Mangosteen
For centuries, those in Southeast Asia have revered the mangosteen, both for its flavor and the suggestion that it promotes good health. The whole mangosteen fruit—especially the xanthone-packed pericarp or rind—has been used traditionally for centuries. As early as 600 AD, scribes recorded the use of the mangosteen in the support and maintenance of good health.
Mangosteen: "The Queen of Fruits"
Legend has it that Queen Victoria offered knighthood to any subject who could bring her a mangosteen fruit in prime condition. No one succeeded. The virtual impossibility of preserving the fruit during the weeks-long journey prohibited anyone outside of the growing regions from doing so. But, thanks to the Queen’s admirable quest, the fruit achieved the title, “Queen of Fruits,” a name still used around the globe.
Discovering Mangosteen: Joe's Story
Joe Morton knew something out there would change the nutritional landscape. He had seen groundbreaking products before — aloe vera, cayenne, echinacea — and realized that the next revolution was just around the corner. And, as he sat in an open-air café in Southeast Asia, Joe found what he’d been looking for. Only it wasn’t quite what he expected. The waiter delivered a fruit he had never seen before, the revered and celebrated mangosteen fruit. The flavor knocked him off his feet. His interest piqued, Joe asked questions. Answers arrived in piles. The mangosteen was a dual-powered wonder, a fusion of fantastic flavor and health-promoting benefits. Joe immediately recognized the potential of the mangosteen fruit. Fueled by the desire to share it with others, he dug deeper. He enlisted the research skills of scientific professionals and found stacks of supporting research. And, with decades of research and studies, Joe knew that it was time for the world to learn about the Queen of Fruits, the mangosteen.
From Mangosteen to XANGO® Juice
XANGO (derived from the words XANthones and manGOsteen) Juice is the first … the original mangosteen beverage … a true category creator. Joe Morton’s vision has been confirmed. Existing mangosteen research has been validated with thousands upon thousands of individual accounts the world over.
Mangosteen Fruit
Though it’s been around for literally thousands of years, the mangosteen fruit is not commonly known the world over. Typically grown in Southeast Asia and other tropical climates, its taste is beyond compare. Containing a dark purple rind and boasting a sweet white pulp, it is roughly about the size of a tangerine.
Delicious as it is functional, the mangosteen fruit is rich in xanthones, which may promote healthy bodily function. In addition, each serving of mangosteen contains up to 5 grams of fiber. Its purplish pigment has also been used as a dye.
"The mangosteen outranks in delicacy, if not all other fruits in the world, certainly all others of the tropical zone. I admit it is a joy to the eye as well as to the palate to feast on mangosteens." — David Fairchild, PhD., agricultural explorer, botanist and author.
Mangosteen Pericarp
The mangosteen pericarp — or the part of the fruit that surrounds the fruit or seeds, also known as the skin or rind — is not commonly thrown away as one might toss, say, the peel of an orange. In fact, the pericarp is what has traditionally housed the fruit’s numerous beneficial properties. XANGO® Juice uses the whole fruit, both what’s inside as well as what is outside.
Mangosteen Tree
While the name hints at the well-known mango, the mangosteen and its corresponding tree should not be confused with that popular fruit. The tree that bears the mangosteen is as unique as its fruit.
Here, then, are some fast facts to back that up:
- Grows 20 to 80 feet tall.
- Its bark is a dark brown (nearly black) color.
- Have short, thick and leathery evergreen leaves and 12" wide flowers that grow in clusters of 3-9 at its branch tips.
- Takes two or more years for the tree to reach 12" in height.
- Widely believed that they originated in the islands of Sunda and Molucca (in the East Indies).
- The first fruit harvest may take place 7-9 years after planting, but most take place in the first 10-20.
- The average yield of full-grown trees is 500, but some trees yield as many as 5,000 ripe mangosteens.
- Some trees provide fruit for up to 100 years.
- The mangosteen tree is "ultra-tropical" and can't tolerate temperatures below 40°F or above 100°F. All attempts to grow the trees in locations north of 20° latitude have failed.
Modern Science
Modern science is only now beginning to understand and explain why the rind of the mangosteen fruit has been so revered for centuries. However, we do know this: to benefit from the complete power and nutritional impact of the mangosteen fruit, it should be consumed just as it has been for more than a thousand years—in its whole fruit form.
As early as 1933, studies were conducted to compare the whole fruit to single compound extracts taken from the rind. Caius and Mhaskar found that the whole fruit offered more than 60% success rates in supporting intestinal health. Consumption of the whole mangosteen rind delivers benefits far superior to chemical extracts from that same rind.
