Garcinia

{{Short description|Genus of flowering plants}} {{Automatic taxobox |image = Garcinia subelliptica (200703).jpg |image_caption = ''Garcinia subelliptica'', the ''fukugi'' tree |taxon = Garcinia |authority = L. |subdivision_ranks = Species |subdivision = See list of ''Garcinia'' species |synonyms = *''Allanblackia'' {{small|Oliv.}} *''Biwaldia'' Scop. *''Brindonia'' Thouars *''Cambogia'' L. *''Chloromyron'' {{small|Pers.}} *''Clusianthemum'' Vieill. *''Coddampulli'' Adans. *''Discostigma'' Hassk. *''Hebradendron'' Graham *''Koddampuli'' Adans. *''Lamprophyllum'' Miers *''Magostan'' Adans. *''Mangostana'' Rumph. ex Gaertn. *''Ochrocarpos'' Noronha ex Thouars (''Ochrocarpus'' was an orthographic variant) *''Oxycarpus'' Lour. *''Pentaphalangium'' Warb. *''Platorheedia'' {{small|Rojas}} *''Rheedia'' L. *''Rhinostigma'' {{small|Miq.}} *''Septogarcinia'' Kosterm. *''Stalagmites'' Spreng. *''Stalagmitis'' Murray *''Terpnophyllum'' Thwaites *''Tripetalum'' K.Schum. *''Tsimatimia'' Jum. & H.Perrier *''Verticillaria'' Ruiz & Pav. *''Xanthochymus'' Roxb. |synonyms_ref = <ref name= powo>{{cite web |title=''Garcinia'' L. |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:19345-1 |website=Plants of the World Online |publisher=Royal Botanical Gardens Kew |access-date=2 April 2026}}</ref> }}

'''''Garcinia''''' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Clusiaceae native to the Sundaland bioregion of Asia, America, Australia, tropical and southern Africa, and Polynesia.<ref name="Phytotaxa">{{cite journal |last1=Nazre |first1=M. |last2=Newman |first2=M. F. |last3=Pennington |first3=R. T. |last4=Middleton |first4=D. J. |date=October 2018 |title=Taxonomic Revision of ''Garcinia'' Section ''Garcinia'' (''Clusiaceae'') |url=https://www.biotaxa.org/Phytotaxa/article/view/phytotaxa.373.1.1 |journal=Phytotaxa |volume=373 |issue=1 |pages=1–52 |doi=10.11646/phytotaxa.373.1.1 |bibcode=2018Phytx.373....1N }}</ref> The number of species is disputed; Plants of the World Online (POWO) recognise up to 400.<ref name=powo/> Commonly, the plants in this genus are called '''saptrees''', '''mangosteens''' (which may also refer specifically to ''Garcinia mangostana''), or '''garcinias''', and is one of several plants known as by the name "monkey fruit". The genus is named after French botanist Laurent Garcin (1683–1751).<ref>{{cite web |title=Garcinia forbesii |url=https://www.nparks.gov.sg/FloraFaunaWeb/Flora/4/2/4212#:~:text=It%20is%20a%20dioecious%20species,inner%20bark%20produces%20yellow%20latex |website=www.nparks.gov.sg |access-date=23 January 2021}}</ref>

Trees of many species from this genus tend to grow deep in forested areas where other plants grow nearby.<ref name="Phytotaxa"/>{{rp|10}} They are threatened by habitat destruction, and at least one species, ''G. cadelliana'', from South Andaman Island, is almost or even completely extinct already.<ref>{{Cite iucn |author=World Conservation Monitoring Centre |author-link=World Conservation Monitoring Centre |title=''Garcinia cadelliana'' |volume=1998 |article-number=e.T33490A9782233 |date=1998 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.1998.RLTS.T33490A9782233.en |access-date=12 January 2018}}</ref>

== Description == ''Garcinia'' species are evergreen trees and shrubs, dioecious and in several cases apomictic. Among neotropical ''Garcinia'', several species are dioecious (''G. leptophylla'', ''G. macrophyll''a{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}} and ''G. magnifolia''), although male and female trees have often been observed to have some degree of self-fertility.

The flowering season of garcinias may happen after 10–15 years after growth. Male flowers last longer than female flowers that lose petals after a short blooming period.<ref name="Phytotaxa"/>{{rp|11}} The species' female flower stigmas swell to produce berries with fleshy white flesh with reddish to dark-coloured woody exocarps when they ripen; the stigma lobes can be seen on the opposite or free ends (''exterior apices'') of many species' fruits.<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Asinelli, M.E.C. |author2=Souza, M.C.o.d. |author3=Mourao, K.t.S.M. |year=2011|title=Fruit ontogeny of ''Garcinia gardneriana'' (Planch. & Triana) Zappi (Clusiaceae)|journal=Acta Botanica Brasilica|volume=25|issue=43–52|pages=43–52 |doi=10.1590/S0102-33062011000100007 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2011AcBBr..25...43A }}</ref><ref name="Phytotaxa"/>{{rp|8–10}} The fruits are food source for several animals, such as the archduke butterflies (''Lexias'' spp.) of tropical eastern Asia which relish the sap of overripe mangosteens.

