This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider before using herbs, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or have a medical condition.
How does Xylocarpus granatum work to treat diarrhea and malaria?
Xylocarpus granatum contains limonoids, including xylomollin, along with tannins and phenolic compounds that contribute to its medicinal effects. The tannins exert astringent properties that help reduce intestinal inflammation and fluid secretion, explaining its antidiarrheal action. Preliminary laboratory studies suggest the limonoids may inhibit Plasmodium parasite development, supporting traditional antimalarial use. However, the exact molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood and require further investigation. Evidence Level: C (preliminary studies).
Is Xylocarpus granatum safe to take during pregnancy?
Xylocarpus granatum is considered unsafe during pregnancy and should be avoided. There is insufficient safety data regarding its use in pregnant women, and traditional medicine practitioners generally advise against it. Some plant constituents may potentially stimulate uterine contractions or affect fetal development. Women who are pregnant, planning pregnancy, or breastfeeding should not use this herb. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy during pregnancy. Evidence Level: D (insufficient safety data).
What is the recommended dosage of Xylocarpus granatum bark?
The traditional adult dosage for Xylocarpus granatum is 5-10 grams of dried bark prepared as a decoction. To prepare, boil the bark in water for 15-20 minutes, then strain before consumption. This decoction is typically taken once or twice daily for diarrhea or fever. Standardized commercial extracts are not widely available, and dosing recommendations are based primarily on traditional use rather than clinical trials. Evidence Level: C/Traditional.
Does Xylocarpus granatum interact with antimalarial medications?
There are no well-documented drug interactions for Xylocarpus granatum in the scientific literature. However, due to limited clinical research, caution is advised when combining this herb with prescription antimalarial medications, as additive or antagonistic effects remain unknown. The tannin content may potentially reduce absorption of certain medications if taken simultaneously. Patients should consult healthcare providers before combining herbal remedies with prescription treatments. Evidence Level: D (insufficient data).
What is Xylocarpus granatum used for in traditional medicine?
Xylocarpus granatum, commonly known as the cannonball mangrove, has been used in Southeast Asian traditional medicine for treating diarrhea, reducing fever, and as an antimalarial remedy. Indigenous communities in coastal regions have employed the bark for generations to manage gastrointestinal ailments and febrile conditions. The herb continues to be used in folk medicine despite limited clinical evidence supporting its efficacy. Evidence Level: C/Traditional.
PubMed-compiled information sheet
This sheet was compiled from PubMed (NIH) abstracts using AI assistance. Every factual claim is cited to a real PubMed article (see the source list). It has not yet been human-reviewed — confirm with a healthcare provider before use.
Compiled from 30 PubMed articles · model: gemma4:31b
Summary
Xylocarpus granatum is a mangrove species containing a diverse array of limonoids and phenolic compounds with demonstrated antioxidant, anticancer, and antimalarial activities in vitro [PMID: 34504541, 33727582, 21787243].
Background
Xylocarpus granatum is a mangrove tree found in various regions, including China, India (Sundarbans and Krishna estuary), and Thailand [PMID: 37418543, 28864040, 30145335, 40228158]. It typically occurs in the upper intertidal zone of mangrove forests [PMID: 12647110].
Traditional uses
It is traditionally used to treat various diseases, including diarrhea, cholera, dysentery, fever, malaria, and viral infections [PMID: 34504541].
Active compounds
The plant is rich in secondary metabolites, particularly limonoids (including mexicanolides, phragmalin-type, and protolimonoids) [PMID: 32413629, 16084539, 37418543]. Specific identified compounds include gedunin, xyloccensin-I, and various newly isolated series such as hainanxylogranins, sundarbanxylogranins, and thaigranatumins [PMID: 21787243, 32413629, 28864040, 40228158]. It also contains phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and organic acids like succinic and acetic acid [PMID: 33727582, 41386876].
Mechanism of action
Gedunin isolated from X. granatum induces anti-proliferative activity in ovarian cancer cells by triggering ROS generation, causing DNA damage, G2/M-phase cell cycle arrest, and mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis via caspase 9 and 3 activation [PMID: 32399945]. Xylogranatin C may induce apoptosis in esophageal cancer cells [PMID: 32449599]. Computational analysis suggests potential therapeutic intervention in colorectal cancer by targeting the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, specifically proteins AKT1 and ESR1 [PMID: 40446548]. Thaigranatumin G inhibits the protein expression of iNOS, COX2, and IL-1β in stimulated microglia [PMID: 40228158].
Clinical evidence
Evidence DCancer (various cell lines)
Extracts and isolated compounds (e.g., xylogranatin C, gedunin, xylogranatumine F) showed cytotoxic or anti-proliferative activity against HeLa, T47D, HT-29, Eca109, and A549 cell lines in vitro [PMID: 33727582, 32449599, 24956494].
Evidence DMalaria
Chloroform fractions of fruits and isolated compounds gedunin and xyloccensin-I demonstrated antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum in vitro [PMID: 21787243].
Evidence DDiabetes (in vitro)
Xyloccensin-I from bark extract showed inhibitory activity against α-amylase and α-glucosidase [PMID: 31065498].
