Mangosteen benefits and side effects

Being low in calories and fats, mangosteen is said to be helpful in losing weight. A study done on mice suggested that mangosteen regulates energy metabolism in the body and fat metabolism in the liver which may help in weight loss.

In another animal study, the antioxidant and hypolipidemic (fat-reducing) properties of mangosteen peel flour and turmeric flour were found to help reduce abdominal fat.

A double-blind placebo-controlled pilot study done on about 122 people indicated that people who take about 18 oz (about 500mL) of mangosteen juice daily noted a reduction in BMI (body mass index) within eight weeks. The effects were attributed to the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of the juice. Low-grade inflammation in the body is said to play a role in the pathophysiology of obesity.

Finally, a review study published in the journal Food and Function suggested that it is the xanthones present in mangosteen fruit that make it an excellent anti-obesity food.

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Ethanolic extracts of mangosteen fruit have shown anti-diabetic effects in rats. The effects were suggested due to the inhibition of two enzymes, alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase, that are involved in the breakdown of carbohydrates in the body.

Another study done in mice found no effect of mangosteen rind (the outer peel) extracts on blood sugar levels.

A randomised controlled pilot study including 22 obese women with type 2 diabetes found that mangosteen increases insulin sensitivity (effect of insulin on body cells that help them to take up excess sugar from blood) and reduces inflammation in the body. Inflammation is shown to play a role in the pathophysiology of a number of chronic diseases.

Another study done on a group of adults with type 2 diabetes in Indonesia had similar results on using a decoction made from mangosteen rind for one week. The study attributed the antidiabetic effects of the fruit to the xanthones present in its rind.

Read more: What is insulin resistance?

The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of mangosteen compounds is said to promote heart health. An in vivo (animal-based) study indicated that the extracts of mangosteen pericarp fight oxidative stress which helps reduce high blood pressure (high BP) and high BP-induced damage to the cardiovascular system.

Another study done on rats showed that alpha-mangostin, a compound present in the hull (outer covering) of the mangosteen fruit protects heart muscles against damage caused by oxidative stress.

According to a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial published in the Journal of Hypertension, daily consumption of mangosteen extracts may be able to reduce systolic blood pressure in about three months. (Systolic blood pressure is the upper number when you take a reading on the blood pressure machine; it indicates the pressure that your blood vessels experience when your heart beats and sends blood out to the body).

However, more studies are needed to understand the effects of mangosteen on the cardiovascular system.

There isn’t much proof of the effectiveness of mangosteen on immunity. However, the fruit is a good source of vitamin C, which has proven benefits for immune health.  

Mangosteen also contains vitamin B1, which supports and strengthens the immune system and helps the body to cope better in stressful conditions. 

A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial done on 59 healthy people in the age group of 40 to 60 years found that regular mangosteen intake significantly improves immune function and the results can be seen within a month of use.

Read more: How to increase immunity

According to a study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology, the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties of mangosteen pericarp make it an apt adjuvant for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

A study done in rats indicated that the raw rind of mangosteen may have antidepressant and procognitive effects. Mangosteen supplementation in the diet was also found to improve the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease in animal models.

However, more studies are needed to affirm the effects of mangosteen on neurological health.

Read more: How to increase brain power

Mangosteen has ample vitamin C, which is known to be involved in the production of collagen and elastin, two proteins that maintain the integrity and elasticity of skin. 

Several studies indicate the benefits of mangosteen for skin health. An old study, published in the International Journal of Molecular Medicine, found that alpha-mangostin present in the mangosteen fruit can reduce UV-induced skin damage, wrinkles, and thickening of the skin in mice. The study concluded that mangosteen fruit has anti-ageing properties.

In another animal study, isogarcinol, a compound extracted from mangosteen, was suggested to be an alternative treatment option for psoriasis due to its immunosuppressive effects. Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition in which the body’s immune system attacks skin cells. To cope with this, the skin cells start to divide quickly, which leads to the formation of scales or patches on the skin.

In a study done in Japan, oral administration of 100mg of water extracts of mangosteen pericarp was found to reduce the levels of an advanced glycation end product and improve skin moisture content and elasticity, Advanced glycation end products (AGE) are compounds that form in our body when some kinds of sugars react with proteins or fats. Animal-based foods like meat are rich in AGEs. Cooking or processing these foods increases the levels of AGE in these foods. Fat-based foods like butter, margarine and cream cheese are also high in AGEs.

The anti-inflammatory effects of mangosteen have also been shown to be effective in reducing the pain and swelling associated with acne.

Mangosteen is a good source of fibre, so it may be helpful in promoting digestion and bowel movements.

At least two different studies done on mice showed that the alpha-mangostin present in mangosteen fruit may be helpful in improving the symptoms of ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory condition of the colon and rectum which shows up as stomach pain, diarrhoea, pus or blood in stool, fatigue and loss of appetite. 

However, in the absence of clinical studies, not much can be said for sure about the benefits of mangosteen for digestive health.

Read more: How to improve digestion

The antimicrobial effects of mangosteen have been studied for long and the fruit has shown to be effective in suppressing the growth of a wide range of bacteria and fungi. Older studies have shown the effects of mangosteen and its xanthones against bacteria like E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (causes pneumonia, UTIs and other infections in humans), Klebsiella (causes meningitis, pneumonia) and Salmonella typhimurium (causes typhoid like disease).

It is also shown to be effective against normal and antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteria that cause various types of infections in humans including skin conditions like boils and abscesses, pneumonia and infections of joints.

Mangosteen is also shown to be effective against fungi like Aspergillus that usually causes a lung infection but may also infect other organs like the ears.

Additionally, mangosteen fruit extracts are shown to inhibit the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (the causative organism of tuberculosis).

Research shows that mangosteen has anti-cancer properties against various types of cancer cell lines including breast cancer, lung cancer, liver cancer and gastrointestinal cancer.

Both in vitro (lab-based) and in vivo (animal-based) studies have shown the antiproliferative and anti-cancer effects of mangosteen xanthones. These compounds not only stop the multiplication of cancer cells but also the metastasis or spread of cancer in the body. 

According to a study published in the journal Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy, mangosteen xanthones inhibit skin cancer growth by reducing inflammation and promoting damage of cancer cells.

However, more research is needed to affirm all these effects and to find the right way to use mangosteen or its xanthones for fighting cancer.

Apart from the above-mentioned health benefits, here are some other benefits of mangosteen:

• Mangosteen is traditionally used for the treatment of conditions like food allergies, haemorrhoids, fever, thrush, stomach pain, leucorrhea, and gonorrhoea. 
• Animal studies suggest that alpha-mangostin has potent anti-arthritic effects and may be effective against osteoarthritis.
• A study done in Thailand found that a herbal mouthwash with mangosteen extracts among its ingredients is effective in reducing bad breath, dental plaque and inflammation in the gums.
• Alpha-mangostin is shown to have protective effects against liver injury, cirrhosis and fibrosis. Both alpha and gamma mangostin have been found to reduce liver toxicity caused due to paracetamol in mice. The antioxidant effects of these two xanthones are said to play a role in the hepatoprotective (liver-protecting) action of this fruit. However, no conclusive evidence is available so far to show similar effects in humans.