The purple mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana), colloquially known simply as mangosteen, is a tropical evergreen tree believed to have originated in the Sunda Islands and the Moluccas of Indonesia. It grows mainly in Southeast Asia, and it also grows in tropical South American countries such as Colombia, where the tree has been introduced. The tree grows from 6 to 25 m (20–82 ft) tall. The fruit of the mangosteen is sweet and tangy, juicy, and somewhat fibrous, with an inedible, deep reddish-purple colored rind (exocarp) when ripe. In each fruit, the fragrant edible flesh that surrounds each seed is botanically endocarp, i.e., the inner layer of the ovary.
The purple mangosteen belongs to the same genus as the other, less widely known, mangosteens, such as the button mangosteen (G. prainiana) or the charichuelo (G. madruno).
A tropical tree, the mangosteen must be grown in consistently warm conditions, as exposure to temperatures below 0 °C (32 °F) for prolonged periods will generally kill a mature plant. They are known to recover from brief cold spells rather well, often with damage only to young growth. Experienced horticulturists have grown this species outdoors, and brought them to fruit in extreme south Florida.
Only the white flesh of the purple mangosteen is edible
The juvenile mangosteen fruit, which does not require fertilisation to form (see agamospermy), first appears as pale green or almost white in the shade of the canopy. As the fruit enlarges over the next two to three months, the exocarp colour deepens to darker green. During this period, the fruit increases in size until its exocarp is 6–8 centimetres (2.4–3.1 in) in outside diameter, remaining hard until a final, abrupt ripening stage.
The subsurface chemistry of the mangosteen exocarp comprises an array of polyphenols, including xanthones and tannins that assure astringency which discourages infestation by insects, fungi, plant viruses, bacteria and animal predation while the fruit is immature. Colour changes and softening of the exocarp are natural processes of ripening that indicates the fruit can be eaten and the seeds have finished developing.
Mangosteen produces a recalcitrant seed and must be kept moist to remain viable until germination. Mangosteen seeds are nucellar in origin and not the result of fertilisation; they germinate as soon as they are removed from the fruit and die quickly if allowed to dry.
Once the developing mangosteen fruit has stopped expanding, chlorophyll synthesis slows as the next colour phase begins. Initially streaked with red, the exocarp pigmentation transitions from green to red to dark purple, indicating a final ripening stage. This entire process takes place over a period of ten days as the edible quality of the fruit peaks.
Over the days following the removal from the tree, the exocarp hardens to an extent depending upon postharvest handling and ambient storage conditions, especially relative humidity levels. If the ambient humidity is high, exocarp hardening may take a week or longer when the aril quality is peaking and excellent for consumption. However, after several additional days of storage, especially if unrefrigerated, the arils inside the fruit might spoil without any obvious external indications. Using the hardness of the rind as an indicator of freshness for the first two weeks following harvest is therefore unreliable because the rind does not accurately reveal the interior condition of the arils. If the exocarp is soft and yielding as it is when ripe and fresh from the tree, the fruit is usually good.
The edible endocarp of the mangosteen is botanically defined as an aril with the same shape and size as a tangerine 4–6 centimetres in diameter, but is white. The circle of wedge-shaped arils contains 4–8, rarely 9 segments, the larger ones harbouring apomictic seeds that are unpalatable unless roasted.
Often described as a subtle delicacy, the arils bear an exceptionally mild aroma, quantitatively having about 1/400th of the chemical constituents of fragrant fruits, explaining its relative mildness. The main volatile components having caramel, grass and butter notes as part of the mangosteen fragrance are hexyl acetate, hexenol and α-copaene.
On the bottom of the exocarp, raised ridges (remnants of the stigma), arranged like spokes of a wheel, correspond to the number of aril sections. Mangosteens reach fruit-bearing in as little as 5–6 years, but more typically require 8–10 years.
The aril is the white part of the fruit containing a mild flavor that makes the fruit popular for eating. When analyzed specifically for its content of essential nutrients, however, mangosteen nutrition is modest, as all nutrients analyzed are a low percentage of the Dietary Reference Intake.
Mangosteen peel contains xanthonoids, such as mangostin, and other phytochemicals having antioxidant properties in vitro. Some studies demonstrated that juice containing mangosteen peel extracts may reduce blood levels of C-reactive protein, a biomarker of inflammation. One in vitro study found anti-cancer effects of pericarp extracts on cultured human squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma cells. Research on the phytochemistry of the plant and lack of human clinical study is inadequate to assure the safety or efficacy of its use as a supplement.
Some mangosteen juice products contain whole fruit purée or polyphenols extracted from the inedible exocarp (rind) as a formulation strategy to add phytochemical value. The resulting juice has purple colour and astringency derived from exocarp pigments, including xanthonoids under study for potential anti-disease effects. The potential health benefits of xanthones were debated in a four-part series in 2009.
Advantage of Mangosteen
When you first hear about how Mangosteen benefits people on a variety of health conditions, you may be shocked by the number of health-enhancing properties this exotic fruit provides. Doing your own research on this amazing fruit for the health benefits it may provide your family and friends is time truly well spent. As you take a closer look at Mangosteen, you'll find solid scientific evidence behind the fruit's many healing properties.
