isoman- gostin and mangostin triacetate exhibited pronounced anti-inflammatory activity in rats both by i.p. and oral routes.Mangostin also produced antiulcer activity in rats.Mangostin and some of its derivatives produced CNS depression, characterized by ptosis, sedation and decreased motor activity.Gamma-mangostin showed more potent radical scavenging and antioxi- dant activity than BHA.