In Vitro Evaluation of Mangostanin as an Antimicrobial and Biocompatible Topical Antiseptic for Skin and Oral Tissues

Abstract

Skin and oral tissue infections pose significant health challenges worldwide, necessitating the exploration of new antiseptic agents that are both effective and biocompatible. This study evaluated the antibacterial efficacy and biocompatibility of mangostanin (MGTN), a xanthone derived from Garcinia mangostana L., against commercial antiseptics across various bacterial strains (Porphyromonas gingivalis, Streptococcus mutans, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Cutibacterium acnes) and in vitro models of skin and oral tissues. MGTN demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity against all tested pathogens concurrently exhibiting negligible cytotoxic effects on human gingival fibroblasts as well as on three-dimensional (3D) models of human epidermis and oral epithelium. Furthermore, using pooled human saliva, MGTN effectively inhibited plaque biofilm formation, suggesting its potential as a natural, biocompatible antiseptic for skin and oral health applications. These findings position MGTN as a promising candidate for further development into antiseptic formulations, offering a natural alternative to current synthetic options.