Mangosteen and noni are two fruits that have earned themselves the label "superfruits" in the popular media, although the term bears no value according to any recognized health or government authority. Nevertheless, both mangosteen and noni are high in antioxidants, which are known to have immune-enhancing and disease-fighting properties. Both are nutritionally rich, though with a different nutritional composition and set benefits, and both are used in internal and external remedies, though for differing purposes.
Mangosteen Nutritional Facts
According to analyses made in Washington, D.C., and the Philippines and reported in Julia F. Morton's "Fruits of Warm Climates," 100 g of the edible portion of mangosteen has approximately 60 calories and around 80 g of moisture, 1/2 g of protein, about 1/2 g of fat or less and 15 g of carbohydrates. It contains about 16.5 total g of sugar and 5 g of dietary fiber. As for vitamins and minerals, it contains calcium, phosphorus, iron, thiamine and ascorbic acid, or vitamin C.
Noni Nutritional Facts
According to a comparison of nutrition facts on noni derived from several sources by the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, 100 g of pure noni juice has about 15.3 calories, about 3.4 g of carbohydrates, about 1/2 g of protein and a negligible amount of fat. It has about 1.5 g of sugar and contains calcium and vitamins A and C. It also is considered high in potassium.
Mangosteen Uses
Mangosteen is used is many Chinese medicines, including as an internal remedy for dysentery and an external remedy for eczema. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners made a decoction from the mangosteen rind to treat diarrhea when taken internally or use it as an astringent when applied to the skin.
Mangosteen in Medicine
In the West, a mangosteen derivative known as mangostin-e, 6-di-O-glucoside is used as a depressant for the central nervous system and might increase blood pressure. In recent years, several scientific studies have investigated mangosteen's medicinal uses, including a 2010 study published in "Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior" that found it to have potential uses as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic. Earlier studies suggested prospective antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and immune-enhancing properties.
Noni Uses
Noni may be used topically for relief from various skin conditions and joint pain. Noni also can be taken as an internal health tonic and often is used by people wishing to combat cancer or chronic illnesses and disorders like diabetes or cardiovascular disease. As noni has an unpleasant taste to most people, internal preparations usually come in the form of pills, capsules and teas. Juices made with noni typically contain other juices to make the flavor more palatable. There are reports of liver damage from noni use, suggesting that people with liver disease avoid it.
Noni and Cancer
Noni's anti-cancer properties have been researched in three animal studies conducted by A. Hirazumi, including one in 1999 that found it might have "important clinical applications ... as a supplemental agent in cancer treatment." However, sufficient human trials have yet to occur. The National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine and the National Cancer Institute are funding separate studies on noni's potential anticancer benefits.
References
- "Pharmacology, Biochemistry And Behavior"; J. Cui, et al.; Apr 2010
- "Phytotherapy Research"; An Immunomodulatory Polysaccharide-Rich Substance..."; A. Hirazumi, et al.; Aug 1999
- "Fruits Of Warm Climates"; Julia F. Morton; 1987
- National Institutes Of Health, National Center For Complimentary And Alternative Medicine; "Noni"; Jul 2010
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center; "Noni"; Apr 2011
- University Of Hawaii At Manoa: The Noni Website - Nutritional Analysis Of Hawaiian Noni
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