1. Phytomedicine. 2005 Mar;12(3):203-8.

Antibacterial activity of alpha-mangostin against vancomycin resistant
Enterococci (VRE) and synergism with antibiotics.

Sakagami Y, Iinuma M, Piyasena KG, Dharmaratne HR.

Osaka Prefectural Institute of Public Health, Osaka, Japan.
sakagami@iph.pref.osaka.jp

alpha-Mangostin, isolated from the stem bark of Garcinia mangostana L., was found
to be active against vancomycin resistant Enterococci (VRE) and methicillin
resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), with MIC values of 6.25 and 6.25 to 12.5 
microg/ml, respectively. Our studies showed synergism between alpha-mangostin and
gentamicin (GM) against VRE, and alpha-mangostin and vancomycin hydrochloride
(VCM) against MRSA. Further studies showed partial synergism between
alpha-mangostin and commercially available antibiotics such as ampicillin and
minocycline. These findings suggested that alpha-mangostin alone or in
combination with GM against VRE and in combination with VCM against MRSA might be
useful in controlling VRE and MRSA infections.

PMID: 15830842  [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]