Differential cytotoxic effects of Garcinia mangostana pericarp extract on leukaemic versus normal human cell lines: insights into selective anticancer activity

Garcinia mangostana L. is widely recognised for its traditional medicinal uses and growing relevance in the nutraceutical sector. This research endeavour is designed to scrutinise the phytochemical composition and cytotoxic effects of an alcoholic extract derived from the pericarps of G. mangostana (ME) on leukaemic cell lines. G. mangostana L. pericarps were subjected to ethanol extraction, and subsequent compound identification was conducted via Capillary Liquid Chromatography-Electrospray Ionisation-Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Tandem Mass Spectrometry (CapLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS). In parallel, the extract was fractionated through High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Furthermore, U937, Jurkat and normal human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) lines were exposed to varying concentrations of the extract to assess cell proliferation, viability, cytotoxicity, and apoptotic DNA damage. Investigations confirmed the presence of various xanthones, including β-mangostin, α-mangostin, and garcinone E. Significantly, ME displayed pronounced cytotoxic effects specifically on leukaemic cells, distinguishing its impact on malignant cells as opposed to non-malignant ones, and facilitated apoptotic DNA fragmentation. Moreover, the whole extract consistently displayed greater cytotoxicity compared to individual fractions. According to the results obtained ME selective cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines and greater biological activity than the single compounds in the extract. These findings underscore ME's potential in cancer prevention, complementing dietary strategies ahead of pharmaceutical interventions.