Mangosteen

Last Editorial Review: 6/11/2021
Other Name(s):

Amibiasine, Fruit des Rois, Garcinia mangostana, Jus de Xango, Mang Cut, Manggis, Manggistan, Mangosta, Mangostan, Mangostán, Mangostana, Mangostanier, Mangostao, Mangostier, Mangoustanier, Mangouste, Mangoustier, Manguita, Meseter, Queen of Fruits, Sementah, Semetah, Xango, Xango Juice.

Overview

Mangosteen is a tropical fruit. The fruit, fruit juice, rind, twig, and bark are used as medicine.

Mangosteen is used for many conditions, but so far, there isn't enough scientific evidence to determine whether or not it is effective for any of them.

Mangosteen is used for diarrhea, urinary tract infections (UTIs), gonorrhea, thrush, tuberculosis, menstrual disorders, cancer, osteoarthritis, and an intestinal infection called dysentery. It is also used for stimulating the immune system and improving mental health.

Some people apply mangosteen to the skin for eczema and other skin conditions.

Mangosteen is often eaten as a dessert fruit or made into jams. History reports that it was Queen Victoria's favorite fruit.

These days, mangosteen juice is becoming a popular “health drink.” It is usually sold under the name “xango juice.” Some marketers claim that xango juice can treat diarrhea, menstrual problems, urinary tract infections, tuberculosis, and a variety of other conditions. However, there is no reliable scientific evidence to support these claims.

How does it work?

The fruit rind contains tannins. These might help for diarrhea. But there is no scientific information about whether mangosteen works for any medical condition.

SLIDESHOW

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Uses & Effectiveness

Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...

  • Dysentery.
  • Diarrhea.
  • Urinary tract infections (UTIs).
  • Gonorrhea.
  • Thrush.
  • Tuberculosis.
  • Eczema.
  • Menstrual disorders.
  • Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of mangosteen for these uses.

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate (detailed description of each of the ratings).

Side Effects

There is not enough reliable information to know if mangosteen products are safe for use as medicines.

QUESTION

Next to red peppers, you can get the most vitamin C from ________________. See Answer

Special Precautions & Warnings

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There is not enough reliable information about the safety of taking mangosteen if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Bleeding disorders: Mangosteen might slow blood clotting. Taking mangosteen might increase the risk of bleeding in people with bleeding disorders.

Surgery: Mangosteen might slow blood clotting. Taking mangosteen might increase the risk of bleeding during or after surgery. Stop taking mangosteen 2 weeks before surgery.

Interactions


Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.

Mangosteen might slow blood clotting and increase bleeding time. Taking mangosteen along with medications that also slow clotting might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding.

Some medications that slow blood clotting include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), dalteparin (Fragmin), dipyridamole (Persantine), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, ticlopidine (Ticlid), warfarin (Coumadin), and others.

Dosing

The appropriate dose of mangosteen depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for mangosteen. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.

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References

Chairungsrilerd N and et al. Pharmacological properties of á-mangostin, a novel histamine H1 receptor antagonist . Eur J Pharmacol. 1996;314:351-356. View abstract.

Chairungsrilerd, N., Furukawa, K., Tadano, T., Kisara, K., and Ohizumi, Y. Effect of gamma-mangostin through the inhibition of 5-hydroxy-tryptamine2A receptors in 5-fluoro-alpha-methyltryptamine-induced head-twitch responses of mice. Br J Pharmacol. 1998;123(5):855-862. View abstract.

Chanarat, P., Chanarat, N., Fujihara, M., and Nagumo, T. Immunopharmacological activity of polysaccharide from the pericarb of mangosteen garcinia: phagocytic intracellular killing activities. J Med Assoc.Thai. 1997;80 Suppl 1:S149-S154. View abstract.

Chen, S. X., Wan, M., and Loh, B. N. Active constituents against HIV-1 protease from Garcinia mangostana. Planta Med 1996;62(4):381-382. View abstract.

