Gen info
- Garcinia is a large genus of flowering plants in the family Clusiaceae. As of December 2018, nearly 400 were listed as accepted species. (2)

Botany
• Kamandis is a tree growing up to 10 m high with a trunk diameter of about 90 cm. Bark of young tree is rough with vertical lenticels. On maturing, pressure on the outer bark results in the formation of new periderm, with the old layers breaking apart in scales. Leaves are petiolated and opposite; blades undivided, with pinnate veins and smooth margin, in varying sizes from 6 cm to 30 cm long. Flowers are unisexual, bright green. Fruits is a flattened globose berry, about 3 cm diameters; green when unripe

• Fruit yielded a prominent yellow sticky exudate upon slicing of the pericarp.

Distribution
- Native to the Philippines.
- Endemic.
- IUCN listed as NT (Near Threatened).

Constituents
- Study of dichloromethane extract of pericarp isolated a xanthone: 1,3,7-trihydroxy-2,4-bis(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-9H-xanthen-9-one.
- Phytochemical screening of crude leaf extract yielded carbohydrates, glycosides, tannins, phenolics, flavonoids, terpenoids, and steroids. Carbohydrates and glycosides were found in the ethanolic extract while tannins, phenolics, and flavonoids were found in both ethanolic and ethyl acetate extracts. Terpenoids and steroids were found in dichloromethane (DCM) and hexane extracts. No extract yielded alkaloids. (4)

Properties
- Fruit yielded a prominent yellow sticky exudate upon slicing of the pericarp.
- Studies have suggested anticancer properties.

Parts used
Pericarp, leaves.

Uses
Edibility
- Fruits are edible, eaten raw.
- In Palawan fruits used as souring agent.
Folkloric
- No reported folkloric medicinal use.

Studies
• Xanthone / Pericarp: Study of dichloromethane extract of pericarp isolated a xanthone: 1,3,7-trihydroxy-2,4-bis(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-9H-xanthen-9-one. (3)
• Cytotoxicity Against Human Cancer Cell Lines / Leaves: Study evaluated subfractions from ethyl acetate fraction of G. rubra leaf using vacuum liquid chromatography against colorectal (HCT-116), breast (MCF-7) and lung adenocarcinoma (A549) cell lines. Fractions 6, 7, 8 and 9 showed activity against cancer cell lines tested. Fraction 7 induced apoptosis against colorectal cancer cells. It exhibited synergism with doxorubicin, allowing sublethal concentrations to induced cell death. Phytochemical screening of the active fraction yielded condensed tannins and phenolic compounds. Results suggest a good source of cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic compounds. (5)

Availability
Wild-crafted.

Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Garcinia rubra / KEW: Plants of the World Online
(2)
Garcinia / Wikipedia
(3)
Isolation, Purification and Structure Elucidation of a Xanthone from the Pericarp of Kamandiis (Garcinia rubra Merr.) / Cherry Mae T Ravidas, Teofila D C Villar, Leon O Namuco, Hidelisa P Hernandez / KIMIKA, 2019; 30(1): pp 40-44 / DOI: 10.26534/kimika.v30i1.40-44 / pISSN: 0115-2130 / eISSN: 2508-0911
(4)
Phytochemical Analysis of Garcinia rubra / Josie B Rojo, Hidelisa P Hernandez /  Phil J of Nat Sci., 2018; 23: pp 9-17
(5)
Cytotoxic Potential and Phytochemical Profile of Extracts from Garcinia rubra Merr. Leaves / Carlo Avila Limbo, Sonia Donaldo Jacinto / International Journal of Cancer Research, 2019; 15(2): pp 38-46 /
DOI: 10.3923/ijcr.2019.38.46

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