Genus of tropical fruit trees of the family, Guttifereae, alternatively known as Clusiaceae. Habit. Tropical regions of Asia, Africa, and Polynesia. Several species are used in traditional medicine, in food preparation, for their edible seed oil, or as a source of pigments. The gum-resin from the latex is known as gamboge, q.v. Description of medicinal uses: C. P. Khare, Indian Herbal Remedies (Springer, Berlin, 2004) pp 229-230. Review of constituents and commercial uses: V. K. Raju, M. Reni in Handbook of Herbs and Spices, Vol. 1, K. V. Peter, Ed. (Woodhead Publishing, Cambridge, 2001) pp 207-215.
Garcinia cambogia Desr. Fruit rind is used as a condiment for flavoring curries and to cure dried fish. Extracts are used as a source of hydroxycitric acid, q.v., in weight loss preparations. HPLC determn of acids in fruit rinds: G. K. Jayaprakasha, K. K. Sakariah, J. Chromatogr. A 806, 337 (1998) DOI. Clinical trial of fruit extract on visceral fat accumulation: K. Hayamizu et al., Curr. Ther. Res. 64, 551 (2003) DOI.
Garcinia indica Choisy. Edible fruit with agreeable flavor and sweetish, acid taste. Constit. Organic acids, primarily hydroxycitric acid, malic acid; carbohydrates; anthocyanin pigments, especially cyanidin glycosides; isoprenylated benzophenones such as garcinol, a fat-soluble yellow pigment. Seeds yield an edible oil known as kokam butter which is rich in stearic and oleic acids.