The mangosteen -garcinia mangostana L- is a tropical fruit that offers certain health benefits. It is often praised for its antioxidant reactions and is even known as a “superfruit.”
It comes from Southeast Asia and is very successful, especially for its antioxidant effects. In the past it was used as a natural medicine applied by the natives. It is currently sold in different forms , especially in beverages that include mangosteen extract among their ingredients.
The consumption of this fruit has increased considerably and it is being used as a sports and nutritional supplement, especially in the United States, thanks to its antioxidant powers.
Why do scientists consider mangosteen to be a superfood?
The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of this fruit position it as a valuable product to end chronic diseases. Studies have proven the importance of consuming it to deal with the damage of degenerative diseases and free radicals – aging. This food contains xanthones, a class of antioxidants considered to be the strongest , leaving behind typical antioxidant sources such as vitamin E and vitamin C.
The studies that scientists have carried out on this food confirm that this fruit has many benefits on cardiovascular diseases, such as arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, hypertension and heart. This is due to the anti-inflammatory, antithrombotic, and antioxidant effect of the xanthones found in mangosteen.
Health benefits of mangosteen
Nowadays, more and more research has corroborated the healthful effects of mangosteen in humans. In experimental studies, researchers have stated that mangosteen extract may contain antibacterial, antitumor, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Research also concludes that the extract of this fruit can help protect the brain from the negative effects of a substance that builds plaques in the brain related to Alzheimer’s – beta amyloid.
Mangosteen extract has also been shown to help fight some skin conditions like acne. Instead, it is important to clarify that what happens in scientific research does not always happen in the human body, so it is important to leave the course of discovering its benefits in the hands of the research.
Antioxidant properties of mangosteen
Antioxidants fight free radicals that cause cell damage and oxidative stress. The antioxidant properties of mangosteen have been investigated to investigate thermodynamics in order to analyze its ability to reduce free radicals. Very few tropical fruits have this property.
Anti-inflammatory properties of mangosteen
It has been proven that many of the functions that xanthone has causes the inhibition of inflammations and works as an analgesic, reducing the amount of cancer cells, such as those of the liver, colon, breast and lung cancer, which is why it is confirmed that the mangosteen has antitumor properties.
Recent research on this fruit is related to its powers to fight obesity, asthma, and diabetes, but more research is needed for established conclusions.
