The skin is the largest organ in the human body. It is responsible for performing a wide range of functions, such as temperature regulation and preventing infection. It can also be one of the first things a person notices about someone, so it's not surprising skin can impact how we feel about ourselves. This is reflected by the vast variety of skin products available today; however, to minimise the risk of reactions and side effects, a natural approach is often preferable. The mangosteen fruit has been used for years across Asia to treat many ailments owing to its anti-inflammatory, immune boosting and antioxidant properties. Due to the high antioxidant content of mangosteen, there has been increased interest and research in how mangosteen can benefit the skin; this article will look further into how mangosteen fruit can boost the health and appearance of our skin.
The skin
Skin acts as an interface between the body and the environment and is a highly effective physical barrier against toxic substances, pathogens, and UV radiation. Skin is also responsible for temperature regulation, transportation and storage of water, fats and metabolites and plays a role in sensation and sensory processing.1 Three main layers comprise the skin: the upper layer - the epidermis; the middle layer - the dermis; and the deepest level of the skin, known as the hypodermis, subdivided into further layers.2 Different factors impact these different layers, causing several skin complaints.
A wealth of products are available to address some cosmetic concerns, including redness, dehydration, acne, discolouration, wrinkles, and eczema. Many of these issues can be healed by addressing our internal health, sleeping well, staying hydrated, and eating a nutritious diet. We can incorporate certain nutrients and foods into our diet to aid skin health. One example is the mangosteen.
Mangosteen fruit
The mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana), often referred to as “The Queen of Fruits”, is a delicious, sweet and uniquely flavoured tropical fruit native to Southeast Asia and grown primarily in Sri Lanka, Thailand, The Philippines and Malaysia. Most people eat the fruit or consume it in juice form. However other parts of the fruit, such as the rind, can be dried out and ground into powder and used in traditional medicine preparations to treat digestive upsets and various inflammatory disorders.
Mangosteen has ample nutritional benefits and is bursting with skin-nourishing compounds, making it a subject of interest concerning skin health. It has been shown to improve skin quality and appearance. Keep reading to learn more about how mangosteen can boost your skin's vitality and glow.
Anti-ageing properties of mangosteen
Ageing of the skin is often a concern for many, and a wide range of topical creams and treatments are available to us, as well as homemade natural applications. Weakening of the extracellular matrix (ECM), which lies under the skin due to ageing and accompanying internal and external factors, leads to loss of skin structure, affecting the overall quality and appearance of the skin. Accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the skin is characteristic of skin ageing; highly reactive molecules react with biological tissue and can have harmful results, such as antioxidants that neutralise free radicals and reduce oxidative stress.
Research has shown that antioxidant phytochemicals in mangosteen inhibit oxidation, neutralise free radicals and reduce oxidative stress and ROS and can also inhibit:3
- Elastase
- Collagenase
Elastase and collagenase are both enzymes which break down elastin and collagen, respectively. These two proteins are key building blocks in skin makeup and help provide a healthy, youthful appearance. Elastin makes our skin elastic. For example, when you touch your skin, it reverts to its original shape. With age elastin fibres degrade, causing visible sagging and wrinkles, inhibition of elastase helps to prevent this degradation and maintain more elastic uplifted skin. Collagen works alongside elastin to provide strength and structural stability to the skin, helping to maintain firmness which can enhance and retain skin health.5
Anti-inflammatory effects
Are inflammation levels, which can have a positive effect on the skin?
