Mangosteen Benefits and Uses

Mangosteen, belonging to the Clusiaceae family, is widely grown for its fruit, often known as the "Queen of Fruits" due to its unique sweet-sour taste. The Clusiaceae family, previously called Guttiferae, comprises around 37 genera and 1610 species of trees and shrubs, known for their milky sap and fruits or capsules containing seeds.

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

Garcinone E: Xanthone derivative in mangosteen

Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) is a fruit that grows in tropical countries, such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.

Mangosteen contains more than forty biologically active, natural chemical compounds called xanthones. Garcinone E, a xanthone derivative, is useful in cases of cancers of the stomach, lungs, and liver. Xanthones are a class of polyphenolic compounds with a xanthene-9-one skeleton.

Garcinone E belongs to the class of organic compounds known as 8-prenylated xanthones. These are organic compounds containing a C5-isoprenoid group linked to a xanthone moiety at the 8-position. Xanthone is a tricyclic compound made up of two benzene rings linearly fused to each other through a pyran ring that carries a ketone group.

It has been found that garcinone E exists in the pericarp of mangosteen has potent anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects.

Studies reported that garcinone E one of six xanthones from mangosteen pericarp had potent cytotoxic effect on all hepatocellular carcinomas cells lines as well as on the other gastric and lung cancer (Ho, C., Huan, Y., Chen, C. 2002 Planta Med. 68, pp 975-979)
Garcinone E: Xanthone derivative in mangosteen

Polyphenolic compounds of xanthones

Xanthones, polyphenolic compounds, are one of the most important classes in natural products. About 200 xanthones have been discovered. They exhibit variety of pharmacological and health benefits, i.e., anti-obesity, antidiabetic, antioxidant, anti-Alzheimer, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer.

Xanthones are yellow pigments in flowers. Xanthones with the basic molecular formula C13H8O2 are flavonoids and are found in some fruit and bark of tree, but the highest concentration is found in the pericarp of the mangosteen fruit. Xanthones from mangosteen have been reported as antioxidant, antibacterial especially for Mycobacterium tuberculosis and anticancer.

Many are polyketide derived, although others are formed from combined shikimic acid pathways combined with acetate-malonate units.

Three units of malonate react with a hydroxybenzoic acid (C6-C1). Benzophenones may be converted by oxidative rings closure into xanthones.

Several xanthones that possess antidepressant activity inhibit monoamine oxidases. These compounds have in vitro cytotoxicity and in vivo antitumor activity. Xanthones kill microbes, improve depression, stimulate the production of urine and improve the function of the heart.

Xanthones isolated from natural sources are classified into six main groups, namely, simple xanthones, xanthone glycosides, prenylated xanthones, xanthonolignoids, bisxanthones, and miscellaneous xanthones.
Polyphenolic compounds of xanthones

Xanthones in mangosteen

Xanthones are natural polyphenols with the basic molecular formula C13H8O2 that are commonly found in lichens, fungi, and higher plants.

Xanthones can be found in higher plants that are used as food sources, for example, Garcinia mangostana L. (the queen of fruits, mangosteen), a tropical fruit with reddish-purple pericarp. Mangosteen is used as popular food in beverages and in other health products.

γ-Mangostin (γ-MG) is a xanthone derived from Garcinia mangostana, used in folk medicine for treatment of abdominal pain, diarrhea, dysentery, wound infections, and chronic ulcers. Mangosteen derived xanthones, viz., α- and β-mangostin predominantly found in roots, barks, edible fruits, and seeds.

At least 68 distinct xanthones have been identified in different parts of the G. mangostana plant with 50 being present in the fruit’s pericarp at higher concentrations than in the aril or edible portion of the fruit. The most abundant xanthones in the pericarp of mangosteen fruit are α- and γ-mangostin.

Xanthones from mangosteen have been reported as antioxidant, antibacterial especially for Mycobacterium tuberculosis and anticancer.
Xanthones in mangosteen

Mangosteen in United States

The mangosteen fruit has only recently become available in the United States, and is sold in Canada, although only at certain times of the year when the mangosteen is harvested.

Rarely, fresh mangosteen can be found at Asian markets in the United States. The tree is too tropical to grow here, and because fresh mangosteen can harbor insect pests, agricultural quarantine regulations prohibited its importation from countries such as Thailand where it is grown commercially.

For this reason mangosteen supplementation is best taken in a juice form since it is readily available that way.

Mangosteen juice has become quite popular since it was first introduced in North America just a few years ago. The mangosteen can be imported legally from 18 Caribbean and Central America countries, as well as from Puerto Rico.

When looking for a mangosteen supplement it is important to get the whole fruit as it is in the rind where most of the health benefits are found. It's also a good idea to check labels as some juices have water as their primary ingredient, or many contain sugar or other unnecessary additives.

Historically the mangosteen has been used for centuries in Asian countries as a traditional remedy for many health problems. Today, its use continues in developed and undeveloped nations as both a delicacy and a medicine.

