These, among other xanthones, have been touted by independent researchers
to have properties to include antiinflammatory, anticonvulsant, antiallergic, antitumor, and antiplatelet, to name just a
few.
Known
Benefits of Xanthones
Scientific research has made it abundantly clear that no other fruit
compares in its health benefits to mangosteen, due to its xanthones and other nutritional properties.
Helping to fight cancer is just one of the many properties that different
xanthones perform. For instance, one study performed in Japan showed that the xanthone alpha-mangostin had apparent properties
that suppressed the development of tumors. Another, performed in China, found the xanthone garcinone E to show significant
anticancer effects in terms of liver, lung, and gastric cancer cells.
In addition, some xanthones have shown significant antimicrobial effects in terms of fighting MRSA (methicillin-resistant
staphylococcus aureus), which is a bacterial strain known for its tenacious resistance to pharmacologic antibiotics. One scientific
study also showed that alpha-mangostin, beta-mangostin, and garcinone B to have pronounced inhibition effects on a strain
of tuberculosis.
As if that isn't enough, xanthones have also been scientifically proven
to help lower LDL, the bad cholesterol, by protecting the LDL from coming into contact with free radicals, thus leaving it
unable to oxidize and attach to arterial walls and cause atherosclerosis.
Taking into account the anticancer, antiinflammatory, antimicrobial,
and cholesterol-lowering effects of the xanthones found in mangosteen, here is just a sampling of the other many benefits
that science has either researched or is in the process of discovering:
Antiviral Helps lower blood pressure Helps fight fatigue Antidepressant
Prevents stomach ulcers Aids with weight loss Antiaging Combats diarrhea Pain reducer Heart protective Analgesic Anti-parkinsonian
and anti-Alzheimer Lowers fevers Builds immunity to disease Antiallergen Antifungal Antiparasitic
Indeed, even now some health practitioners are suggesting drinking
mangosteen juice for relief to people who suffer from the following diseases:
Infections Skin ailments like psoriasis, seborrhea, or eczema Joint
problems and arthritis Dementia Anxiety and depression Cancer Chronic pain Chronic fatigue syndrome Ulcers Diabetes
The Fruit with Xanthone Power
As time goes by, it's becoming less and less uncanny how traditional
and folk medicine seems to have a grasp on the nutritional properties of food better than modern science has in the past.
Indeed, it seems in some cases, especially in that of the mangosteen, science is working to catch up.
The mangosteen fruit is believed to have originated in the Moluccas
and the Sunda Islands. It's been used for decades upon decades by people from Thailand, the Philippines, and China in folk
medicine to treat dysentery, skin disorders like eczema, diarrhea and cystitis, among other ailments.
One of the reasons why mangosteen is only now gaining notoriety and
popularity is because, for many years, direct importation of the fruit from other countries has been illegal, based on governmental
regulations to help quarantine the Asian fruit fly. Unfortunately, the mangosteen tree doesn't grow well in most or all climates
in the United States, so attempts to grow the fruit here have been relatively unsuccessful.
However, as science has begun proving the unsurpassed medical value
of the rare mangosteen fruit and its xanthones, juices and preserves are becoming more and more readily available.
In terms of taste, the mangosteen itself is considered one of the
most exquisitely delicious fruits nature has to offer. Often called the "Queen of Fruits," the taste of mangosteen is unique,
but is often described as sweet and tangy with hints of pear, ripe strawberry, and grape.
After sampling mangosteen, it's easy to see why this fruit is so popular
in Thailand due to its taste. And after learning about the benefits of the xanthones found in mangosteen, it's even more clear how nutritionally beneficial this amazing fruit is.
