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A Look at Xanthones and Mangosteen
A Look at Xanthones and Mangosteen
We've all heard the news for years about how important it is to
get the right amount of antioxidants in order to keep our bodies
healthy and ward of disease. Now there's a new classification of
antioxidants called xanthones, first discovered in the
mangosteen fruit, which are poised to be one of the biggest
discoveries of modern science in terms of health benefits.
While the concept of antioxidants may seem even more confusing
when adding in another aspect, xanthones are fairly easy to
understand, given their clear-cut, scientifically-proven
benefits.
What are Xanthones?
Technically put, xanthones are a set of chemical compounds that
can be synthetically produced, but are more often found and more
potent in their natural settings. Xanthones are powerful
antioxidants in a family of phytonutrients.
To date, researchers have discovered and classified
approximately 200 xanthones, 40 of which are found in the
mangosteen fruit. As a matter of fact, xanthones were first
discovered when scientists began studying the health benefits of
mangosteen based on its traditional indigenous medical uses.
Research into the medicinal properties of xanthones found in the
mangosteen began in the 1970s, and gradually picked up pace as
scientists began finding more exciting nutritional properties.
Between 1996 and 2005, an exponential amount of research has
been done in regards to mangosteen and its xanthones, and even
more studies are in the works.
Xanthones in Mangosteen
To recap, xanthones are powerful antioxidants, and out of the
200 xanthones known to science, 40 of them are found in
mangosteen.
But what do the antioxidant properties of the xanthones in
mangosteen do for you? Antioxidants function as a balance for
free radicals in the body. Free radicals are potentially
harmful, yet oftentimes natural substances in your body that,
when left free reign, build up and cause diseases like cancer,
heart disease, and more.
The xanthones function to travel through your body, literally
mopping up the free radicals on their way, leaving your body
cleaner and healthier than before.
Some of the most important xanthones found in mangosteen include:
Alpha-mangostin Beta-mangostin Gamma-mangostin Garcinone
Garcinone A Garcinone C Garcinone D Mangostanol Gartanin
These, among other xanthones, have been touted by independent
researchers to have properties to include antiinflammatory,
anticonvulsant, antiallergic, antitumor, and antiplatelet, to
name just a few.
Known Benefits of Xanthones
Scientific research has made it abundantly clear that no other
fruit compares in its health benefits to mangosteen, due to its
xanthones and other nutritional properties.
Helping to fight cancer is just one of the many properties that
different xanthones perform. For instance, one study performed
in Japan showed that the xanthone alpha-mangostin had apparent
properties that suppressed the development of tumors. Another,
performed in China, found the xanthone garcinone E to show
significant anticancer effects in terms of liver, lung, and
gastric cancer cells.
In addition, some xanthones have shown significant antimicrobial
effects in terms of fighting MRSA (methicillin-resistant
staphylococcus aureus), which
is a bacterial strain known for
its tenacious resistance to pharmacologic antibiotics. One
scientific study also showed that alpha-mangostin,
beta-mangostin, and garcinone B to have pronounced inhibition
effects on a strain of tuberculosis.
As if that isn't enough, xanthones have also been scientifically
proven to help lower LDL, the bad cholesterol, by protecting the
LDL from coming into contact with free radicals, thus leaving it
unable to oxidize and attach to arterial walls and cause
atherosclerosis.
Taking into account the anticancer, antiinflammatory,
antimicrobial, and cholesterol-lowering effects of the xanthones
found in mangosteen, here is just a sampling of the other many
benefits that science has either researched or is in the process
of discovering:
Antiviral Helps lower blood pressure Helps fight fatigue
Antidepressant Prevents stomach ulcers Aids with weight loss
Antiaging Combats diarrhea Pain reducer Heart protective
Analgesic Anti-parkinsonian and anti-Alzheimer Lowers fevers
Builds immunity to disease Antiallergen Antifungal
Antiparasitic
Indeed, even now some health practitioners are suggesting
drinking mangosteen juice for relief to people who suffer from
the following diseases:
Infections Skin ailments like psoriasis, seborrhea, or eczema
Joint problems and arthritis Dementia Anxiety and depression
Cancer Chronic pain Chronic fatigue syndrome Ulcers Diabetes
The Fruit with Xanthone Power
As time goes by, it's becoming less and less uncanny how
traditional and folk medicine seems to have a grasp on the
nutritional properties of food better than modern science has in
the past. Indeed, it seems in some cases, especially in that of
the mangosteen, science is working to catch up.
The mangosteen fruit is believed to have originated in the
Moluccas and the Sunda Islands. It's been used for decades upon
decades by people from Thailand, the Philippines, and China in
folk medicine to treat dysentery, skin disorders like eczema,
diarrhea and cystitis, among other ailments.
One of the reasons why mangosteen is only now gaining notoriety
and popularity is because, for many years, direct importation of
the fruit from other countries has been illegal, based on
governmental regulations to help quarantine the Asian fruit fly.
Unfortunately, the mangosteen tree doesn't grow well in most or
all climates in the United States, so attempts to grow the fruit
here have been relatively unsuccessful.
However, as science has begun proving the unsurpassed medical
value of the rare mangosteen fruit and its xanthones, juices and
preserves are becoming more and more readily available.
In terms of taste, the mangosteen itself is considered one of
the most exquisitely delicious fruits nature has to offer. Often
called the "Queen of Fruits," the taste of mangosteen is unique,
but is often described as sweet and tangy with hints of pear,
ripe strawberry, and grape.
After sampling mangosteen, it's easy to see why this fruit is so
popular in Thailand due to its taste. And after learning about
the benefits of the xanthones found in mangosteen, it's even
more clear how nutritionally beneficial this amazing fruit is.
About the author:
Leslie Martin write on a variety of topics including health. See
www.mangosteenhome.us
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