==Uses== [[File:Hydroxycitric acid.png|thumb|Hydroxycitric acid, a chemical compound found in mangosteen rind]] The fruit of most species of ''Garcinia'' are eaten locally; some species' fruits are highly esteemed in one region, but unknown just a few hundred kilometres away. The best-known species is ''Garcinia mangostana'', which is now cultivated throughout Southeast Asia and other tropical countries, having become established in the late 20th century. Less well-known, but still of international importance, are kandis (''G. forbesii'') with small round red fruits with moderately acidic taste and melting flesh, the lemon drop mangosteen (''G. intermedia'') with yellow fruit that look like a wrinkled lemon, and the thin-skinned orange button mangosteen (''G. prainiana'').

In addition, mangosteen rind (exocarp) extract is used as a spice. It figures prominently in Kodava culture, and ''G. multiflora'' is used to flavour and colour the famous ''bún riêu'' soup of Vietnam, where this plant is known as ''hạt điều màu''. ''Garcinia gummi-gutta'' yields a spice widely used in South Asia, in particular in Kerala, where it is called ''kodumpulli''.

Most species in ''Garcinia'' are known for their gum resin, brownish-yellow from xanthonoids such as mangostin, and used as purgative or cathartic, but most frequently – at least in former times – as a pigment. The colour term gamboge refers to this pigment.

Extracts of the exocarp of certain species – typically ''G. gummi-gutta'', but also ''G. mangostana'' – are often contained in appetite suppressants, but their effectiveness at normal consumption levels is unproven. At least one case of severe acidosis caused by long-term consumption of such products has been documented.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1053/j.ajkd.2007.12.043|pmid=18436094|title=Severe Lactic Acidosis Associated with Juice of the Mangosteen Fruit Garcinia mangostana|journal=American Journal of Kidney Diseases|volume=51|issue=5|pages=829–33|year=2008|last1=Wong|first1=Leslie P|last2=Klemmer|first2=Philip J}}</ref> Furthermore, they may contain significant amounts of hydroxycitric acid, which is somewhat toxic and might even destroy the testicles after prolonged use.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1016/j.fct.2004.11.008 |pmid=15680676|year=2005|last1=Saito|first1=M|title=High dose of Garcinia cambogia is effective in suppressing fat accumulation in developing male Zucker obese rats, but highly toxic to the testis|journal=Food and Chemical Toxicology|volume=43|issue=3|pages=411–9|last2=Ueno|first2=M|last3=Ogino|first3=S|last4=Kubo|first4=K|last5=Nagata|first5=J|last6=Takeuchi|first6=M}}</ref>

Bitter kola (''G. kola'') seeds are used in folk medicine.<ref>{{Citation |title=20 Super Health Benefits Of Eating Bitter Kola (Garcinia Kola) |url=http://www.rapportnaija.com/2016/08/20-health-benefits-of-bitter-kola.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170505073650/http://www.rapportnaija.com/2016/08/20-health-benefits-of-bitter-kola.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=May 5, 2017 }}</ref> ''G. mannii'' is popular as a chew stick in western Africa,<ref>{{Cite iucn |author=Cheek, M. |title=''Garcinia kola'' |volume=2004 |article-number=e.T34715A9884648 |date=2004 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T34715A9884648.en |access-date=12 January 2018}}</ref> freshening the breath and cleaning the teeth.

''G. subelliptica'', called ''fukugi'' in Japanese, is the floral emblem of Mobuto and Tarama on Okinawa. The Malaysian town of Beruas – often spelled "Bruas" – derives its name from the seashore mangosteen (''G. hombroniana''), known locally as ''pokok bruas''. It has been used for many years by certain{{which|date=October 2021}} African tribes as a tonic believed to increase 'energy levels' and to possess digestive and fat-busting properties{{dubious|date=October 2021}}{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}.

{{Gallery |mode=packed |Mangosteens - whole and opened.jpg|''Garcinia mangostana'' (purple mangosteen) with white, edible endocarp |Fruta do Bacupari.jpg|''Garcinia gardneriana'' (''bacupari'') |Garcinia hombroniana.JPG|''Garcinia hombroniana'' |Madruno.jpg|''Garcinia madruno'' }}

==Selected species== {{Main|List of Garcinia species}} [[File:Garcinia pseudoguttifera.jpg|thumb|right|Young ''moʻonia'' tree (''Garcinia pseudoguttifera'')]] [[File:Garcinia sessilis, flower.jpg|thumb|right|''Heilala'' (''Garcinia sessilis'') flowers]]

