Garcinol from garcinia indica: Chemistry and health beneficial effects

Garcinol, a polyisoprenylated benzophenone, is isolated from fruit rinds of Garcinia indica, which has been used as an ornament, food ingredient as well as traditional medicine for centuries. With its unusual chemical structure, garcinol has generated considerable research interests in recent years because of its remedial qualities against many human diseases and ailments, mostly attributed to its potent antioxidant capabilities. There are increasing scientific evidences which demonstrate the anti-Tumorigenic effectiveness of garcinol, and apoptosis is the commonly suggested pathway. Garcinol has been found to modulate several cell signaling pathways involved in apoptosis and cancer development. The present review summarizes the current knowledge on the various biological activities of garcinol, focusing on its anti-Tumorigenic effects, as well as the chemistry aspects of this potential chemopreventive agent.