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.
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)
ORGANIC, direct from Thailand
Developed by
Ray Sahelian, MD
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.
Mangosteen Capsule Supplement Facts:
Mangosteen - 500 mg *
(Garcinia mangostana whole fruit,
95 percent is pericarp or rind)
Click here to buy this Mangosteen product or to sign
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Subscribe to a
FREE
Supplement
Research Update newsletter. Twice a month we email a brief abstract of several studies on various supplements
and natural medicine topics, including mangosteen juice and mangosteen
supplement, and their practical interpretation by Ray Sahelian,
M.D.
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. For more
mangosteen
information. See also
acai berry information.
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.
Opinion on Mangosteen
Until human trials are done, it is difficult to make any recommendations
regarding the benefit of mangosteen. Does mangosteen work well when taken as a supplement? What
is the ideal mangosteen dosage? How often should mangosteen be taken and for how long?
Does mangosteen have side effects when taken for prolonged periods of time? These are questions that still need to be answered through rigorous mangosteen research. However, some of the
in vitro studies regarding mangosteen's anti-cancer
potential are intriguing and certainly worthwhile to further explore. Several compounds found in mangosteen may have potential health
benefits. However, until actual research human studies are done, it is difficult
to know for certain what role mangosteen juice or mangosteen supplement extracts
play in health and disease.
Mangosteen may protect the brain
Antioxidative and neuroprotective activities of extracts from the fruit hull of
mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana Linn.).
Med Princ Pract. 2006;15(4):281-7. Faculty of Pharmacy, Silpakorn
University, Nakhonpathom, Thailand.
The aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidative and neuroprotective
activities of various extracts from the fruit hull of mangosteen (Garcinia
mangostana Linn., GM). Four extracts: water, 50% ethanol, 95% ethanol and ethyl
acetate, were used. Based on the free radical scavenging activity of the
extracts, two (water and 50% ethanol) were selected for their protective
activity in NG108-15 neuroblastoma cells against H(2)O(2)-induced oxidative
stress and for cell viability using
3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. All extracts
exhibited antioxidative activity. These results suggest that the water and 50%
ethanol extracts from the fruit hull of mangosteen may be potent
neuroprotectants.
Mangosteen side effects
Q. I started last week taking an ounce 3 times a day of Xango juice. I took it
for 2 days and my head was hurting and I started taking my blood pressue. It was
very high. Up over 200 systolic and over 100 on the bottom. I stopped with the
juice but my pressure did not go down. I went to the doctor and he pulled up an
article about Xango and mangosteen and it said in the article that it could
cause a rise in blood pressure. He showed it to me at the time but I have not
been able to find the article. I still am having a hard time getting it back
down and it was not like that before I started with the juice and had not did
anything else differently.
A. We would be surprised if the mangosteen juice was the cause of
the blood pressure rise, it would not make sense. Xango mangosteen has fruit
juices besides mangosteen. The ingredients include: Garcinia mangostana purée
from the whole fruit, apple juice, pear juice, grape juice, pear purée,
blueberry juice, raspberry juice, strawberry juice, cranberry juice, cherry
juice, citric acid, natural flavor, pectin, xanthan gum.
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.
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 supplier
Cactus Botanics announced completion of the development of its Mangosteen
Extract containing Xanthones, and it then refined the Xanthones level to be able
to offer xanthone content from 10% to 25% and 50%.
Cactus Botanics has continued to research this fruit and has now found that
there is a high content of polyphenols existing in its peel/hull as well.
Cactus Botanics is now able to offer Mangosteen Extract with polyphenols at 30%
and is ready to custom produce different content of polyphenol from this fruit
according to customer requirement. The company already has adequate stock of raw
material and ready to supply customer's Mangosteen series materials with prompt
shipment.
Mangosteen article
There has been a lot of talk and marketing lately about mangosteen juice and
mangosteen supplements. One website
claims, Existing mangosteen research has been validated with thousands of
individual accounts in dozens of countries." Another web site marketing
mangosteen reports, "Mangosteen testimonials abound with people using our
product to cure themselves of cardiovascular disease, arthritis, depression,
ulcers, psoriasis, ...," and the list goes on. You're in luck. This article will
give you a basic understanding of mangosteen without hype or promises that have
no basis in scientific fact.
What is Mangostten?
Mangosteen is a fruit grown in Thailand and Myanmar whose rind (the
mangosteen pericarp) and flesh appear to have some medicinal properties. The
flesh is sweet and creamy, with a touch of peach flavor.
Historical use of Mangosteen
The hull of the mangosteen fruit has been used for many years in Southeast Asia
as a medicine for skin infection, wounds, and diarrhea.
What's in mangosteen?
The major substances found in the rind of the mangosteen fruit are xanthones,
mainly garcinol and mangostin. These xanthones have been studied in the lab with
some potential benefit being uncovered.