Mangosteen juice is a health supplement a person can take each day without any adverse side effects, and because it is a food it is safe for young children as well, although it is always suggested to consult with a doctor if have any allergies or medical condition.
Mangosteen in United States

Antioxidants in mangosteen

The mangosteen is one of the world’s most delicious fruits. The mangosteen is an exotic fruit that comes from Asia. The fruit has many health benefits and has been nicknamed "the queen of fruits" due to its delicious taste.

Not content with its culinary virtues, many retailers are touting it as a ‘miracle fruit’, useful for treating major diseases including cancer, heart disease, stroke diabetes and arthritis and having antiviral, anti-aging, antihistamine, antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Mangosteen pericarp consists of an array of polyphenols including mostly xanthones and tannins which create astringency. Mangosteen contains an abundant amount of xanthones, which are very powerful antioxidants. There is a whole family of this antioxidant, and the most dynamic of these are found in the mangosteen. Xanthones are found in a few rain forest plants, but they are for the most part found in the mangosteen fruit, and over 40 have been identified.

The important xanthones in mangosteen are α-mangostin, β-mangostin, 3-isomangostin, 9-hydroxycalabaxanthone, gartanin and 8-desoxygartanin. These xanthones have been shown to have a variety of benefits, by supporting the immune system and are a natural antibiotic, antifungal, antiviral, antiallergic, and perhaps most importantly, anti-inflammatory.
Antioxidants in mangosteen

Vitamin content in mangosteen

Mangosteen is a low growing tropical evergreen tree that grows anywhere from 20 to 80 feet tall.

The fruit contains 79% water 0.5% protein, 20% carbohydrates, 0.63 % acidity, 0.3% fiber, 11 mg% calcium, 17 mg% phosphorus, 0.09 mg% vitamin B, 0.06mg% vitamin B2, 0.1 mg % vitamin B5, 66 mg% vitamin C.

The fruit is a good a source of vitamin C and can supply nearly 12% of the daily requirements per 100 g.

Vitamin C is yet another antioxidant found in mangosteen that is known for its water solubility and aid in helping the body develop immunity to infections agents that cause disease like flu, scurvy and is some cases cancer.

Vitamin E is another vitamin known to have its traces in mangosteen. This vitamin is usually found in nuts and legumes but in this case, also in mangosteen.

Vitamin E is good for keeping the human skin looking young and fighting off aging. It is also beneficial for hair and nails.

It has also benefits like lowering level of bad cholesterol and reducing the chances of women getting fibrocystic breast disease.

In general, vitamin concentrations in mangosteen are relatively low compared with other exotic fruit, yet both folate and ascorbic acid levels are comparatively high.
Vitamin content in mangosteen 

Health benefits of mangosteen

Mangosteen, Garcinia mangostana L. is one of the most praised of tropical fruit. The tree is a native of Southeast Asia.

The fruit is devoid of vitamin A and has a low mineral content. The delicate aril flavor is due to hexyl acetate and cis hex-3enyl acetate.

Researchers are discovering the many potential health benefits of mangosteen – from reducing inflammation and targeting fat cells to fighting cancer and treating acne.

One of the most important mangosteen health benefits is its effect on the cardiovascular system.

It is believed to be effective in preventing diseases like arthritis, cataracts, osteoporosis, high blood pressure atherosclerosis, kidney stones, glaucoma, Alzheimer’s, neuralgia and more.

Mangosteen has been described as an antioxidant rich, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, anti allergic, antibacterial and antifungal food.

It is also said that this fruit can be effective in treating depression, aging, poverty, skin diseases, ulcers, diarrhea, fevers and pain.

Mangosteen is well known for its beneficial effects on acne-prone skin and several recent studies have found that these compounds can reduce inflammation in skin cells and inhibit the growth of acne-causing bacteria. 

Alpha- and beta- mangostins in mangosteen have in-vitro activity against human leukemia cell line HL60 and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The xanthone derivatives garcinone B and garcinone E have in vitro activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Health benefits of mangosteen

Mangosteen

The species name of mangosteen, Garcinia mangostana is derived from the Malay word ‘manggis’ and the genus is named after the French botanist, Lauren Garcinia (1683-1751).

It is one of the most praised fruits, regarded as ‘Queen of tropical fruits’. Many people consider it as the ‘finest fruit of the world’ with exquisite, incomparable, appealing taste and flavor.

Mangosteen originated in the Malay Archipelago and thrives in truly tropical conditions.

Fruits of mangosteen are sub-globose with hard brownish rind and white soft flesh surrounding the seed. Pulp is very sweet having attractive color and flavor.

Mangosteen contains a group of compounds called ‘xanthones’. They are found in a very restricted group of plants. Their chemical structure is similar to that of the antioxidant compounds called ‘flavonoids’. 

Mangosteen fruit is a rich source of vitamins, carbohydrates and minerals, which serves mainly as a fresh fruit or topping for ice cream. It helps to strengthen appetite and cures indigestion.
Mangosteen