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 mangosteen 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 Mangosteen 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 fruit 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.

Mangosteen Articles

Mangosteen Tree
The mangosteen fruit tree or Garcinia Mangostana plant is part of a family of mainly tropical shrubs and trees known as the Guttiferae

Thai Mangosteen
Known for centuries in Asia, the mangosteen is a tropical evergreen tree with a fruit that is often dubbed the Queen of Fruits

Whole Mangosteen Fruit
Mangosteen whole fruit is about three to four inches in size and can be eaten as is, after peeling its skin, in dried form or taken as a juice

Mangosteen Fruit Health Benefits
As more research and studies are carried out, it is becoming evident that the Mangosteen fruit does indeed possess many additional health benefits

Mangosteen Research
It has been discovered through ongoing mangosteen research that the pericarp of the fruit contains some forty xanthones out of only two hundred known xanthones in the whole of nature

Mangosteen Xanthones
Xanthones found in the mangosteen fruit pericarp seem to be a better antioxidant that is able to slow down the aging process in our body and also help combat free radical cell damage

Mangosteen Juice Health Benefits
There are numerous benefits to pure mangosteen juice, which come about due to the powerful antioxidants and nutrients that are found in the whole fruit

Mangosteen Health Supplements
Mangosteen supplements are often taken for more holistic health purposes, with the best form being one that is manufactured from the pericarp and the flesh

Mangosteen Product Comparisons
There are many claimed positive health benefits of whole mangosteen fruit products whether taken as juice or a dietary vitamin supplement