Chomnawang, M. T., Surassmo, S., Nukoolkarn, V. S., and Gritsanapan, W. Antimicrobial effects of Thai medicinal plants against acne-inducing bacteria. J Ethnopharmacol. 10-3-2005;101(1-3):330-333. View abstract.

Furukawa, K., Chairungsrilerd, N., Ohta, T., Nozoe, S., and Ohizumi, Y. [Novel types of receptor antagonists from the medicinal plant Garcinia mangostana]. Nippon Yakurigaku Zasshi 1997;110 Suppl 1:153P-158P. View abstract.

Furukawa, K., Shibusawa, K., Chairungsrilerd, N., Ohta, T., Nozoe, S., and Ohizumi, Y. The mode of inhibitory action of alpha-mangostin, a novel inhibitor, on the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-pumping ATPase from rabbit skeletal muscle. Jpn.J Pharmacol. 1996;71(4):337-340. View abstract.

Gopalakrishnan, C., Shankaranarayanan, D., Kameswaran, L., and Nazimudeen, S. K. Effect of mangostin, a xanthone from Garcinia mangostana Linn. in immunopathological & inflammatory reactions. Indian J Exp.Biol 1980;18(8):843-846. View abstract.

Gopalakrishnan, G. and Balaganesan, B. Two novel xanthones from Garcinia mangostana. Fitoterapia 2000;71(5):607-609. View abstract.

Huang, Y. L., Chen, C. C., Chen, Y. J., Huang, R. L., and Shieh, B. J. Three xanthones and a benzophenone from Garcinia mangostana. J Nat Prod 2001;64(7):903-906. View abstract.

Iinuma, M., Tosa, H., Tanaka, T., Asai, F., Kobayashi, Y., Shimano, R., and Miyauchi, K. Antibacterial activity of xanthones from guttiferaeous plants against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. J Pharm Pharmacol. 1996;48(8):861-865. View abstract.

Jinsart, W., Ternai, B., Buddhasukh, D., and Polya, G. M. Inhibition of wheat embryo calcium-dependent protein kinase and other kinases by mangostin and gamma-mangostin. Phytochemistry 1992;31(11):3711-3713. View abstract.

Jung, H. A., Su, B. N., Keller, W. J., Mehta, R. G., and Kinghorn, A. D. Antioxidant xanthones from the pericarp of Garcinia mangostana (Mangosteen). J Agric.Food Chem 3-22-2006;54(6):2077-2082. View abstract.

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Matsumoto, K., Akao, Y., Yi, H., Ohguchi, K., Ito, T., Tanaka, T., Kobayashi, E., Iinuma, M., and Nozawa, Y. Preferential target is mitochondria in alpha-mangostin-induced apoptosis in human leukemia HL60 cells. Bioorg.Med Chem 11-15-2004;12(22):5799-5806. View abstract.

Moongkarndi, P., Kosem, N., Kaslungka, S., Luanratana, O., Pongpan, N., and Neungton, N. Antiproliferation, antioxidation and induction of apoptosis by Garcinia mangostana (mangosteen) on SKBR3 human breast cancer cell line. J Ethnopharmacol. 2004;90(1):161-166. View abstract.

Moongkarndi, P., Kosem, N., Luanratana, O., Jongsomboonkusol, S., and Pongpan, N. Antiproliferative activity of Thai medicinal plant extracts on human breast adenocarcinoma cell line. Fitoterapia 2004;75(3-4):375-377. View abstract.

Nakatani, K., Atsumi, M., Arakawa, T., Oosawa, K., Shimura, S., Nakahata, N., and Ohizumi, Y. Inhibitions of histamine release and prostaglandin E2 synthesis by mangosteen, a Thai medicinal plant. Biol Pharm Bull. 2002;25(9):1137-1141. View abstract.

Nakatani, K., Nakahata, N., Arakawa, T., Yasuda, H., and Ohizumi, Y. Inhibition of cyclooxygenase and prostaglandin E2 synthesis by gamma-mangostin, a xanthone derivative in mangosteen, in C6 rat glioma cells. Biochem.Pharmacol. 1-1-2002;63(1):73-79. View abstract.

