Mangosteen is a plant native to Thailand, where the tidy, dark orbs grow on trees. Difficulty in transporting the fruit has prevented it from becoming common in the United States, but as of 2006 a Puerto Rican orchard has been importing the exotic fruits to U.S. soil. Various products containing mangosteen extracts are available at natural food markets, and the fruit's popularity has risen along with some rather dodgy claims that it delivers certain health benefits.
Anti-Inflammatory
Inflammation is an immune system reaction. It occurs when your body releases histamine in response to the presence of an injury or infection. Histamine makes your blood vessel walls more porous, allowing fluids that contain white blood cells to flood into the affected area and begin the process of healing.
When inflammation is chronic, however, it can contribute to the development of numerous disorders, such as heart disease and rheumatoid arthritis. According to Dr. Brent Bauer of MayoClinic.com, chemicals called xanthones, which are found in mangosteen rind, have been observed to be powerful inflammation fighters. This effect was seen in laboratory studies; however, no human studies have been conducted regarding the effects of mangosteen on inflammation.
Antioxidants
Free radicals are unstable molecules that crash around your body, inflicting damage, or oxidation, which causes aging in your cells. Antioxidants are substances that stabilize free radicals and decrease their ability to damage your health. Mangosteen fruit is high in antioxidants and has been shown to reduce the oxidation of unhealthy LDL cholesterol in lab studies. However, Sloan-Kettering notes that no clinical trials have confirmed these results in humans.
Antimicrobial
A number of studies have indicated that substances found in mangosteen have the capacity to kill bacteria, fungi and viruses. A study in "Chemical & Pharmaceutical Bulletin" in 2003 found that mangosteen xanthones were effective in inhibiting tuberculosis microbes. Another study in 2010 published in "Medical Principals and Practices" found that mangosteen xanthones may be effective in killing the bacteria associated with acne.
Cancer
The continuing search for a cure for cancer has prompted research into mangosteen's effects on this deadly disease. The American Cancer Society states that a few laboratory and animal studies have indicated that mangosteen may inhibit cancer cell growth, but as with all the other health claims made about mangosteen, no human research has yet been performed to confirm these effects.
References
- "Food and Chemical Toxicology"; Medicinal Properties of Mangosteen (Garcinia Mangostana); Jose Pedraza-Chaverri, et al; October 2008
- MayoClinic.com; Mangosteen Juice: Can it Relieve Arthritis Pain?; Brent A. Bauer; October 2009
- American Cancer Society; Mangosteen Juice; November 2008
- "Chemical & Pharmaceutical Bulletin"; Antimycobacterial Activity of Prenylated Xanthones from the Fruits of Garcinia Mangostana; Sunit Suksamrarn, et al; 20003
- "Medical Principles and Practices"; Anti-Acne-Inducing Bacterial Activity of Mangosteen Fruit Rind Extracts: W. Pothitirat, et al; 2010
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