Does Mangosteen Have Any Nutritional Value?

“Yes” is the short answer. For starters, it’s important to remember that mangosteen is not the same as a mango. While both are native to southeastern Asia, they are not of the same family. Mangoes have a warm, yellow-orange skin and orange fruit that grows around a large seed. Mangosteen, on the other hand, is dark purple-green in color and the flesh is white and segmented like an orange. Both are high in antioxidants, and while mangoes have been available (and grown) in the U.S. for some time, the mangosteen has just recently been introduced to western markets though they do not grow well in less than ultra-tropical climates.

Nutritionists are beginning to document the health benefits of mangosteen. A compound called xanthones, which occur naturally in mangosteens, possesses antioxidant-like qualities. The mangosteen fruit as anti inflammatory is one benefit of xanthones that nutrition companies have tapped into as well as anti-allergins. A study of the mangosteen fruit in Beijing showed that a product derived from mangosteen improved the immunity and overall health of test subjects. Mangosteen also shows up in anti-aging products as a “superfruit.”