Nakatani, K., Yamakuni, T., Kondo, N., Arakawa, T., Oosawa, K., Shimura, S., Inoue, H., and Ohizumi, Y. gamma-Mangostin inhibits inhibitor-kappaB kinase activity and decreases lipopolysaccharide-induced cyclooxygenase-2 gene expression in C6 rat glioma cells. Mol.Pharmacol. 2004;66(3):667-674. View abstract.

Nguyen, L. H., Venkatraman, G., Sim, K. Y., and Harrison, L. J. Xanthones and benzophenones from Garcinia griffithii and Garcinia mangostana. Phytochemistry 2005;66(14):1718-1723. View abstract.

Sakagami, Y., Iinuma, M., Piyasena, K. G., and Dharmaratne, H. R. Antibacterial activity of alpha-mangostin against vancomycin resistant Enterococci (VRE) and synergism with antibiotics. Phytomedicine. 2005;12(3):203-208. View abstract.

Sato, A., Fujiwara, H., Oku, H., Ishiguro, K., and Ohizumi, Y. Alpha-mangostin induces Ca2+-ATPase-dependent apoptosis via mitochondrial pathway in PC12 cells. J Pharmacol.Sci 2004;95(1):33-40. View abstract.

Shankaranarayan, D., Gopalakrishnan, C., and Kameswaran, L. Pharmacological profile of mangostin and its derivatives. Arch Int Pharmacodyn.Ther 1979;239(2):257-269. View abstract.

Suksamrarn, S., Komutiban, O., Ratananukul, P., Chimnoi, N., Lartpornmatulee, N., and Suksamrarn, A. Cytotoxic prenylated xanthones from the young fruit of Garcinia mangostana. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 2006;54(3):301-305. View abstract.

Suksamrarn, S., Suwannapoch, N., Ratananukul, P., Aroonlerk, N., and Suksamrarn, A. Xanthones from the green fruit hulls of Garcinia mangostana. J Nat Prod 2002;65(5):761-763. View abstract.

Sundaram, B. M., Gopalakrishnan, C., Subramanian, S., Shankaranarayanan, D., and Kameswaran, L. Antimicrobial activities of Garcinia mangostana. Planta Med 1983;48(1):59-60. View abstract.

Tosa, H., Iinuma, M., and et al. Inhibitory activity of xanthone derivatives isolated from some guttiferaeous plants against DNA topoisomerases I and II. Chemical and Pharmaceutical Bulletin Tokyo 1997;45(2):418-420.

Zheng, M. S. and Lu, Z. Y. Antiviral effect of mangiferin and isomangiferin on herpes simplex virus. Chin Med J (Engl.) 1990;103(2):160-165. View abstract.

Chairungsrilerd N, Furukawa K, Ohta T, et al. Histaminergic and serotonergic receptor blocking substances from the medicinal plant Garcinia mangostana. Planta Med 1996;62:471-2. View abstract.

Ho CK, Huang YL, Chen CC. Garcinone E, a xanthone derivative, has potent cytotoxic effect against hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines. Planta Med 2002;68:975-9. View abstract.

Matsumoto K, Akao Y, Kobayashi E, et al. Induction of aptosis by xanthones from mangosteen in human leukemia cell lines. J Nat Prod 2003;66:1124-7. View abstract.

Nilar, Harrison LJ. Xanthones from the heartwood of Garcinia mangostana. Phytochemistry 2002;60:541-8. View abstract.

Suksamrarn S, Suwannapoch N, Phakhodee W, et al. Antimycobacterial activity of prenylated xanthones from the fruits of Garcinia mangostana. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 2003;51:857-9. View abstract.

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Wong LP, Klemmer PJ. Severe lactic acidosis associated with juice of the mangosteen fruit Garcinia mangostana. Am J Kidney Dis 2008;51:829-33. View abstract.