Mangosteen

When ripe the fruit is as delicate and agreeably sweet as the finest lansehs (another famous Malay fruit tree, of which a variety called the Duku is the domesticated representation which ought next to engage the attention of the wealthy) and may even be mistaken for ripe grapes. It is at the same time very, very juicy, also delicious is its fragrance and agreeable its sweetness; and it is believed that the sick, when appetite or the power of eating has wholly gone, are nevertheless delighted with this fruit.


One of the tropical fruits, in the family Guttiferae, the mangosteen, Garcinia mangostana L., is almost universally known or heard of by this name. There are numerous variations in nomenclature: among Spanish-speaking people, it is called mangostan; to the French, it is mangostanier, mangoustanier, mangouste or mangostier; in Portuguese, it is mangostao, mangosta or mangusta; in Dutch, it is manggis or manggistan; in Vietnamese, mang cut; in Malaya, it may be referred to in any of these languages or by the local terms, mesetor, semetah, or sementah; in the Philippines, it is mangis or mangostan. Throughout the Malay Archipelago, there are many different spellings of names similar to most of the above.


The mangosteen tree is very slow-growing, erect, with a pyramidal crown; attains 20 to 82 ft (6-25 m) in height, has dark-brown or nearly black, flaking bark, the inner bark containing much yellow, gummy, bitter latex. The evergreen, opposite, short-stalked leaves are ovate-oblong or elliptic, leathery and thick, dark-green, slightly glossy above, yellowish-green and dull beneath; 3 1/2 to 10 in (9-25 cm) long, 1 3/4 to 4 in (4.5-10 cm) wide, with conspicuous, pale midrib. New leaves are rosy. Flowers, 1 1/2 to 2 in (4-5 cm) wide and fleshy, may be male or hermaphrodite on the same tree. The former are in clusters of 3-9 at the branch tips; there are 4 sepals and 4 ovate, thick, fleshy petals, green with red spots on the outside, yellowish-red inside, and many stamens though the aborted anthers bear no pollen. The hermaphrodite are borne singly or in pairs at the tips of young branchlets; their petals may be yellowish-green edged with red or mostly red, and are quickly shed.


The fruit, capped by the prominent calyx at the stem end and with 4 to 8 triangular, flat remnants of the stigma in a rosette at the apex, is round, dark-purple to red-purple and smooth externally; 1 1/3 to 3 in (3.4-7.5 cm) in diameter. The rind is 1/4 to 3/8 in (6-10 mm) thick, red in cross-section, purplish-white on the inside. It contains bitter yellow latex and a purple, staining juice. There are 4 to 8 triangular segments of snow-white, juicy, soft flesh (actually the arils of the seeds). The fruit may be seedless or have 1 to 5 fully developed seeds, ovoid-oblong, somewhat flattened, 1 in (2.5 cm) long and 5/8 in (1.6 cm) wide, that cling to the flesh. The flesh is slightly acid and mild to distinctly acid in flavor and is acclaimed as exquisitely luscious and delicious.



Benefits

Dried fruits are shipped from Singapore to Calcutta and to China for medicinal use. The sliced and dried rind is powdered and administered to overcome dysentery. Made into an ointment, it is applied on eczema and other skin disorders. The rind decoction is taken to relieve diarrhea and cystitis, gonorrhea and gleet and is applied externally as an astringent lotion. A portion of the rind is steeped in water overnight and the infusion given as a remedy for chronic diarrhea in adults and children. Filipinos employ a decoction of the leaves and bark as a febrifuge and to treat thrush, diarrhea, dysentery and urinary disorders. A root decoction is taken to regulate menstruation. A bark extract called “amibiasine”, has been marketed for the treatment of amoebic dysentery.


The rind of partially ripe fruits yields a polyhydroxy-xanthone derivative termed mangostin, also ß-mangostin. That of fully ripe fruits contains the xanthones, gartanin, 8-disoxygartanin, and normangostin. A derivative of mangostin, mangostin-e, 6-di-O-glucoside, is a central nervous system depressant and causes a rise in blood pressure.


Mangosteen is a tropical fruit that is claimed to have numerous different health benefits. People sometimes use mangosteen for the treatment or prevention of the following conditions:

Mangosteen is also claimed to enhance the functioning of the immune system and to promote good mental health.


There is little evidence to suggest that mangosteen really does work for any of these uses.

How Does Mangosteen Work?