Topical treatments formulated with xanthones have been shown to reduce the number of MRSA colonies, significantly exhibiting bactericidal and antimicrobial properties. Xanthones are a group of natural compounds known for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties found in many plant and fungi species including mangosteen. The mangosteen pericarp or rind, which appears as a dark-coloured skin surrounding the cream-coloured fleshy centre of the fruit, is rich in xanthones and because of its antioxidant content is frequently used in therapeutic applications.6
Xanthones can suppress the secretion of cytokines in the body. Cytokines are a category of small proteins involved in cell signalling and can be pro- or anti-inflammatory. When these are suppressed, this reduces
Xanthones can help treat:
- Atopic dermatitis
- Itching and allergic reactions
- Acne
Protection against ultraviolet radiation
Ultraviolet radiation (UV) is one of the greatest threats to our skin. There are two main types, UVA and UVB, and both impact the skin differently. UVA makes up the largest proportion of UV light and reaches deeper layers of the skin, while UVB represents a significantly smaller portion and is mainly absorbed by the upper skin layer known as the epidermis.7 UV radiation increases oxidation and ROS species in the skin, inducing inflammation and leading to:
- Dehydration
- Damaged skin barrier
- Wrinkles
- Inflammation
- Skin thickening
- Hyperpigmentation
- Sunburn
- Erythema (redness/rash)
- DNA damage
- Genetic mutations
- Skin cancer
Mangosteen extracts, including alpha-mangostin, have been shown to decrease pro-inflammatory cytokine levels and inhibit activation of inflammatory signalling pathways preventing ROS production while preserving antioxidant activity.8 By preventing inflammation, mangosteen can reduce the risk of ECM damage, cell death and further inflammation-lessening processes involved in wrinkle development.
Hydration
Mangosteen could be overlooked for its hydrating properties as other fruits such as melons and pineapples are known to have far greater water content; however, because of a relatively high fibre content, mangosteen may aid water absorption in the gut, helping to maintain skin hydration.
Mangosteen compounds with antioxidant properties have demonstrated inhibition of hyaluronidase activity.3 Hyaluronidase is an enzyme that breaks down hyaluronic acid, an important component of the ECM that plays a crucial role in skin hydration. Hyaluronic acid is a hygroscopic molecule, meaning it can hold 1000 times its volume in water, which greatly benefits the skin and helps to keep it looking and feeling great.9
Inhibits advanced glycation end products (AGEs)
Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are a group of compounds produced when sugar binds to lipids and proteins. Animal-derived food items rich in fat and protein and the application of dry and high-heat cooking methods such as frying, grilling and roasting are reported to promote AGE formation.10 AGEs are linked to increased oxidation and inflammation in the body, making them a biomarker for the development and deterioration of several health conditions, including:
- Diabetes
- Neurodegenerative diseases
- Cardiovascular disease
- Chronic kidney disease
Accumulation of AGEs in the skin can result from physiological processes that occur naturally with ageing or inflammatory disorders. External factors which contribute to AGEs include the following:12
- Diet
- Air pollution
- Cigarette Smoke
- UV light
Negative effects AGEs have on the skin
Research has revealed higher levels of AGEs in the skin are associated with:
- Inflammation
- Deeper wrinkles
- Discolouration
- Reduced elasticity
- Reduced healing rate
Mechanisms of action
AGEs are highly reactive compounds which interact with different cell types throughout the different layers of skin. In the uppermost layers of the skin, AGEs reduce levels of cholesterol and ceramide in the epidermis, weakening the skin barrier and compromising its shielding and protective function. When exposed to UV radiation, receptors for advanced glycation end-products activate and interact with cell signalling pathways, stimulating melanin production in the skin. Accumulation of AGEs in the skin and the resulting glycation can inhibit the synthesis of a valuable network known as the ECM, rich in longevity proteins such as collagen, elastin and vimentin. When AGEs threaten the ECM, it can weaken its structural properties, resulting in loss of skin shape.
How mangosteen can inhibit AGE synthesis activity
Reseageingh found that hot water extracts of mangosteen pericarp can inhibit pentosidine production, an AGE that accumulates in pentosan plasma and collagen.12 The study also showed that antioxidant compounds from mangosteen play a role in limiting pentosidine synthesis, likely through their ability to scavenge free radicals and prevent oxidation.