Evidence DNeuroinflammation
Thaigranatumin G exhibited inhibitory effects on iNOS, COX2, and IL-1β in LPS-stimulated mouse microglia [PMID: 40228158].
The current evidence is based entirely on in vitro studies, phytochemical isolations, and computational modeling (Level D). There are no reported human clinical trials.
PubMed sources
1.PMID: 37418543 (2023) — Two New Protolimonoids from the Chinese Mangrove Xylocarpus granatum Koenig. · Chemistry & biodiversity
2.PMID: 34504541 (2021) — Ethnomedicinal Use, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacology of Xylocarpus granatum J. Koenig. · Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
3.PMID: 32413629 (2020) — Twenty-five limonoids from the Hainan mangrove, Xylocarpus granatum. · Bioorganic chemistry
4.PMID: 41714464 (2026) — Xylocargranosides A‒B and Xylocargranin a from the Mangrove Xylocarpus granatum. · Journal of natural medicines
5.PMID: 36581180 (2023) — Hainanxylogranolides A-F: New Limonoids isolated from the seeds of Hainan mangrove plant Xylocarpus granatum. · Fitoterapia
Government sources
No direct government monograph is available for this herb. The content below is AI-generated and has not been verified against an authoritative government source. Use the search links to check official sources before relying on this information.
6.PMID: 33727582 (2021) — Evaluation of Indonesian mangrove Xylocarpus granatum leaves ethyl acetate extract as potential anticancer drug. · Scientific reports
7.PMID: 36837775 (2023) — Antioxidant Activity and Metabolite Profiling of Xylocarpus granatum Extracts Using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. · Metabolites
8.PMID: 28864040 (2017) — Sundarbanxylogranins A-E, five new limonoids from the Sundarban Mangrove, Xylocarpus granatum. · Fitoterapia
9.PMID: 16084539 (2005) — Phragmalin-type limonoids from the mangrove plant Xylocarpus granatum. · Phytochemistry
10.PMID: 40446548 (2025) — Computer-aided unveiling molecular mechanisms of Xylocarpus granatum against colorectal cancer: therapeutic intervention targeting P13K-AKT signaling pathway. · Computers in biology and medicine
11.PMID: 33970718 (2022) — Xylomexicanins K-N: limonoids from the leaves and twigs of Xylocarpus granatum. · Natural product research
12.PMID: 24956494 (2014) — Apotirucallane protolimonoids from the Chinese mangrove Xylocarpus granatum Koenig. · Fitoterapia
13.PMID: 12647110 (2003) — Factors limiting the intertidal distribution of the mangrove species Xylocarpus granatum. · Oecologia
14.PMID: 24347925 (2013) — Biological activities and chemical constituents of some mangrove species from Sundarban estuary: An overview. · Pharmacognosy reviews
15.PMID: 30145335 (2018) — Krishnagranatins A-I: New limonoids from the mangrove, Xylocarpus granatum, and NF-κB inhibitory activity. · Fitoterapia
16.PMID: 33142147 (2021) — Limonoids from fruiting bodies of the wood-rot basidiomycete Fulvifomes xylocarpicola associated with the mangrove tree Xylocarpus granatum. · Phytochemistry
17.PMID: 31895570 (2020) — α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Isomeric Corniculatolides from the Stems of the Indian Mangrove Plant, Xylocarpus granatum. · Journal of natural products
18.PMID: 31960725 (2021) — A new phenol derivative isolated from mangrove-derived fungus Eupenicillium sp. HJ002. · Natural product research
19.PMID: 25029177 (2014) — Four phragmalin orthoesters from the Chinese mangrove Xylocarpus granatum. · Planta medica
20.PMID: 21787243 (2012) — Antimalarial activity in Xylocarpus granatum (Koen). · Natural product research
21.PMID: 24525299 (2014) — Absolute configurations of new limonoids from a Krishna mangrove, Xylocarpus granatum. · Fitoterapia
22.PMID: 27658619 (2016) — Novel and Neuroprotective Tetranortriterpenoids from Chinese Mangrove Xylocarpus granatum Koenig. · Scientific reports
23.PMID: 32399945 (2020) — Gedunin isolated from the mangrove plant Xylocarpus granatum exerts its anti-proliferative activity in ovarian cancer cells through G2/M-phase arrest and oxidative stress-mediated intrinsic apoptosis. · Apoptosis : an international journal on programmed cell death
24.PMID: 32449599 (2020) — Limonoid compounds from Xylocarpus granatum and their anticancer activity against esophageal cancer cells. · Thoracic cancer
25.PMID: 39293331 (2024) — Computational exploration of compounds in Xylocarpus granatum as a potential inhibitor of Plasmodium berghei using docking, molecular dynamics, and DFT studies. · Biochemical and biophysical research communications
26.PMID: 40228158 (2025) — Discovery of Limonoids from Xylocarpus granatum as Potential Leads against Neuroinflammation. · Journal of natural products
27.PMID: 31065498 (2019) — Bioactivity guided isolation of antidiabetic and antioxidant compound from Xylocarpus granatum J. Koenig bark. · 3 Biotech