Mangosteen is a fruit grown in Thailand and Myanmar whose rind (the mangosteen pericarp) appears to have some medicinal properties. The hull of the mangosteen fruit has been used for many years in Southeast Asia as a medicine for skin infection, wounds, and diarrhea, and recently other interesting properties of mangosteen are slowly being revealed. However, human trials are not available regarding mangosteen juice or mangosteen supplement, therefore we don't know the benefit of mangosteen in clinical practice until studies are completed. For more mangosteen info.
What's in mangosteen Fruit?
Mangosteen fruit has a number of compounds, the most prominent being
xanthones, a group of compounds that have antioxidant and other potent
physiological properties.
Mangosteen pill 500 mg
(whole fruit and rind)
.
Made from the highest quality ORGANIC mangosteen fruit material available, direct from
Thailand. The actual active ingredients, xanthones, are mostly in the
mangosteen rind
and seed, and less in the mangosteen fruit flesh. We use the whole
mangosteen fruit - rind, seed and
flesh - in order to provide you with the full spectrum of xanthones. There
are about 20 different xanthones in the whole fruit. Ninety-five percent
of this mangosteen product is rind and seed.
Supplement Facts:
Mangosteen - 500 mg *
(Garcinia mangostana whole fruit,
95 percent is pericarp or rind)
Click here to buy Mangosteen discount
Suggested use: As a dietary supplement, take one mangosteen capsule daily
or as recommended by your health care provider.
* Mangosteen supplement daily value not established.
Benefit of Mangosteen Summary
At this point almost all studies with mangosteen have been done in
a laboratory and there is little human research to indicate how mangosteen
supplements or mangosteen juice would influence the prevention or therapy of various cancers,
including breast, lung, and liver, or what other benefit the compounds in mangosteen, such as xanthones, would have when ingested as a supplement.
If you come across claims that mangosteen has been proven to have health
benefit in humans, be skeptical. It may be true, but until actual long
term human trials are done, we cannot be certain about mangosteen benefits
or side effects.
What does the Mangosteen research say?
Mangosteen has compounds with antioxidant, anti-bacterial,
anti-fungal, and anti-tumor activity. Laboratory testing thus far indicates that
extracts of mangosteen have activity against several cancer cell lines
including breast, liver, and leukemia. Mangosteen also appears to have
anti-histamine and anti-inflammatory properties.
Benefit of Mangosteen Fruit versus the
Mangosteen Rind
Most of the studies with mangosteen have focused on the pericarp, or the
dark, woody rind as opposed to the fruit inside the woody rind. The pericarp
contains the active xanthone compounds. The fruit itself probably has some
beneficial compounds but the compounds within the mangosteen fruit have not been
studied as well as the mangosteen rind.
What's in Mangosteen
Several compounds in mangosteen appear to be active, particularly
xanthones. Some of these xanthones include mangostin, mangostenol, mangostenone
A, mangostenone B, trapezifolixanthone, tovophyllin B, alpha- and beta-mangostins,
garcinone B, mangostinone, mangostanol, and the flavonoid epicatechin.
Mangosteen Research Update
Antioxidant xanthones from the pericarp of Garcinia mangostana (Mangosteen).
J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Mar 22;54(6):2077-82. Jung HA, Su BN, Keller WJ,
Mehta RG, Kinghorn AD.
Division of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio
State University, Columbus, Ohio
Garcinia mangostana L. (commonly known as mangosteen) was selected for detailed
study. Repeated chromatography of a CH2Cl2-soluble extract of the pericarp led
to the isolation of two new highly oxygenated prenylated xanthones,
8-hydroxycudraxanthone G and mangostingone
[7-methoxy-2-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-8-(3-methyl-2-oxo-3-butenyl)-1,3,6-trihydroxyxanthone,
together with 12 known xanthones, cudraxanthone G, 8-deoxygartanin,
garcimangosone B, garcinone D, garcinone E, gartanin (8), 1-isomangostin, alpha-mangostin,
gamma-mangostin, mangostinone, smeathxanthone A, and tovophyllin A.
Antimicrobial effects of Thai medicinal plants against acne-inducing
bacteria.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2005 Oct 3;101(1-3):330-3.
Propionibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis have been recognized
as pus-forming bacteria triggering an inflammation in acne. The present study
was conducted to evaluate antimicrobial activities of Thai medicinal plants
against these etiologic agents of acne vulgaris. Crude extracts were tested for
antimicrobial activities by disc diffusion and broth dilution methods. The
results from the disc diffusion method showed that 13 medicinal plants could
inhibit the growth of Propionibacterium acnes. Among those, Senna alata,
Eupatorium odoratum, Garcinia mangostana, and Barleria lupulina had strong
inhibitory effects. Our data indicated that Garcinia mangostana had a strong
inhibitory effect on Propionibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis.
