Compound Monograph
Xanthone
Xanthone is the parent structure of a large class of oxygenated plant polyphenols known as xanthones.
Classification
Xanthone is a polyphenol (xanthone scaffold), part of the phenolics class. Antioxidant compounds built around one or more phenol rings — the flavonoids, tannins, phenolic acids, coumarins, and pigments behind much of a plant's protective chemistry.
Where Does It Come From? (4)
Xanthone is a naturally occurring polyphenol (xanthone scaffold), found in Warrior's Plume, Mangosteen and 2 other sources. It is well tolerated orally (low toxicity).
Research & Evidence
Xanthone (xanthen-9-one) is the simple parent structure that gives its name to a large family of plant polyphenols, the xanthones, which carry various hydroxyl and other substituents around this dibenzo-γ-pyrone core. Naturally occurring xanthones are well represented in plants such as mangosteen and in the Gentian and Hypericum families, and the broader class has attracted interest for antioxidant and other activities. The unsubstituted parent compound itself is more a structural reference point than a notable natural product in its own right.
Toxicity & Safety
The naturally occurring xanthones found in foods such as mangosteen are generally regarded as low in toxicity at dietary levels, but properties vary across this large and chemically diverse class, and data on the parent compound specifically are limited.