Nature’s Superfood Mangosteen

Mangosteen

 The mangosteen is an evergreen tree about 10 to 25 meters tall, grown in tropical climates such as Asia, South America and Polynesia. Mangosteen fruit is often called the “Queen of Fruits” due to its pleasant flavor. The mangosteen fruit is round with slightly flattened ends and is about six to seven centimeters in diameter. It has a smooth, thick, firm rind that is pale green when immature and dark purple or red-purple when ripe. Enclosed by the rind is the edible pulp in four to eight white segments. Each fruit has one to two seeds. The mangosteen fruit contains a compound called xanthones, which is thought to have antioxidant properties. The plant is also a rich source of other bioactive molecules including flavenoids, benzophenones, lactones and phenolic acids. A variety of xanthones can be isolated from the hull, rind, heartwood and flesh of mangosteen plants and fruit. Some studies have demonstrated that the xanthones found in mangosteen have antioxidant properties; six xanthones found in the mangosteen fruit were isolated from the fruit peel.