Today’s Amazing Fact: Mangosteen ‘ Queen of Fruits’ !

Mangosteen is a type of unique tropical fruit that originates from southeast Asia. It has been prized for centuries, both in its native countries and in the West, despite the difficulty of transporting it before the advent of modern technology.

Mangosteen has been used both as a delicious food and as a source of traditional medicine, and was once brought all the way around the world so that it could be sampled by Queen Victoria. Its health benefits were first written about as long ago as the 18th century. Now, scientific study of mangosteen fruit shows that these benefits aren't just mythical.

What are Xanthones?

The primary active components of the mangosteen fruit are called xanthones. Xanthones are a recently discovered class of polyphenolic compounds that are biologically active and structurally similar to bioflavanoids. These compounds occur only rarely in nature, with the majority being found in only two families of plants. Two hundred naturally occurring xanthones have so far been identified. Around forty of them have been discovered in the mangosteen fruit.

Xanthones and their derivatives have been shown to have several benefits, including anti-inflammatory properties, anti-allergic, and anti-convulsant abilities. There are also other components of the mangosteen that have medicinal qualities, including polysaccharides, sterols, proanthocyanidins and catechins. These are less nutritionally important and biologically active thanxanthones, but are still a major part of providing the fruit with its medicinal benefits, since many of them act as antioxidants.

What Can Mangosteen Compounds Do?

The xanthones and other antioxidants in mangosteen do provide a useful benefit. In the body, oxidation by peroxides and oxygen itself can create free radicals. These free radicals can then cause reactions that cause cellular damage. This kind of damage is associated with many human diseases, from stroke and neurological conditions to some types of cancer. Consuming antioxidants reduces the number of oxidation reactions, and helps to capture free radicals, reducing cellular damage.

Health Benefits of Mangosteen

Mangosteen has been a part of the traditional medicine of various Asian countries for a very long time. Different parts of mangosteen fruit and plant were used in the treatment of various diseases and disorders. While the dried powder of mangosteen rind was used in the treatment of dysentery, its paste was used to treat eczema and some other skin disorders. 

A decoction made of mangosteen rind was used to treat diarrhea, whereas a decoction made of mangosteen roots was used for regulating menstruation. In the Philippines, people used to make a decoction of mangosteen leaves and bark, which was beneficial in bringing down body temperature and also to treat thrush, dysentery, diarrhea and urinary disorders. By the eighteenth and nineteenth century, mangosteen was introduced to other parts of the world, but this tree in thrived in very few regions, other than its native place. This fruit is sometimes referred to as the "Queen of Fruits", due to its nutritional value and the presence of some compounds that offer various mangosteen health benefits.

Studies show that mangosteen is rich in nutrients and antioxidants. These factors are said to be the reason for mangosteen health benefits. It is claimed that this fruit has been found to be effective in lowering the risk of various diseases, mainly due to the presence of antioxidants. The most prominent antioxidant in mangosteen is xanthone. There are two types of xanthones in this fruit - alpha mangostin and gamma mangostin. These compounds offer a lot of health benefits and mangosteen is one of the 'super foods'. It is due to these xanthones, that mangosteen has antibiotic, antiviral, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties. 

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, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, kidney stones, cataract, glaucoma, Alzheimer's, neuralgia, and the list goes on! It is also said that this fruit can be effective in treating depression, aging, obesity, skin diseases, allergies, ulcers, diarrhea, fevers and pain.

References

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Mangosteen, Clinical Summary. Accessed at: http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/69295.cfm on June 11, 2008.

"Nutrition Journal"; Evaluation of Mangosteen Juice Blend on Biomarkers of Inflammation in Obese Subjects; J. Udani et al; Oct. 2009

National Cancer Institute: Antioxidants and Cancer Prevention Fact Sheet

"Complementary Therapies in Medicine"; Topical Application of Garcinia Mangostana L. Pericarp Gel as an Adjunct to Periodontal Treatment; S. Rassameemasmaung; Oct. 2008