Ongoing research continues to find valuable properties and several active phytochemicals have already been identified in the fruit, including:
- 43 different xanthones – These powerful phytonutrients demonstrate unique and valuable health properties.
- catechins – The mangosteen rind has been shown to have the same level of this active ingredient as found in green tea.
- proanthocyanidins – The same benefit touted in grape seed extract, proanthocyanidins are found in efficacious amounts in the whole mangosteen fruit.
While scientific researchers are still working to demonstrate how these phytochemicals work together synergistically, the phytonutrients found in the whole fruit are among the most studied, touted and beneficial in existence today. This much is certain: extracts can never match the incredible spectrum of benefits available in the honored mangosteen fruit.
Xanthones
Among the powerful phytonutrients found in the rind of the mangosteen, xanthones stand alone in their impressive benefits. Scientific studies suggest xanthones may promote healthy bodily function. The whole mangosteen fruit, packed with naturally occurring xanthones, may help:
- maintain intestinal health as part of a balanced diet
- support the body’s natural defenses
- neutralize free radicals
- support cartilage and joint function
Xanthones in Mangosteen
Researchers have identified dozens of biologically active xanthones in the mangosteen fruit. Today, researchers are just beginning to uncover the powerful scientific properties behind the mangosteen fruit.
What are Xanthones?
Xanthones are:
- A unique class of biologically active compounds possessing numerous bioactive capabilities — such as antioxidant properties.
- A restricted group of plant polyphenols biosynthetically related to the flavonoids.
- polyphenol – a group of plant chemical substances characterized by the presence of more than one phenolic group. Polyphenols are responsible for the color of some plants and are considered strong antioxidants with potential health benefits.
- flavonoid – over 5,000 naturally occurring flavonoids have been characterized from various plants. The beneficial effects of plant-derived food are often attributed to flavonoid compounds, rather than known nutrients, as they show a wide range of biological effects.
- Chemically speaking, planar-six carbon molecules in a conjugated ring system consisting of a backbone molecule and various chemical groups attached to it. The backbone consists of two benzene rings bridged through a carbonyl group and oxygen. Each ring is connected in a fused formation not allowing free rotation about the carbon-carbon bonds. This unique backbone along with type and position of the attached chemical groups define specific functionalities (properties) of xanthones.
Xanthone Measurement
As awareness and consumption of the mangosteen has increased worldwide, so has the need to better understand the fruit’s most prominent phytonutrient, xanthones. After all, the mangosteen fruit has nature’s most concentrated source of xanthones, a family of vigorous antioxidants.
To establish a rapid, dependable approach for identifying xanthones in their naturally occurring state, researchers were asked to develop a credible, easily duplicable analytical method for testing and measuring xanthones in the rind of the mangosteen fruit, Garcinia mangostana. The whole mangosteen fruit rind was chosen as the standard because its response factor is similar to many of the naturally occurring xanthones.
The peer-reviewed, single lab validated High Performance Liquid Chromatography (or HPLC) analysis of selected xanthones in mangosteen fruit study was published in the June 2007 issue of the Journal of Separation Science. The study utilized AOAC protocols. AOAC International is a not-for-profit scientific association that sets standard methods, allowing consumers to have confidence in analytical results obtained from scientific analysis.
An 80:20 acetone/water mixture was used to extract the xanthones from dried, ground whole mangosteen fruit rind. A total of six xanthones were purified by preparative HPLC, utilizing the same solvent system and UV detection as for the analytical method. Each compound has unique UV absorption spectra that allows for easy identification of the xanthone found naturally in the mangosteen fruit.
The study establishes a credible scientific method for testing and measuring xanthones. Six specific xanthones have been identified, and their relative response factors determined. Although additional xanthones are in the process of being identified and measured, this research ensures a more consistent and reliable marketing of mangosteen products to consumers relative to xanthone content claims.
Xanthone Bioavailability
Study Overview
A pre-clinical, preliminary 28-day study of XANGO® Juice identified the bioavailability of xanthones to determine how many xanthones the body actually absorbs and the pathway they travel. A validated xanthone analysis method was used to measure the quantities of the alpha-mangostin xanthone found in blood plasma.
Researchers
Michael W. Pugh, B.S., director of XANGO's Product Development department. Michael Pugh has more than 15 years experience in the natural products industry and is currently head of research and development for XANGO, LLC. In this capacity, Pugh has implemented safety studies, initiated analytical work and validation, established pharmacokinetics and oversees all clinical work.