Therefore, mangosteen would be an interesting topic for further study and
possibly for an alternative treatment for acne.
Antiproliferative activity of Thai medicinal plant extracts on human
breast adenocarcinoma cell line.
Fitoterapia. 2004 Jun;75(3-4):375-7.
Ethanolic extracts of selected nine Thai medicinal plants were tested for
antiproliferative activity against SKBR3 human breast adenocarcinoma cell line
using MTT assay. Mangosteen showed the most potent activity.
Antiproliferation, antioxidation and induction of
apoptosis by Garcinia mangostana ( mangosteen ) on SKBR3 human breast cancer
cell line.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2004 Jan;90(1):161-6.
This study was designed to determine the antiproliferative, apoptotic
and antioxidative properties of crude methanolic extract from the pericarp of Garcinia mangostana (family Guttiferae)
( mangosteen ) using human breast
cancer (SKBR3) cell line as a model system. SKBR3 cells were cultured in
the presence of mangosteen extract at various concentrations. Mangosteen
showed a dose-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation. We found that antiproliferative effect of
mangosteen was associated with apoptosis on breast cancer cell line by
determinations of morphological changes and oligonucleosomal DNA
fragments. In addition, mangosteen at various concentrations and incubation times
were also found to inhibit ROS production. These investigations suggested
that the mangosteen extract had
strong antiproliferation, potent antioxidation and induction of apoptosis.
Thus, it indicates that mangosteen extract has potential for cancer chemoprevention which
is dose dependent as well
as exposure time dependent.
Induction of apoptosis by xanthones from
mangosteen in human leukemia cell lines.
J Nat Prod. 2003 Aug;66(8):1124-7.
We examined the effects of six xanthones from the pericarps of
mangosteen, Garcinia mangostana, on the cell growth inhibition of human
leukemia cell line HL60. All xanthones in mangosteen displayed growth inhibitory
effects. Among them, alpha-mangostin showed complete inhibition at 10
microM through the induction of apoptosis.
Garcinone E, a xanthone derivative, has potent
cytotoxic effect against hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines.
Planta Med. 2002 Nov;68(11):975-9.
Treatment of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) with chemotherapy has
generally been disappointing and it is most desirable to have more
effective new drugs. We extracted and purified 6 xanthone compounds from
the rinds (peel) of the fruits of Garcinia mangostana L. ( mangosteen ), and then tested the cytotoxic effects of these
compounds on a panel of 14 different human cancer cell lines including 6
hepatoma cell lines. Our results have shown that
one of the xanthone derivatives from mangosteen which could be identified as garcinone E
has potent cytotoxic effect on all HCC cell lines as well as on the other
gastric and lung cancer cell lines included in the screen. We suggest that
garcinone E extract from mangosteen may be potentially useful for the treatment of certain types
of cancer.
Inhibition of cyclooxygenase and prostaglandin E2
synthesis by gamma-mangostin, a xanthone derivative in mangosteen, in C6
rat glioma cells.
Biochem Pharmacol. 2002 Jan 1;63(1):73-9.
In the present study, we examined the effect
of gamma-mangostin, a tetraoxygenated diprenylated xanthone contained in
mangosteen, on arachidonic acid cascade in C6 rat glioma cells. This study is a first demonstration that gamma-mangostin,
a xanthone derivative from mangosteen, directly inhibits COX activity.
More Mangosteen information - The various forms of mangosteen sold
The
active xanthones are in the pericarp (husk), and not the mangosteen fruit.
Mangosteen powder is sometimes added in juices to provide more xanthones to the juice mix. This "thickens" the mixture and
adds more body. All mangosteen juice sellers refer to "shake" the bottle
before drinking to mix the powder with the juice.
Extracts:
Mangosteen Extract - There are two common mangosteen extracts; alcohol
extract and water based extracts. The extracts add more xanthones to the
drink mixes which is the active ingredient in mangosteen.
Mangosteen Fruit Puree:
Whole mangosteen fruit is crushed and some water is added for pouring, and
then put into plastic containers, frozen and then shipped from Thailand.
Companies then add other fruit juices to improve taste.
Mangosteen Juice Concentrate:
This is "just add water" concentrate mix with only tropical fruit
contents, No preservatives, No artificial colors, etc.
Mangosteen Juice and Mangosteen Fruit emails
Q. I would like to know how the mangosteen capsule
compares to the juice.