Experienced health professionals - who understand why it helps their patients and how it heals their bodies - have written extensively about the health benefits of the Mangosteen fruit.
Some of these health practitioners, who have experienced the benefits of this fruit in their own lives and in their patients', have these to say:
"Mangosteen provides powerful support for every organ system in the human body. This fact is being confirmed on a daily basis by clinical experience... I am convinced that Mangosteen will, without a doubt, be the most successful food supplement ever."
- J. Frederic Templeman, M.D., a primary care physician for more than 20 years and board certified in both the United States and Canada.
"Mangosteen... is able to reverse most of the ailments of modern man."
- Kenneth J. Finsand, M.D., a practicing chiropractic physician for nearly 30 years who specialized in functional medicine throughout his medical career.
"Mangosteen provides huge health benefits for every organ in our bodies."- Sam Walters, N.M.D., a family practitioner trained as a specialist in both traditional and natural medicine, with more than 30 years of comprehensive practical experience in the medical profession, and formulated nutritional products for companies and institutions including the NASA Space Center for the austronauts.
Mangosteen contains more than 40 biologically-active, natural chemical compounds called Xanthones. While all these Xanthones have similar molecular structures, each one has its own unique chemical composition that permits it to perform a specific function. Alpha-mangostin, for example, is a very potent antioxidant. Gamma-mangostin is a powerful anti-inflammatory. Garcinone E is a strong anti-tumor agent. These and the other Xanthones found in the Mangosteen provide a virtual medicine chest of natural healing compounds that address a wide variety of health issues.
Medical professionals have become very good at treating diseases, but we know they don't have all the answers. There also are times when they have used a drug or treatment that later was found to have done more harm than good, or that have done enough damage which far outweighed the benefits the drug or treatment provided. Drugs like Vioxx, Celebrex and Phen-fen are a few that come to mind. Here's a simple question: Why use drugs --- with their harmful and sometimes fatal side-effects --- when fruits can do the job? Natural remedies provide health benefits without the harmful side-effects of drugs. But some who hear or read about the many health benefits of Mangosteen for the first time may be inclined to say that it's just too many and too good to be true for one exotic fruit to be able to provide them all.
Centuries of Mangosteen use has helped Southeast Asians maintain or regain their health and cure their diseases. Traditional Asian healers use the fruit to stop infection, treat inflammation, and increase one's energy, among others. Modern scientists and a growing number of health practitioners now agree on the medical benefits of Mangosteen. They have found that the fruit is helpful in preventing and possibly even stopping a wide range of diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, cancer and other chronic diseases. Those who have taken the time to do their own research on the validity of each health benefit of Mangosteen will find that there is real and solid science behind the "Queen of Fruits", so-called because of Queen Victoria's reported preferrence for this exotic fruit centuries ago.
At times, though, our immune system gets overwhelmed. Our bodies get sick, often because of free radical damage. A free radical is an unstable atom with an unpaired electron. When a free radical comes in contact with a stable atom, it steals the electron it needs from the stable atom. This leaves the once stable atom irreparably damaged and prone to succumb to disease. Antioxidants counteract free radicals. They have an extra electron that they can share with free radicals. Because of this ability, they are able to prevent free radicals from attacking healthy atoms or cells. Mangosteen contains powerful antioxidants and immune system boosters called Xanthones, natural chemical compounds which were proven to possess a variety of potent medicinal properties. Xanthones occupy a special place in the Mangosteen's arsenal of healing compounds. They have been shown to have more potent antioxidant activity than vitamin E, one of nature's most powerful known antioxidants. A laboratory test known as ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity), for example, showed that an ounce of Mangosteen juice provides 20 to 30 times more capacity to absorb free radicals than an ounce of most fruits and vegetables.
Mangosteen also contains other potent natural compounds like catechins, polysaccharides, quinones, stilbenes and polyphenols. Catechins were discovered to be five times more potent as antioxidants than vitamin C. Polysaccharides are highly potent anti-cancer and anti-bacterial plant compounds. They help block a mutated cell's ability to stick to healthy cells to help stop the spread of cancer, and are specially effective against intracellular bacteria. Quinones are known for their anti-bacterial properties and also are strong oxidants. Stilbenes in plants defend these plants against fungi. Interestingly, stilbenes also maintain their anti-fungal properties even when ingested. They also are strong antioxidants. Polyphenols were found to be far more more potent as antioxidants than vitamin E, considered one of the most powerful known antioxidants.
Anti-Bacterial
Studies show that xanthones can inhibit the reproduction of certain types of bacteria, such as, salmonella typhi and the tuberculosis bacteria.
Anti-Fungal
The xanthones of the Mangosteen were tested experimentally against three common fungi and demonstrated capability of inhibiting their growth.