Mangosteen is known to contain several medicinally active compounds. These various compounds have several different medicinal properties, such as:

However, it should not be assumed that mangosteen (which is a complex mixture of many different substances and compounds) has the same medicinal properties as its isolated compounds.



Side Effects

Mangosteen is a tropical fruit. In additional to its popularity, mangosteen is also used as a dietary supplement or “functional food.” At this time, there are no clearly established side effects for mangosteen. However, this does not guarantee that mangosteen does not cause side effects; it simply reflects the fact that mangosteen has been studied very little (as side effects are usually discovered during clinical studies).

There is one report of severe lactic acidosis possibly related to mangosteen use. Lactic acidosis is a life-threatening condition caused by too much lactate in the blood and low blood pH. Low blood pH means that your blood contains too much acid, which can be harmful to the cells of your body. A man (who had other health problems, including kidney disease) developed lactic acidosis after drinking a glass of mangosteen juice daily for a year.

Although it is not clear if mangosteen really is associated with lactic acidosis or not, it is a good idea to watch for any signs of this problem, such as:


Pregnancy/Breastfeeding

Talk to your healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or want to become pregnant or are breastfeeding. Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking. This substance has not been adequately studied in any pregnant women or even pregnant animals. There is simply not enough information available to know if it is safe (or unsafe) for pregnant women.

It should never be assumed that natural products are automatically safe for pregnant women. This is a mistake many pregnant women make. Pregnancy often limits the prescription and non-prescription drugs that are available for a woman to take. As a result, pregnant women often seek safe alternatives, sometimes assuming that herbal supplements are always safe. This is simply not the case. Herbal supplements can be marketed in the United States without any evidence that they are safe (or even effective) for anyone, including pregnant women.



Reviews


Mangosteen juice help my acid problem and allergy as well. June 11, 2008, By Jeanny Robinson From California

I took mangosteen juice for my acid reflux problem since I have bad side effect taking acid reducing medication. This juice also help my seasonal allergy which I get every year. I didn't have allergy this spring. Nice! From California, JR.



my eczema baby loves it! September 20, 2010

... I gave it to my 1 yr-old as she suffers from severe eczema. Her eczema has improved 90% within 1 month time taking the juice. Yes it's got a bit of bitterness taste but my DD still loves it...(... thank God) Mangosteen contains high levels of anti-allergy properties and it's all NATURAL! …



mangosteen March 20, 2008, From Pennsylvania

Have been using for about 1 1/2 yrs & it has helped to keep me healthier. Great product.



Seemed to help my tennis elbow September 25, 2011, From Canada

I had 2 doses and my tennis elbow pain went significantly down.



June 22, 2006, From Michigan

I have Lupus and Sjogren's Disease and was suffering with severe fatigue, joint pain, eye pain and internal organ swelling/damage. I was in so much pain my husband could not even hug me. My Doctor had me taking so many meds (13) that I was nauseated... One year ago I decided that I had had enough, I chose to go all natural. I eat organic, use all natural cleaning products, filter the chlorine out of my drinking and bathing water, and I take 2oz of Mangosteen juice every morning, along with silimarin and coral calcium. I now have gone off all but one medication, with my Doctor's approval. I feel great, I have boundless energy and NO pain. I love this product...



mangosteen juice March 11, 2009, From Oregon

I have been using this product for almost a year and it is the only thing that helps my foot neuropathy. the burning and numbness goes away when I consistently use an ounce of this juice a day. Thank you!



Inflammation June 24, 2011, From Singapore

I went diving and for the next month had aches in my hands. We moved from China to Seoul Korea within this month and the aches continued even though I was taking Quercetin, nettle, dandelion and ginger. I went to a doctor in Seoul who took blood work and Xrays for arthritis. I do not have arthritis. My ANA levels were high and so he assumed I have Lupus and gave me a 25 page description from Mayo Clinic of Lupus and took more blood work. He also put me on inflammatory medication which for the next three weeks had no effect. So, I thought I would take matters into my own hands. First, ANA positive blood results can be for a multitude of reasons, but I prepared for Lupus just in case, I read a review of someone with Lupus who was helped with Mangosteen Juice and immerdiately bought it. ... I received the ... Mangosteen Juice... Within a few days, I felt no pain in my hands, which is remarkable considering, and went off the anti-inflammatories. It has been weeks since I went off the medicine without any issue. In fact, my stomach improved and the juice tastes good :) I am so appreciative so many kind people give these reviews. They are impartial and have helped me so much. ... We bought two more bottles.