Charles River Laboratories, a pre-clinical lab that was established in 1947. It is world renowned for its research models in safety, pharmacokinetics, and in-vitro work. It employs 7,500 employees, including 500 researchers that include PhDs, MDs and DVMs.
Methods
The validated plasma method used LC-MS/MS technique to identify and quantify the amounts of alpha-mangostin in the plasma. This new analysis can quantify levels as low as 1 nanogram per ml (ng/ml).
Results
The preliminary research demonstrates that the body absorbs xanthones in low dosages and that very high levels of xanthone consumption actually result in decreased absorption efficiency. In addition, preliminary results showed long-term daily consumption of XANGO Juice increases the levels of xanthones in the blood.
More specifically, the study showed the following regarding alpha-mangostin:
- In approximately 3.5 hours, the xanthone has been absorbed during digestion.
- Females have a more efficient absorption rate than males.
- Long-term consumption of XANGO Juice causes a blood loading effect.
- Alpha-mangostin is absorbed the way nature intended, at very low doses of consumption, such as the amount contained in XANGO Juice.
- At very high levels, the absorption efficiency of the xanthone decreases.
This study allows for a solid foundation for future clinical trials. Also, these preliminary findings show artificially inflating a product with xanthone extracts does not add any value.
Phytonutrients
Derived from the Greek word phyto (plant) and nutrient (a constituent of food necessary for normal physiological function), phytonutrients—also known as phytochemicals—are natural, bioactive compounds found in plant foods. Fruits and vegetables rich in phytonutrients include the mangosteen, papaya, spinach and others.
Most phytonutrients overlap and complement one another, boasting complete benefits that include antioxidant effects and immune system support. In short, specific phytonutrients found in fruits and vegetables work together with other nutrients to protect your health.
More than 900 different phytonutrients have been found in plant foods. Many have been just recently isolated, while others remain undiscovered. These protective plant compounds are an emerging area of health and nutrition.
The careful crafting of XANGO’s all-natural, whole-fruit, and mangosteen purée ensures that all of the impressive and healthful phytonutrients of the fruit enrich XANGO® Juice. The strongest and most researched phytonutrients of the mangosteen are its xanthones.
Flavonoids
Flavonoids are chemical compounds with antioxidant properties that are found widely distributed in plants, including fruits and vegetables. They accomplish many varying functions. Their roles include producing yellow or red/blue pigmentation in flowers and protecting cells from the attacks of microbes and insects. The widespread distribution of flavonoids and their low toxicity, when compared to other active plant compounds, allows animals—including humans—to ingest significant quantities in their diet safely.
There are different groups of flavonoids, each with different levels of antioxidant power. Flavonoids are divided into several subgroups:
- Flavonols
- Flavones
- Flavanones
- Isoflavones
- Catechins
- Anthocyanidins
- Chalcones
The xanthones that occur in the mangosteen are related to the flavonoids.
Catechins
Catechins are a specialized group of flavonoids commonly found in plant species, most notably in tea plants. As flavonoids, they carry nutritional properties.
The health benefits of catechins have been studied extensively in humans and in animal models. Reduction in atherosclerotic plaques was seen in animal models. Reduction in carcinogenesis was seen in vitro.
Many studies on health benefits have been linked to the catechin content. According to Norman Hollenberg, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, epicatechin can reduce the risk of four of the major health problems: stroke, heart failure, cancer and diabetes. He studied the Kuna people in Panama, who drink up to 40 cups of cocoa a week, and found that the prevalence of the “big four” is less than 10%. He believes that epicatechin should be considered essential to the diet and thus classed as a vitamin. According to one researcher epigallocatechin-3-gallate is an antioxidant that helps protect the skin from UV radiation-induced damage and tumor formation.
DNA protection
Catechins, when combined with habitual exercise, have been shown to delay some forms of aging. Mice fed catechins showed decreased levels of aging, lowering of oxidative stress in mitochondria, and an increase in mRNA transcription of mitochondrial-related proteins.
Anti-carcinogenic effects
In 2008 UCLA cancer researchers found that study participants who ate foods containing certain flavonoids seemed to be protected from developing lung cancer. Dr. Zhang, (professor of public health and epidemiology at the UCLA School of Public Health) said the flavonoids that appeared to be the most protective included catechin, found in strawberries and green and black teas; kaempferol, found in Brussels sprouts and apples; and quercetin, found in beans, onions (particularly red) and apples.
