HEALTH BENEFITS OF MANGOSTEEN

Xanthones, the main constituent of Mangosteen, is naturally occurring polyphenolic compounds that possess powerful anti-oxidant properties and Mangosteen is full of them. When the human body uses oxygen, they produce Free radicals which are harmful to the body. Health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, macular degeneration and cancer to name but a few, are all contributed to oxidative damage. Mangosteen being a very powerful anti-oxidant Helps in controlling Free Radicals. Continued research on antioxidant seemed to reinforced the idea that anti-oxidants are potentially active in disease risk reduction and is definitely beneficial to the human health. Xanthones are naturally antibiotics, antiviral, and anti-inflamatory. Limited research done on Xanthones also indicates that there is a positive beneficial effects on cardiovascular health.

Inhabitants from countries where Mangosteen thrives abundantly, has traditionally used Mangosteen as an anti-depressant, anti-fatigue, anti-anxiety, anti-allergenic, anti-pyretic and as a treatment for diarrhoea, cystitis, eczema and many more. However, it must be emphasized that these are traditional uses only

The Xanthones alpha and beta mangostin and garcinone B exhibits a strong inhibitory effect against Mycobacteium tuberculosis in vitro. They also demonstrated aromatase inhibitory activity. Alpha mangostin has been shown to inhibit growth of leukemia HL60 cells by inducing caspace -3-dependent apoptosis, reduced the synthesis of prostaglandins by inhibiting the activities of COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes and prevents the oxidative damage LDL by functioning as a Free Radical scavenger. Alpha and gama mangostin also antagonize the activities of histamine and serotonin by acting as a receptor blockers. Garcinone E has a cytotoxic effect against hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Further in vitro studies also showed that a crude methanolic extract from the pericarp of Mangosteen has anti-proliferative, antioxidative and apoptotic effects against SKBR3 breast cancer cells.