by Kevin Fabrice Paul Mandeng¹˒², Jafarou Mounpou¹, Imelda Lucresse Nouteza Djuikoo¹, Maxwell Wandji Nguedjo¹˒²˒³˒⁴*, Dany Joël Ngassa Ngoumen²˒⁴, Yves Didier Mboma Nseme⁵, Ruth Edwige Kemadjou Dibacto¹, Boris Ronald Tonou Tchuente¹, Hippolyte Tene Mouafo¹, Melanie Ngondam¹, Gabriel Nama Medoua¹
¹Centre for Food, Food Security and Nutrition Research, Institute of Medical Research and Medicinal Plant Studies, P.O. Box 13033, Yaounde, Cameroon
²Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, P.O. Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon
³Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD), P.O. Box 13, Njombe, Cameroon
⁴Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, P.O. Box 1364, Yaounde, Cameroon.
⁵Department of Pharmacology, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa.
*Corresponding author: [email protected]
Received: 26.02.2026 Accepted: 28.05.2026 Published online: 23.07.2026
Garcinia mangostana L. is a tropical fruit increasingly consumed in Cameroon, while its kernels are generally discarded as waste. This study evaluated mangosteen kernels as a potential functional ingredient for preventing and managing cardiometabolic diseases. Kernels were isolated, cleaned, sliced, freeze-dried, and powdered. Mineral composition was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Bioactive compounds were extracted using distilled water, hydroethanol (70:30, v/v), and ethanol and quantified spectrophotometrically. Antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH radical scavenging, ferric-reducing power, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) assays. The kernels contained high levels of calcium (471.05 mg/100 g DM) and magnesium (162.79 mg/100 g DM), while zinc reached 1.82 mg/100 g DM and potassium occurred in trace amounts. Ethanolic extract exhibited the highest total polyphenol (194.11 ± 0.66 mg GAE/g DM) and alkaloid (4.77 ± 0.05 mg QuiE/g DM) contents, whereas aqueous extract showed the highest flavonoid content (1.69 ± 0.11 mg QE/g DM). Hydroethanolic extract displayed the strongest DPPH scavenging activity (59.90%), ferric-reducing capacity (179.538 mg AAE/g DM), and TAC (1.318 mg AAE/g DM). Principal component analysis indicated that antioxidant activity was associated primarily with extraction solvent. These findings highlight mangosteen kernels as a promising source of minerals and bioactive compounds.