Gum-resin from the trunk of various Garcinia trees, particularly, Garcinia hanburyi Hook. f., Guttiferae. Habit. India, Southeast Asia. Constit. 25-30% mucilages, 70-75% resin containing polyprenylated xanthones, primarily gambogic acid, q.v. Used in traditional medicine as a cathartic and vermifuge; topically as an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory. Term also refers to the yellow pigment prepared from the resin. Pharmaceutical identification tests: F. O. Taylor, J. Ind. Eng. Chem. 2, 208 (1910). Analysis of constituents: H. Autherhoff et al., Arch. Pharm. 295, 833 (1962); J. Asano et al., Phytochemistry 41, 815 (1996); J.-Z. Song et al., J. Sep. Sci. 30, 304 (2007). Anti-inflammatory activity of ethyl acetate extract: A. Panthong et al., J. Ethnopharmacol. 111, 335 (2007). Description and medicinal uses: J. Gruenwald et al., PDR for Herbal Medicines (Medical Economics, Montvale, 3rd Ed., 2004) pp 342-343.
Review of properties and use as artistic pigment: J. Winter in Artists' Pigments: A Handbook of Their History and Characteristics, Vol. 3, E. W. FitzHugh, Ed., (National Gallery of Art, Washington DC, 1997) pp 143-155. Spectroscopic detectn in works of art: P. Vandenabeele et al., Anal. Chim. Acta 407, 261 (2000). Electrochemical determn in archeological fabrics: A. Doménech-Carbó et al., Talanta 66, 769 (2005).