Monday, July 17, 2017

The Amazing Mangosteen

The purple mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana), known simply as mangosteen, is a tropical evergreen tree believed to have originated in the Sunda Islands and the Moluccas of Indonesia. It grows mainly in Southeast Asia, southwest India and other tropical areas such as Puerto Rico and Florida, where the tree has been introduced. The tree grows from 6 to 25 m (19.7 to 82.0 ft) tall. The fruit of the mangosteen is sweet and tangy, juicy, somewhat fibrous, with fluid-filled vesicles (like the flesh of citrus fruits), with an inedible, deep reddish-purple colored rind (exocarp) when ripe. In each fruit, the fragrant edible flesh that surrounds each seed is botanically endocarp, i.e., the inner layer of the ovary. Seeds are almond-shaped and sized.




Overview

Xanthones were first discovered and isolated in 1855 by a German scientists performing research on dysentery. Xanthones were named after the Greek word for yellow, xanthos. Xanthones are actually a yellow pigment with the highest concentrations occurring in the mangosteen fruit. Research performed by Brunswick Laboratories in Massachusetts revealed that consumption of xanthone rich substances, such as mangosteen juice, can offer beneficial antioxidant properties.

Cancer Prevention

Research has shown that consumption of xanthones can offer protection against various forms of cancer. A study performed at the Gifu International Institute of Biotechnology in Japan revealed that the xanthones contained within the mangosteen fruit inhibited growth and proliferation against human leukemia cells. Additional investigation by researchers at Khon Kaen University in Thailand revealed that xanthones offered significant inhibition of growth and proliferation of malignant cells associated with cholangiocarcinoma. Cholangiocarcinoma is a malignant tumor in one of the ducts that carries bile from the liver to the small intestine.

Cardiac Protection

Research also suggests that consumption of xanthone rich products may offer protection for the heart muscle. A study performed by the Department of Pharmacology at Central South University in China reveals that treatment with xanthones offered prevention against the damage that could be obtained from a myocardial infarction or heart attack. When compared to an untreated group of subjects, the subjects treated with xanthones exhibited significantly improved cardiac function and markedly decreased amount of cardiac damage post myocardial infarction.




Inflammation

Consumption of xanthone rich products can also reduce inflammation, particularly in obese individuals. A study performed at the Department of Nutrition at Mahidol University in Thailand revealed that the consumption of xanthones successfully inhibited inflammation. Another study published in the "Indian Journal of Pharmacology" revealed that xanthones exhibited anti-inflammatory properties by both oral and intravenous administration in laboratory animals.

Nutrients called Xanthones are most prevalent in the mangosteen fruit – tropical, delicious fruit found in Southeastern Asian countries

They exist in traces, in amounts so minimal throughout nature as to escape notice. The mangosteen fruit has this vital ingredient concentrated in the pericarp, the outer rind of the fruit that is not commonly consumed. Naturally, xanthones were not noticed for a long time.

Xanthones are phytonutrients. Apart from the very rich nutritional value, the phytonutrients are antioxidants.

The action of antioxidants helps rid the free radicals in the body and thus prevent any unwanted attacks or metabolic breakdowns. Of the 40 or so xanthones present in the pericarp of the fruit, the ones that beneficial to us are the alpha-mangosteen and the gamma-mangosteen.

XANTHONE’S ROLE IN OUR BODY

The human cells come under attack from the free radicals leaving them open to cell damage. The free radicals attack the lipids and the membranes by oxidation. The only way, this is prevented, is when you have an antioxidant nearby to help you out.

These Xanthones strengthen the cell walls, help fight against loose radicals and prevent infections from taking place. This process in turn enhances the immune system of the body and aids the metabolic activity.

Xanthones may also help people maintain flexible joints and keep lungs healthy. The same anti-inflammatory benefits also contribute to reducing the problems associated with allergies.

Xanthones have been found in some scientific studies to prevent the development of cancer cells. On the flip side of that benefit, it is not suggested to be taken if taking cancer medications. Though mangosteen has many positive benefits, it needs to be viewed as a preventive herb or extract and not a miracle cure.

EASIEST WAY TO IMPLEMENT MORE XANTHONES IN YOUR EVERYDAY DIET

The traditional method of consuming this fruit is by eating it straight.

However, the advantage of drinking the juice may have additional health benefits. The vast majority of  Xanthones are found in the rind of the mangosteen, which is part of the juice content. There are many who prefer the juice since this eliminates a lot of unnecessary peeling and handling that gets the hands and the clothes messy.

Also, many prefer the juice since eliminates a lot of unnecessary peeling and handling, which gets the hands and the clothes messy.

www.benefitsofmangosteen.com

Mangosteen History and Interesting Facts

Highly valued for its juicy, delicate texture and slightly astringent flavor, the mangosteen has been cultivated in Java, Sumatra, Indochina and the southern Philippines from antiquity. It’s a common dooryard tree in Indonesia, and in Myanmar (Burma), it’s called men-gu.

Seedlings take eight to 15 years to bear fruit, and the trees usually produce good crops only in alternate years. The number of petals on the bottom of a mangosteen indicates how many sections it contains inside.

The mangosteen is said to have made its introduction into the Western Hemisphere when it was first grown in English greenhouses in 1855. The mangosteen then went on to became established in several of the West Indian Islands (most notably Jamaica) and later on the mainland in Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras and Panama.

In the 1800s, Queen Victoria is said to have offered knighthood to anyone who brought her fresh mangosteens from Asia.

Long illegal in the U.S. due to the belief that they harbored the Asian fruit fly, mangosteens are no longer contraband. The ban was lifted in October 2007.

15 Health Benefits of Mangosteen That Make It a Superfruit



First Vita Plus Fruits and Veggies with Mangosteen is best for those feeling tires and stressed. Gives the extra energy boost and stamina. Also recommended for those who are prone to Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and the common cough and cold. A sachet a dayis all you need to keep you feeling recharged and rejuvenated.


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