A. The mangosteen capsules are pure mangosteen
including the rind which has most of the active xanthones while the
mangosteen juice has mostly the fruit and other fruit juices. Mangosteen
capsules and mangosteen juice are different but there are no studies that
compare the two in humans so it is difficult to say which is the healthier
to take in the long.
Q. Is the mangosteen
product an extract, or the real fruit? Is it organic? Also, my husband has
c. pneumoniea (mycoplasma) bacteria associated with CFS, and is on long
term antibiotics, and has been on 10 oz a day of Xango mangosteen. Can he
take 6 pills or so to equal the equivalent in Mangosteen juice? Have you
had any experience as to whether the pills at higher doses, can actually
kill the bacteria, like mycoplasm, as effectively as an antibiotic? Do you
have any 'testimonials' about your mangosteen pills?
A. We have no idea what the equivalence would be
between the mangosteen capsules and the juice. There are dozens of
different manufacturers and they each mix mangosteen juice with various
other fruit juices (to make it more palatable), so we basically would be
comparing apples and oranges. By the way, the other juices would have
health benefits, too.
Both mangosteen / fruit juices and mangosteen powder in
capsules are likely to be beneficial, but one can't say over the long run
which is better. We don't know whether high doses of mangosteen can kill
bacteria in the body since such human studies have not been done. This
mangosteen product is organic.
Q. A friend of mine told me that
mangosteen was helpful for arthritis. Within 10 days of taking a capsule a
day, my arthritis pain was less. It's been a few months now and it seems
to be still helping.
A. This is the first we have heard of mangosteen being
helpful for arthritis.
Q. Someone told me that mangosteen
has a short shelf life. (they also want me to buy their xango product) any
merit to this?
A. Most herbal constituents have a very long half life
and can stay active for many years or even decades is stored properly. We
have no evidence that mangosteen is any different.
Q. I see
advertisements for mangosteen XanGo juice. Can you tell me more about
Mangosteen XanGo juice?
A. XanGo International is a multilevel marketing company that
sells products through independent distributors who are encouraged to recruit
other
distributors. According to a press release we received, this
is what XanGo Juice says: "Our proprietary formula for XanGo Juice begins
with a puree of the whole mangosteen fruit from the best farms. XanGo
sources and purees the whole fresh mangosteen – pulp and rind - so you can
receive the benefits the way nature intended. Mangosteen XanGo Juice delivers the
full benefit of some 40 xanthones as well as the advantage of powerful
flavonoids through true usage of the whole fruit. Some mangosteen products
use only the pulp, the inner part of the fruit. The use of the pulp and
exclusion of the rind where most of the xanthones reside is not the “whole
fruit.” The use of extracts of the mangosteen, pulp or pericarp, can lead
to a reduction of the fruit’s xanthone and flavonoid values. By
definition, mangosteen extract clearly does not mean “whole fruit.” Those
who want to market this amazing mangosteen fruit should recognize nature’s
perfection. We can’t make the mangosteen better by taking it apart.
Manufacturers who aim to be part of this exciting category have a right to
make their mangosteen products their way. And consumers in pursuit of the
mangosteen’s health benefits have a right to know the truth."
Update October 2006 - FDA has warned XanGo International of Lehi,
Utah, to stop the distribution of brochures which claim that its mangosteen
juice drink has anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-viral, anti-cancer,
anti-ulcer, and anti-allergic effects. The FDA obtained the brochures through
contact information given at a recruitment seminar. A company attorney has
stated that XanGo should not be held responsible for the claims because the
brochures were distributed by an independent publisher that shows up uninvited
to its workshops.
Q. Do you recommend Xango juice, as a good mangosteen juice?
A. We don't make any recommendations for or against mangosteen juice
products since we have not tested to see whether Xango mangosteen
juice is better or worse than other mangosteen juice products on the market.
Q. What do you know about Mangosteen? There are different types, sold from
different companies, I am using one now produced by Xango, I think that is how
is is spelled, and my husband is using one from Puritan Pride, cheaper than
mine, just wondering what you think about this. We are both diabetics, and I am
taking Avendia, and have for several years.
A. We have no way to know which mangosteen product is better. The
only way to tell would be through human studies of different mangosteen
products, and this is not likely to be done in the near future.
Q. My neighbor suggested I contact you as he breeds Labs and I breed
French Briards. My pick of the litter from March 1995 is now 12 years and is
developing an arthritic condition in his hind quarters. I've put him on Rymidal
and glucosamine which has helped but I have never tried the mangosteen. Will you
please help me decide the value of mangosteen and how it may help this wonderful
animal to enjoy a longer and higher quality of life?
A. We are not aware of studies in dogs that have looked at the
health benefit of mangosteen supplements.
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