Crude extract from the pericarp of the mangosteen (mangosteen extract [ME]) has exhibited several medicinal properties in both animal models and human cell lines. Interestingly, the cytotoxic activities were always observed in nonpolar fraction of the extract whereas the potent antioxidant was often found in polar fraction. Although it has been demonstrated that the polar fraction of ME exhibited the antioxidant activity, the safety of the polar fraction of ME has never been thoroughly investigated in humans. In this study, we investigated the safety of oral administration of the polar fraction of ME in 11 healthy Thai volunteers. During a 24-week period of the study, only minor and tolerable side effects were reported; no serious side effects were documented. Blood chemistry studies also showed no liver damage or kidney dysfunction in all subjects. We also demonstrated antioxidant property of the polar fraction of ME both in vitro and in vivo. Interestingly, oral administration of the polar fraction of ME enhanced the antioxidant capability of red blood cells and decreased oxidative damage to proteins within red blood cells and whole blood.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) accounts for approximately 1% of all gastrointestinal tract neoplasms. 1 GIST usually presents as an incidental gastric subepithelial lesion during upper endoscopy or abdominal radiologic studies. In symptomatic cases, abdominal pain and gastrointestinal bleeding are common manifestations. Gastrointestinal obstruction is a less frequent presentation, occurring in only 10-30% of patients, 2 while gastroduodenal intussusception and acute pancreatitis are extremely unusual presentations of gastric GIST. This report presents the case of a patient diagnosed with gastric GIST complicated by gastroduodenal intussusception, resulting in acute pancreatitis. CASE REPORTA 55-year-old man presented with worsening epigastric pain and vomiting for 10 days. He reported intermittent abdominal pain for 10 months prior to presentation. Abdominal examination revealed tenderness at the epigastrium. His serum amylase level was 320 U/L, compatible with acute pancreatitis. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed a 4 × 4.7 cm well-defined hyperdense mass in the 2 nd part of the duodenum, compressing the pancreatic head, edematous pancreatic parenchyma, peripancreatic fat stranding, and pancreatic duct dilatation (Fig. 1A, B). Esophagogastroduodenoscopy was significant for abnormal torsion of gastric folds that originated from the gastric fundus, coursed along the lesser curvature, and invaginated into the pyloric canal, thereby blocking the passage of the scope into the duodenal bulb (Fig.

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