Summary
If mangosteen is available to you, it is worth trying its many health benefits. Research has shown that the antioxidants in mangosteen are linked to reduced inflammation, wrinkle prevention, acne reduction and boosted hydration. Most people in areas where mangosteen is readily available enjoy this delicious fruit by consuming the flesh or as a drink. Still, you can also purchase mangosteen extract and powder online, which can be used as a supplement. If you have an existing bleeding disorder or have an upcoming surgery, avoid mangosteen, as it can reduce clotting. People who are pregnant should also consult a medical professional before introducing it to your diet.
References
- Dąbrowska AK, Spano F, Derler S, Adlhart C, Spencer ND, Rossi RM. The relationship between skin function, barrier properties, and body‐dependent factors. Skin Research and Technology [Internet]. 2018 May [cited 2024 Jan 12];24(2):165–74. Available from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/srt.12424
- Yousef H, Alhajj M, Sharma S. Anatomy, skin (Integument), epidermis. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 [cited 2024 Jan 12]. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470464/
- Widowati W, Ginting CN, Lister INE, Girsang E, Amalia A, Wibowo SHB, et al. Anti-aging effects of mangosteen peel extract and its phytochemical compounds: antioxidant activity, enzyme inhibition and molecular docking simulation. Trop Life Sci Res [Internet]. 2020 Oct [cited 2024 Jan 11];31(3):127–44. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7652251/
- Baumann L, Bernstein EF, Weiss AS, Bates D, Humphrey S, Silberberg M, et al. Clinical relevance of elastin in the structure and function of skin. Aesthet Surg J Open Forum. 2021 Sep;3(3):ojab019.
- Han Y, Hu J, Sun G. Recent advances in skin collagen: functionality and non-medical applications. J Leather Sci Eng [Internet]. 2021 Mar 15 [cited 2024 Jan 11];3(1):4. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1186/s42825-020-00046-9
- Gunter NV, Teh SS, Lim YM, Mah SH. Natural xanthones and skin inflammatory diseases: multitargeting mechanisms of action and potential application. Frontiers in Pharmacology [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2024 Jan 8];11. Available from: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2020.594202
- Wang PW, Hung YC, Lin TY, Fang JY, Yang PM, Chen MH, et al. Comparison of the biological impact of uva and uvb upon the skin with functional proteomics and immunohistochemistry. Antioxidants (Basel) [Internet]. 2019 Nov 20 [cited 2024 Jan 11];8(12):569. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6943602/
- Im AR, Kim YM, Chin YW, Chae S. Protective effects of compounds from Garcinia mangostana L. (Mangosteen) against UVB damage in HaCaT cells and hairless mice. International Journal of Molecular Medicine [Internet]. 2017 Dec 1 [cited 2024 Jan 11];40(6):1941–9. Available from: https://www.spandidos-publications.com/10.3892/ijmm.2017.3188
- Bravo B, Correia P, Gonçalves Junior JE, Sant’Anna B, Kerob D. Benefits of topical hyaluronic acid for skin quality and signs of skin aging: From literature review to clinical evidence. Dermatologic Therapy [Internet]. 2022 Dec [cited 2024 Jan 11];35(12). Available from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/dth.15903
- URIBARRI J, WOODRUFF S, GOODMAN S, CAI W, CHEN X, PYZIK R, et al. Advanced glycation end products in foods and a practical guide to their reduction in the diet. J Am Diet Assoc [Internet]. 2010 Jun [cited 2024 Jan 9];110(6):911-16.e12. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3704564/
- Chen C yu, Zhang JQ, Li L, Guo M miao, He Y fan, Dong Y mao, et al. Advanced glycation end products in the skin: molecular mechanisms, methods of measurement, and inhibitory pathways. Frontiers in Medicine [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2024 Jan 9];9. Available from: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2022.837222
- Ohno R ichi, Moroishi N, Sugawa H, Maejima K, Saigusa M, Yamanaka M, et al. Mangosteen pericarp extract inhibits the formation of pentosidine and ameliorates skin elasticity. Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition. 2015;57(1):27–32.