Mangosteen is very popular tropical fruit originated from Southeast Asia. It is loaded with various nutrients that offer numerous health benefits

Nutritional profile

• It contains desirable amount of carbohydrates
• It contains dietary fibers as well
• It contains lesser amount of proteins and fats. It mainly contains unsaturated fatty acids
• It is loaded with several important vitamins and specially rich in vitamin C, vitamin B1, B2 and B9
• It contains various important trace elements too like magnesium, manganese and copper
• It contains numerous imperative phytonutrients that offer various nutraceutical activities

Biological activity

Antioxidant activity

• It contains various micronutrients that act as potent antioxidant whereas its xanthones components is also known to have powerful antioxidant activities
• It helps in neutralizing free radicals and thus helps to protect the body from their harmful effects
• It is also very effective for reducing oxidative stress, which is considered as one of the leading causes of developing diseases, thus consumption of mangosteen is thought to be very effective for promoting overall well being

Anti-inflammatory activity

• It exerts potent anti-inflammatory activity which helps to prevent long term inflammation
• It is responsible for inhibiting the release of prostaglandin and histamine which ultimately aid in the anti inflammation process

• Whereas it is also associated with decreasing the concentration of inflammatory markers in body thus delays the onset of inflammatory events
• It also helps in preventing swelling and pain 

Anti-carcinogenic activity

• It exerts potent anti-carcinogenic activity and helps to reduce the prevalence of cancer
• Its oxidative stress reducing capacity is also responsible for reducing the susceptibility of cancers as well
• It helps to protect DNA from damages which is also accountable for lowering the risk of developing cancers

Anti-microbial activity

It exhibits powerful antimicrobial activity which helps in suppressing the growth of microbes within host as a result helps in reducing the risk of developing infectious diseases

Health benefits

Role on immunity

• We all require a healthy immune system in order to reducing the susceptibility of becoming ill and our immune system requires various nutrients to function properly. Consumption of mangosteen is considered as a healthy choice for providing the immune system a boost because it contains various nutrient that help to improve the immunological responses of the body
• Vitamin C present in mangosteen helps in stimulating the production of WBC which ultimately makes the body able to fight against infection

• It is also associated with protecting the immune cells from oxidative and inflammatory damages as result helps to sustain their activity which ultimately boost up the overall functions of immune system. It is related with increasing the number of immune cells as well 
• Fiber present in mangosteen is considered as another important component of immunity. Fiber plays significant role in supporting the growth of gut bacteria hence promotes overall gut health and improvement in the gut health helps to provide a positive impact on body’s immune system
• Its vitamin B9 component is also responsible for strengthening the immune system as its help in increasing the synthesis of T cells in body which helps to improve body’s immune responses

Role on nervous system

• Consumption of mangosteen or its extract is very helpful for improving the activity of overall nervous system
• Its antioxidant activity helps in protecting every nerve cell from free radical induced oxidative damages hence promotes their activity
• Whereas its anti inflammatory activity is also accountable for boosting up the functionality of nervous system as it helps in delaying the onset of neuro-inflammatory events which ultimately reduces the risk of developing neurological disorders in many folds
• It is also associated with preventing mental decline

Role on digestive health

• Consumption of mangosteen is very effective for obtaining a healthy digestive system

• It helps in promoting digestion
• It is also very effective for improving regularity. Fiber present in mangosteen helps in smooth defecation by increasing the bulkiness and softness of stool as a result reduces the prevalence of constipation
• It is also very useful for providing relief from dysentery as well as diarrhea
• Consumption of mangosteen is closely related with increasing your prebiotic intake which is extremely beneficial for the gut
• It helps to improve the health and activity of colon too
• Moreover consumption of mangosteen will help to keep digestive issues at bay   

Role on weight management

• It is considered as an important aid for weight reduction and all the credit goes to its fiber content
• Fiber helps in delaying stomach emptying thus helps to provide a feeling of fullness for a long period of time as a result hinders the appetite, which ultimately facilitates weight reduction by minimizing calorie intake
• On the other hand fiber is also related with decreasing cholesterol concentration within body and also helps in reducing total body fat percentage thus its consumption is thought to be very effective for preventing visceral obesity
• Being a low calorie food with zero saturated fat, consumption of mangosteen will not increase the risk of gaining weight as well

Role on skin

• Consumption of mangosteen is very effective for making the skin healthy and supple as it contains various important nutrients that help to nourish the skin inside out
• Its antioxidant activity is responsible for preventing premature aging
• Its anti inflammatory activity is also responsible for protecting skin from inflammatory damages which ultimately reduces the risk of developing dermal disorders in many folds
• Its antimicrobial activity is accountable for bringing down the risk of various skin diseases specially skin infections. It is also associated with repairing damaged skin cells which ultimately helps in rejuvenating the skin
• Vitamin C present in mangoteen helps in improving skin elasticity by promoting the synthesis of collagen
• It plays vital role in preventing acne, wrinkles and fine lines
• It is also associated with preventing skin pigmentation by reducing photo damage

Therapeutic uses

It has been extensively used for various therapeutic purposes like –

• It is used as an important therapeutic substance for hyperglycemia. Fiber present in mangosteen helps in reducing the rate of glucose absorption from intestinal epithelial cell thus decreases blood sugar load. Whereas it is also associated with increasing insulin sensitivity which ultimately helps in stabilizing blood sugar level. Individual suffer from diabetes mellitus may include mangosteen in their diet in order to improve the symptom

• It also helps in boosting up the overall metabolism of the body
• It helps in promoting the health and activity of connective tissues
• It helps in improving the symptoms of urinary tract infection
• It is very effective for preventing hypertention
• Its cholesterol lowering activity helps to provide a positive impact on cardiac health and significantly reduces the risk of developing cardio vascular diseases
• Mangosteen especially its root has been traditionally used as an imperative remedial action for menstrual disorders. It helps in preventing irregular periods by regulation the menstrual cycle in proper way
• It helps to improve the gum health as well, and also plays vital role in improving oral health and hygiene 

Risk factors

• Individual who are on blood thinner medicines should avoid its consumption
• Whereas consumption of fresh mangosteen is better than consuming its supplements or canned forms because too much consumption of canned mangosteen or its supplements may cause various side effects

Ansori, A.N.M., Susilo, R.J.K., Fadholly, A., Hayaza, S., Nugraha, A.P. and Husen, S.A., 2020. Antidiabetes type 2 phytomedicine: Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.)-A review. Biochemical and Cellular Archives, 20, pp.3173-3177.

Gutierrez-Orozco, F. and Failla, M.L., 2013. Biological activities and bioavailability of mangosteen xanthones: A critical review of the current evidence. Nutrients, 5(8), pp.3163-3183.

Kaur, G., Singh, A. and Dar, B.N., 2020. Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.). In Antioxidants in Fruits: Properties and Health Benefits (pp. 83-101). Springer, Singapore.

Kondo, M., Zhang, L., Ji, H., Kou, Y. and Ou, B., 2009. Bioavailability and antioxidant effects of a xanthone-rich Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) product in humans. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 57(19), pp.8788-8792.

Talbott, S.M., Morton, D.A. and Templeman, J.F., 2005. Mangosteen–Traditional and modern uses. J Australas Integr Med Assoc, 16, pp.10-11.