3-Isomangostin is a potent human aldose reductase inhibitor with an IC50 of 3.48 uM; it is also an acetylcholinesterase selective inhibitor. 3-Isomangostin has free radical scavenging activity; it shows antiplasmodial activity with IC50 values in the rang

MTH1:52 nM

Species of Garcinia have been used to combat malaria in traditional African and Asian medicines, including Ayurveda. In the current study, we have identified antiplasmodial benzophenone and xanthone compounds from edible Garcinia species by testing for in vitro inhibitory activity against Plasmodium falciparum. Whole fruits of Garcinia xanthochymus, G. mangostana, G. spicata, and G. livingstonei were extracted and tested for antiplasmodial activity. Garcinia xanthochymus was subjected to bioactivity-guided fractionation to identify active partitions. Purified benzophenones (1-9) and xanthones (10-18) were then screened in the plasmodial lactate dehydrogenase assay and tested for cytotoxicity against mammalian (Vero) cells. The benzophenones guttiferone E (4), isoxanthochymol (5), and guttiferone H (6), isolated from G. xanthochymus, and the xanthones α-mangostin (15), β-mangostin (16), and 3-Isomangostin (17), known from G. mangostana, showed antiplasmodial activity with an IC50 values in the range of 4.71-11.40 μM. Artemisinin and chloroquine were used as positive controls and exhibited an IC50 values in the range of 0.01-0.24 μM.