Mangosteen research in the lab
Interesting properties of mangosteen and xanthones are slowly being revealed in
laboratory studies. Xanthones have 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. Xanthones also appears to have anti-histamine and
anti-inflammatory properties.
Human Mangosteen research
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.
Benefit of Mangosteen Flesh versus the Mangosteen Rind
Most of the studies with mangosteen have focused on the pericarp, or the dark,
woody rind as opposed to the flesh inside the woody rind. The pericarp contains
the active xanthone compounds.
Mangosteen
Side Effects
Since human studies with mangosteen are not available, we don't know the side
effects, if any, of mangosteen. We have taken 2 capsules of mangosteen 500 mg
daily, with no side effects. We don't know if higher amounts or prolonged use is
of any concern. At this point, it appears that the use of a capsule a day seems
to be very safe.
Dr. Sahelian's opinion on Mangosteen
Until human trials are done, it is difficult to make any recommendations
regarding the benefit of mangosteen. Does mangosteen work well when taken as a
supplement? What is the ideal mangosteen dosage? How often should mangosteen be
taken and for how long? Does mangosteen have side effects when taken for
prolonged periods of time? These are questions that still need to be answered
through rigorous mangosteen research. However, some of the in vitro studies
regarding mangosteen's anti-cancer potential are intriguing and certainly
worthwhile to further explore. Several compounds found in mangosteen may have
potential health benefits. However, until actual research human studies are
done, it is difficult to know for certain what role mangosteen juice or
mangosteen supplement extracts play in health and disease.
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. I have given a free bottle of
mangosteen to a friend over in Minnesota who is 90 years old and after
taking it only one day got as he says got very, very sick with chills and
other complications! Have you ever had this type of problem using
mangosteen with any other person before? Kindly please let me know on this
subject as I myself take at least two mangosteen capsules every day and
have no complications whatsoever!
A. This is the first we have heard of mangosteen
causing a side effect of such sort. In fact, we have never heard of a
mangosteen side effect reported before.
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. Do you know why Mangosteen is sold as a supplement if there has not been
any human trials done yet? This seems a bit scary to me. Also is there ANY
documented verified uses that a person can 100% say this mangosteen product is
good for?
A. There are many herbs and supplements that have little or no
human studies yet are sold as a supplement. It is expensive to do studies and
there is not enough funding to do them on the thousands of herbs and plants that
are available for human consumption. As of January 2007, we are not aware of any
proof that mangosteen is able to prevent, cure, or treat any medical condition.
Q. i would appreciate all the information as possible about mangosteen. i
have a brother who has cancer in different forms and heard that mangosteen is
very beneficial for alot of things and read into some testimonials also i want
to purchace mangosteen in either liquid form or pills whichever is better.
A. Perhaps mangosteen may turn out to be beneficial in those who
have cancer, but we have no human research to know at this time in April, 2007.
Q. What are the glycemic index and the ORAC value of mangosteen juice?
A. We don't know about the glycemic index. Many of the mangosteen
juices on the market have other fruit juices mixed with the mangosteen. We have
not seen any good studies on the ORAC value of mangosteen by independent
laboratories. ORAC value is only a minor part of the overall value of a
supplement.
Q. Would like to know if mangosteen fruit or pills have any positive effect
on tumour. My brother had chondrosarcoma between upper right pelvis and right
upper thigh. There is swelling with pain for about 2 months. Your response is
most appreciated.
A. Chondrosarcoma is a cancer of the bone. Chondrosarcoma is a
cartilage based tumor and is in a type of cancer called sarcomas. We have not
seen any studies with mangosteen and sarcomas.
Q. I have a friend with liver cancer , 5 small tumors ( 5mm ) , from colon
cancer. She is on avastin and folfox 6 . Would the mangosteen herb help ?
Avastin can cause bleeding etc and should she wait until chemo is over? Avastin
has been approved by the FDA in combination with a specific type of chemotherapy
(intravenous 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy)* for first- or second-line
treatment of people with metastatic colorectal cancer.
A. We do not know if mangosteen would help or not or when it would
be appropriate to take it.
Q. I was wondering what feedback if any you have received about the
mangosteen tablets? Also, is it recommended to take this 2 times daily and how
long before any results are noticed?
A. There is no human research as of September 2007 to indicate what
the appropriate dose of mangosteen capsules would be. Mangosteen appears to be a
safe supplement and thus far we have not had any side effects reported in people
taking two capsules a day for several weeks. We are not sure what you mean by
results since we don't know what medical condition you are referring to in terms
of mangosteen being a treatment.
Q. I have been diagnosed with severe endometriosis can i take mangosteen
juice and how many doses should i take a day. my doctor is planning to give me
lupron.
A. We have not seen any research regarding the use of
mangosteen juice or supplements for endometriosis.
Q. Is there any evidence that mangosteen extract is good for Crohn's
disease?
A. We have not seen any studies that mangosteen extract has been
tested for Crohn's disease.
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