Anti-Inflammatory
Researchers from India used the rind from Mangosteen to investigate its effects on other types of inflammation in the body. the results showed suppression of acute and chronic inflammation and in another paper studying Mangosteen's effect on inflammation, it was noted that the xanthones do no interfere with the clotting mechanism of blood or produce stomach ulcers. Both of these are serious side effects of anti-inflammatory drugs.
Anti-Lipidemia-lowering of blood cholesterol
Scientists from Australia and Thailand have postulated that if Mangosteen inhibits oxidative (free radical) damage, then perhaps it could help with reducing the oxidation of LDL ("bad" cholesterol) in the blood. After a series of experiments, scientists concluded that the xanthones from Mangosteen are effective inhibitors of LDL oxidation.
Antioxidant
After studying the antioxidant properties of the Mangosteen, a new laboratory test known as Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC), developed by USDA researchers at Tuft University, researchers discovered that the Mangosteen rind exhibited "potent free radical scavenging activity."
Anti-tumor/Cancer
The anti-cancer activity of Magosteen phytoceuticals specifically Garcinone E has been well-documented. Garcinone E, a xanthone found only in Mangosteen, is a natural compound and has been known to cause no side effects, as opposed to the five commonly used chemotherapeutic agents.
Anti-Viral
Because xanthones have anti-viral capabilities, scientists at the National University of Singapore investigated the effects the Mangosteen xanthones would have on the HIV virus. In the experiment, two xanthones demonstrated the ability to interfere with HIV protease causing the virus to remain immature and incapable of infection.
Disadvantage of Mangosteen
Many people think that mangosteen is completely safe. They believe that adults and children can use it without concern for interaction with medicines.
Even doctors used to share this belief. They would complain sometimes that their patients would take it instead of staying on their needed medicines, but there was no concern over interactions.
New findings now point out that this fruit, when used without medical supervision, can cause some major health issues by reducing the production of essential fats. It can cause dangerous weight loss, which can be harmful unless a person is extremely obese.
The first issue with this is that lipids, or fats, are one of the main fuels for the body. This leads to concerns about whether it should be taken by those with immunodeficiency disorders.
In fact, some reports show that this popular antioxidant may actually interfere with the effectiveness of some cancer treatments including radiation and chemotherapy. Diabetics, also, have been advised to be careful with it, as it is not sugar-free.
Mangosteen does not stay fresh very long at all. This is a problem because its therapeutic properties are only available if you use it in its natural state. Manufacturers try to extend its shelf life by adding stabilizing agents and various preservatives.
These components that are added to mangosteen may be causing some problems in their own right. Some side effects or drug interactions blamed on mangosteen may be caused by the stabilizers or preservatives.
Here is another reason that you need to be careful with mangosteen. It blocks histamines in the body. You might think that this is a good thing, especially if you sometimes take antihistamines. What many people don’t realize, however, is that histamines are important to healing. When you are injured they increase blood flow to this area. Histamines also affect important metabolic responses, and if these chemicals are blocked it is very metabolically disruptive.
Mangosteen Juice
Reducing Inflammation
Systemic inflammation in people who are obese may lead to further health problems including diabetes and heart disease. Researchers studied mangosteen juice to see if it could lower signs of inflammation in obese volunteers. An article in "Nutrition Journal" reported that volunteers who drank mangosteen juice twice daily showed a significant reduction in inflammatory markers in their bloodstream, while markers for inflammation in a control group that received a different juice concoction didn't change. The authors cautioned that more studies are necessary to confirm the benefits of mangosteen juice and determine if there are any negative side effects.
Systemic inflammation in people who are obese may lead to further health problems including diabetes and heart disease. Researchers studied mangosteen juice to see if it could lower signs of inflammation in obese volunteers. An article in "Nutrition Journal" reported that volunteers who drank mangosteen juice twice daily showed a significant reduction in inflammatory markers in their bloodstream, while markers for inflammation in a control group that received a different juice concoction didn't change. The authors cautioned that more studies are necessary to confirm the benefits of mangosteen juice and determine if there are any negative side effects.
Gum Disease
Although results from scientific research are still very preliminary, scientists are studying mangosteen as a possible weapon against the gum disease known as periodontitis. A study described in "Complementary Therapies in Medicine" reported that patients who applied a gel containing mangosteen juice to their gums improved more than patients in a control group. Both groups also received the standard treatment for periodontitis. The authors concluded that mangosteen gel could eventually be a helpful accompaniment to more traditional periodontal treatment. If you are having problems with your gums, see your dentist.
Antioxidant Effects
The function of an antioxidant is to fight against the free radicals that cause cellular damage and that have been implicated in the development of heart disease and cancer. Free radicals are naturally produced by the body as it breaks down food, but are also created by environmental factors like tobacco smoke, radiation and pollution. Mangosteen juice is high in antioxidants, especially the potent ones known as xanthones. Xanthones are found only in a few tropical plants, and mangosteen is the richest source. According to the National Cancer Institute, the science on antioxidant consumption is preliminary, but some studies indicate that they may guard against the development of cancer. Mangosteen juice and other sources of antioxidants, however, are not effective treatments for any disease.
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