HPLC analysis of selected xanthones in mangosteen fruit

Xanthones are unique chemical compounds found in nature, composed of a tricyclic aromatic system with a variety of phenolic, methoxy, and isoprene substituents, giving rise to numerous derivatives. They dissolve to varying degrees in solvents ranging from alcohol to hexane. An optimum solvent mixture of acetone/water (80:20) selectively and effectively extracts a wide variety of xanthones. Subsequent HPLC analysis using standard C-18 RP and a 30-min gradient of 65-90% MetOH in 0.1% formic acid detects and separates numerous different xanthones with UV detection at 254 nm. The xanthones alpha-mangostin, 8-desoxygartanin, gartanin, beta-mangostin, 3-mangostin, and 9-hydroxycalabaxanthone have been extracted, identified, and quantitatively determined using this method. This analytical method is applied to the analysis of these xanthones in the rind of the mangosteen fruit, Garcinia mangostana.