What is a Mangosteen
What is the Mangosteen Fruit

There is a tree that is grown, primarily in Asia, called the Garcinia Mangostana and there is a good deal of discussion surrounding the claimed health benefits of the fruit that the this tree bears.

There is also a lot of skepticism regarding these supposed health benefits, mainly due to the small number of clinical studies that have been carried out on this tropical fruit.

The Garcinia Mangostana is a slow growing ultra tropical evergreen plant that is believed to have originated in the Sunda Islands and the Moluccas. Wild mangosteen trees are also found in the forests of Malaysia.

The tree itself grows between seven and twenty five meters in height and when it is approximately ten years old, it produces a fruit similar in size to an apple. The mangosteen fruit is a near purple color when ripe and in some areas of Asia, it is referred to as the "Queen of Fruits" because of its flavor and economic benefits.

The rind or pericap of this fruit is quite hard with the fruit itself being a brilliant white in colour and shaped like a tangerine. Although the shell of the mangosteen looks tough, it really is quite soft and easy to open.

The Garcinia Mangostana tree has been grown in Asia for many hundreds of years but is rarely, if ever, seen growing in Western countries. This is due to the fact that the plant requires specific conditions in which to grow, including temperatures that do not drop below 40F or go above 100F, high atmospheric humidity and an annual rainfall of at least 50 inches. It will not tolerate any period of drought conditions.

The two parts of the fruit are important but for different reasons. The inner fruit is prized for its delicate flavor, while the outer rind or pericap is considered to have the most health benefits due to it being a rich source of Xanthones.

Xanthones are nutrients which also exhibit powerful antioxidant activity. Antioxidants are beneficial for neutralising free radicals within the body. Xanthones work on all of our body systems including the brain, heart, lungs, immune system, muscles and digestive system. It is because they work at cellular level on all of our cells that makes them so powerful.

Some two hundred xanthones are known to exist in nature with over forty having been identified in the Mangosteen. That fact alone makes the this exotic tropical fruit the richest natural source of xanthones of any known plant. The outer rind or pericap is where the vast majority of xanthones are found.

Mangosteens have been shown to have both anti bacterial and anti fungal properties, and have been used to great effect by some people for just that purpose when they contract an infection.

Even though research into the health benefits of the Mangosteen is very much ongoing, there is no getting away from the fact that it does show some promising benefits for those who are sick or just not doing too well. It is very unlikely to cause any ill effects if taken on a daily basis, so it may just be worth trying it out for yourself to see if you too can experience the benefits of the Queen of Fruits.