Mangosteen Secret Revealed - Xanthones are Key

-link">study by Moongkarndi and others (J Ethnopharmacol
Mangosteen Juice's secret potent ingredient are2004; 90(1):161-166) on the effect of mangosteen
Xanthones... Learn about Mangosteen Xanthones here.pericarp extract on human breast cancer cells found
Scientific research into the health benefits ofthat it had "potential for cancer chemoprevention.The
xanthones from mangosteen has been conductedantioxidative ability of the xanthone mangostin was
since the 1970s and, although there is still much moreshown by Williams and others (Free Radic Res 1995;
work to be done, the results thus far are very23(2):175-184) to lower "bad" cholesterol levels. This
promising. Mangosteen is a complex research subjecthelps prevent the buildup of plaque within blood
because it contains over 40 xanthones. Choices,vessels and lowers the risk of heart disease.Several
therefore, need to be made regarding whichresearch studies have verified the traditional use of
particular xanthone should be the focus of any givenmangosteen as an antibacterial agent. For example, a
study. Two of the most studied xanthones arestudy by Iinuma and others, published in the Journal
alpha-mangostin and gamma-mangostin.Both of theseof Pharmacy and Pharmacology in 1996, showed that
compounds have been shown to be very effectivealpha-mangostin exhibited strong antibacterial activity
anti-inflammatory agents. Several studies led byagainst Staphylococcus aureus. The authors
Nakatani, published in Biochemical Pharmacology inconcluded that "the compounds might find wide
2002 and Molecular Pharmacology in 2004, confirmedpharmaceutical use." Another study involving
that gamma-mangostin is a potent COX-2 inhibitor.alpha-mangostin showed that it was effective against
This means that it is a factor in reducing inflammationMycobacterium tuberculosis.Gamma-mangostin has
and its associated pain. The authors conclude thatalso been shown to be effective against some
gamma-mangostin "is a new useful lead compoundviruses. One study (Planta Med 1996; 62(4):381-382)
for anti-inflammatory drug development."Severalshowed that it was able to cause the HIV-1 virus to
xanthones have been studied for their efficacy inremain immature and incapable of infection.It should
treating cancer. A paper published in the Journal ofbe noted that all the above research results were
Natural Products in 2003 showed that a variety ofobtained in laboratory studies. To be more
xanthones from mangosteen were all able to inhibitmeaningful, follow up clinical trials using human
the growth of human leukemia cells. The samesubjects need to be carried out. However, the results
authors in a follow up study (Bioorg Med Chem. 2004to date indicate that xanthones from mangosteen
Nov 15;12(22):5799-806) concluded thatmay have a major role to play in the treatment of a
alpha-mangostin would be a candidate for preventivewide range of health problems.
and therapeutic application for cancer treatment. A