What Is Mangosteen?

Mangosteen is a tropical fruit.

Mangosteen is a tropical fruit, sometimes known as purple mangosteen because of its dark purple skin. It is valued for its sweet flesh and for juice. Mangosteen juice, which is derived from the whole fruit, has a number of health benefits. Does this Spark an idea?

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Basic Facts
- Mangosteen (garcinia mangostana) is the fruit of the mangosteen tree. The tree, which is an evergreen, has been found growing wild in Indonesia and Malaya, and is widely cultivated throughout the region, including Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar and Kampuchea. The tree will only tolerate tropical climates. The fruit is purple and begins to soften when fully ripe.
Considerations
- The rind of the mangosteen is not edible. Removed fruit will have segments of white pulp, each containing a seed. Mangosteen juice is made by pulping the entire fruit. The rind is a source of xanthones, organic compounds identified as anti-oxidants. Brands of mango juice are commercially available.
Theories/Speculation
- According to authors Agin and Jegtvig, there are claims that xanthones in mango juice enhance the body's defense systems not only against cancer, but also bacteria, viruses and allergies. The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center website, however, stated in 2010 that "despite marketing claims, the efficacy and safety of mangosteen products for cancer treatment in humans have not been established."

Photo Credit tropocal fruit with creamy white meat image by Heng kong Chen from Fotolia.com

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