{{As of|April 2026}}, Kew's Plants of the World Online accepts 416 species.<ref name=powo/> Selected species include: {{Columns-list|colwidth=22em| * ''Garcinia acutifolia'' * ''Garcinia afzelii'' * ''Garcinia aristata'' * ''Garcinia assamica'' * ''Garcinia atroviridis'' – ''asam gelugur'' (Indonesian), ''asam gelugor'' (Malaysian), ''asam keping'' (Malaysian) * ''Garcinia benthamiana'' – ''asashi'' * ''Garcinia bifasciculata'' * ''Garcinia binucao'' - ''batuan'' (Hiligaynon), ''binukaw'' (Visayan) * ''Garcinia brasiliensis'' – ''bacupari-mirim'' * ''Garcinia brevipedicellata'' * ''Garcinia burkillii'' * ''Garcinia cadelliana'' * ''Garcinia cantleyana'' * ''Garcinia celebica'' L. * ''Garcinia clusiifolia'' * ''Garcinia costata'' * ''Garcinia cowa'' - cowa mangosteen * ''Garcinia decussata'' * ''Garcinia diversifolia'' * ''Garcinia dulcis'' – ''mundu, rata'' * ''Garcinia echinocarpa'' * ''Garcinia epunctata'' * ''Garcinia eugeniaefolia'' * ''Garcinia forbesii'' - ''rose kandis'' * ''Garcinia gardneriana'' – ''bacupari'' * ''Garcinia gummi-gutta'' – gambooge, garcinia cambogia, brindleberry, brindall berry, Malabar tamarind * ''Garcinia hanburyi'' – Hanbury's garcinia * ''Garcinia hendersoniana'' * ''Garcinia hermonii'' * ''Garcinia holttumii'' * ''Garcinia hombroniana'' - seashore mangosteen * ''Garcinia humilis'' – achachairú, achacha * ''Garcinia imberti'' * ''Garcinia indica'' – wild mangosteen, kokum * ''Garcinia intermedia'' – lemon drop mangosteen, ''machare'' * ''Garcinia kingii'' * ''Garcinia kola'' – bitter kola * ''Garcinia lateriflora'' – Kandis (Palawan) * ''Garcinia leptophylla'' * ''Garcinia linii'' * ''Garcinia livingstonei'' – African mangosteen, Lowveld mangosteen, Livingstone's garcinia, ''imbe'' * ''Garcinia loureiroi'' - ({{langx|km|សណ្ដាន់}}) * ''Garcinia macrophylla'' – ''pungara'' * ''Garcinia madruno'' (Kunth) Hammel – ''charichuelo'' * ''Garcinia magnifolia'' – ''bebasajo'' * ''Garcinia maingayi'' * ''Garcinia mangostana'' – purple mangosteen * ''Garcinia microcarpa'' * ''Garcinia minutiflora'' * ''Garcinia monantha'' * ''Garcinia montana'' * ''Garcinia morella'' – ''ireevalsinni'' (Tamil) * ''Garcinia multiflora'' Champ. – ''dọc'' (Vietnamese) * ''Garcinia murtonii'' * ''Garcinia nigrolineata'' Planch. ex T.Anderson * ''Garcinia nitida'' * ''Garcinia oliveri'' * ''Garcinia opaca'' * ''Garcinia parvifolia'' - Kundong, Brunei cherry, Asam aur aur * ''Garcinia paucinervis'' * ''Garcinia pedunculata'' * ''Garcinia prainiana'' – button mangosteen, ''cherapu'' * ''Garcinia pseudoguttifera'' - mo'onia tree * ''Garcinia pushpangadaniana'' * ''Garcinia pyrifera'' * ''Garcinia quaesita'' * ''Garcinia rubro-echinata'' * ''Garcinia scortechinii'' * ''Garcinia semseii'' * ''Garcinia sessilis'' Seem. – ''heilala'' (Tongan), ''seilala'' (Samoan) * ''Garcinia spicata'' - bitter garcinia * ''Garcinia staudtii'' * ''Garcinia subelliptica'' - fukugi tree * ''Garcinia terpnophylla'' * ''Garcinia thwaitesii'' * ''Garcinia travancorica'' * ''Garcinia uniflora'' * ''Garcinia warrenii'' F.Muell. * ''Garcinia wightii'' * ''Garcinia xanthochymus'' – yellow mangosteen, ''gamboge'' * ''Garcinia zeylanica'' }}

== Genetic Diversity == The genetic diversity of 22 ''Garcinia'' accessions was analyzed using peroxidase, RAPD markers, and gene sequence-specific amplification polymorphism (GSSAP).<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Wittayawannakull, W.; Garcia, R. N.; Yllano, O. B.; Borromeo, T. H.; Namuco, L. O.; Tecson-Mendoza, E. M.|date=2010|title=Assessment of genetic diversity in Garcinia species using peroxidase, RAPD and gene sequence specific amplification polymorphism (GSSAP)|url=https://www.cabdirect.org/cabdirect/abstract/20103114470|journal=Philippine Agricultural Scientist|volume=93|pages=31–41}}</ref> Genetic diversity assessment revealed low genetic variation among them.<ref name=":0" /> Phylogenetic analysis indicated that ''Garcinia'' species clustered into five groups at a mean similarity coefficient of 0.54.<ref name=":0" /> This study showed that the ''G. magostana'' accessions can be clearly distinguished by combined peroxidase, RAPD, and gene sequence-specific amplification polymorphism.<ref name=":0" />

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:Garcinia Category:Clusiaceae genera Category:Pantropical flora Category:Dioecious plants Category:Medicinal plants Category:Plants described in 1753 Category:Botanical taxa named by Carl Linnaeus