The species name, Garcinia mangostana, is part of the Clusiaceae family, also referred to as Guttiferae, and comes from the Malay word "manggis." The genus is named after the French botanist, Laurent Garcinia.
In Southeast Asia, the fruit holds significant value and is often called the "Fruits of the Gods" due to its delightful taste and numerous health benefits. Notably, the fruit contains readily available glucose.
Mangosteen is renowned as one of the most flavorful fruits in Southwest Asia, and consuming it fresh is a delightful experience. Some people use the fruit's rind for medicinal purposes because of its thickness and hardness.
The mangosteen fruit contains a white, juicy, sweet, and slightly acidic edible aril that offers a pleasant flavor. This aril is enclosed within a dark purple pericarp rich in bioactive secondary metabolites, including anthocyanins, oligomeric proanthocyanidins, and xanthones.
Xanthones play a vital role in the pharmaceutical applications of mangosteen extract, and researchers have identified over 70 xanthones to date. Some of the major xanthones isolated from the mangosteen fruit include α-mangostin, β-mangostin, γ-mangostin, gartanin, 8-deoxygartanin, and garcinone E.
Like many tropical fruit trees, the mangosteen finds various uses in traditional medicine. Its bark and skin are utilized for treating diarrhea, and in Indonesia, it is employed to manage high fever.
Mangosteen Benefits and Uses
