Overview

Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) is a tropical fruit mainly found in Southeast Asia, with incredible health benefits. It has for a long time been used as traditional medicine due to its amazing properties, and it is recently gaining popularity not only as a delicious fruit but also in research to explore how well mangosteen works in improving the immune system.¹

The rich variety of vitamins, minerals, and unique immune-supporting compounds makes it an excellent fruit or supplement to incorporate into your daily life. It not only aids in improving your immune system by providing antioxidants and supporting immune cells in their role in protecting you but mangosteen also has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. In this article we will dive deeper into the benefits of mangosteen, particularly looking at the important compound xanthone, while also looking at relevant research.

Nutritional profile of mangosteen

Unique compounds

Xanthones

Xanthones are the most interesting compound found in mangosteens. Xanthones have exhibited antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties, along with many other benefits.² Most foods containing xanthones aren’t very accessible, however, mangosteen is not only very accessible as an emerging popular tropical fruit, but it is also incredibly high in xanthones compared to other foods. It should be noted though that xanthones are primarily concentrated in the rind of the mangosteen and not the actual fruit.

Polysaccharides

Polysaccharides are abundant in mangosteen, with the polysaccharide content of mangosteen peel being 27.12%.³ There are many different types of polysaccharides in mangosteen with all of them having different biological effects, but two types of polysaccharides extracted from mangosteen in particular have been shown to improve the immune system by supporting immune cells. The polysaccharides can also accelerate the release of tumour necrosis factor, which is a protein essential for creating an immune response when the body has harmful organisms in it.³

Other relevant compounds

• Procyanidin: Procyanidin has antioxidant and skin-protective properties, and it can reduce free radicals in the body.³
• Benzophenones: Benzophenones have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and antibacterial properties³
• Phenolic acid: Phenolic acids have antimicrobial and antibacterial properties.³

Vitamins and minerals

Not only does mangosteen have plenty of compounds that aid in immunity and other things such as anti-inflammatory and antibacterial support, but it also has many vitamins and minerals that are essential for a well-functioning and healthy body.

One cup of mangosteen contains:⁴

• Magnesium: 25.5 milligrams (mg) (6% of the Recommended Daily Allowance, RDA)
• Copper: 0.135 mg (15% of the RDA)
• Manganese: 0.2 mg (9% of the RDA)
• Vitamin C: 5.68 mg (6% of the RDA)
• Thiamin (vitamin B1): 0.106 mg (9% of the RDA)
• Riboflavin (vitamin B2): 0.106 mg (8% of the RDA)
• Folate: 60.08 microgrammes (15% of the RDA)
• Zinc: 0.412 mg (5% of the RDA)

Vitamin C, folate, copper, and zinc are essential for a good immune system and increasing your consumption of these vitamins and minerals will give your immunity a strong boost.⁵ Magnesium, manganese, and vitamins B1 & B2 all play important roles in functions in your body other than immunity, and they are also essential for a healthy body.

Along with other vitamins and minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, potassium, niacin, and plenty of fibre, mangosteen is a very well-rounded fruit with many health benefits, and its vitamins and minerals not only aid in immune system support but can also improve your overall health.⁴

Mechanisms of immune support

Antioxidant activity

The goal of consuming antioxidants is to reduce the free radicals in your body. When free radicals are in excess, they can damage important cells such as immune cells in many different ways.³ It can cause just general oxidative stress to cells, cause DNA damage, damage immune cells such as phagocytes or lymphocytes, which are the cells responsible for getting rid of harmful and infectious organisms, or just create an impaired immune response. Therefore antioxidant consumption is essential for staying healthy with a strong immune system.

Xanthones: Xanthones in mangosteen have been shown to have very strong antioxidant properties, with them reducing lipid peroxidation, eliminating free radicals, and inhibiting the activities of several enzymes, including beta-secretase and acetylcholinesterase. This all essentially means xanthones are very powerful antioxidants, and greatly reduce or even eliminate the effects of free radicals.

Vitamin C: Vitamin C is a very well-known vitamin for a good reason. It is an amazing antioxidant for reducing free radicals and boosting the immune system, and luckily mangosteen is quite high in it.

Anti-inflammatory effects

Reducing inflammation is very important in regulating your immune system, as reduced inflammation means there’s less stress to your immune system, and your immune system can stay balanced.

Inhibition of cytokines: Although pro-inflammatory cytokines are important for the body, an excess of them can lead to inflammation. Xanthones in mangosteen can regulate these cytokines, leading to a more stabilised inflammatory response.³

Suppression of cyclooxygenase-2: Xanthones have also been seen to inhibit cyclooxygenase-2, an enzyme which is involved in the inflammatory process.⁶ By inhibiting this, xanthones can further reduce inflammation.

Supporting immune cells

Macrophages: Polysaccharides extracted from mangosteen have been shown to improve the phagocytosis of macrophages, which essentially means it promotes immune cells to engulf and break down the harmful particles that can cause disease.³

Lymphocytes: Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell that protects us against infections and is an essential part of the immune system. Xanthones in mangosteen can increase the number of T cells, which are a type of lymphocyte.⁷ With increased T cells, the immune response is improved.

Relevant research

A great way of determining whether the effects of mangosteen are significant or not is to look at research papers examining the relationship between mangosteen and the immune system. Here we will be looking at 3 papers, with all of them exploring different ways of consuming mangosteen.

Effect of a mangosteen dietary supplement on human immune function

In this study, participants were given a mangosteen supplement over a 30 day period. ⁷ Over this period, one group of participants were given the supplement, while the other group were given a placebo and also not allowed to use any alternative natural medicine during this time. The results showed that the participants taking the supplement had the frequency of their T cells increased by 0.28%, while the placebo group actually had their T cell frequency decreased by 0.18%. This large difference between the two groups not only highlights the great impact mangosteen has on the immune system, but it also shows the importance of maintaining a healthy diet with the appropriate supplements, since the placebo group had their immune cells reduced from not taking supplements.

Daily consumption of mangosteen-based drinks improves antioxidant and anti-inflammatory biomarkers in healthy adults

This study was done to explore the effects of a mangosteen-based beverage on immunity, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory biomarkers in humans.¹ The results after a 30-day trial showed that the participants who regularly drank the mangosteen-based drink had 15% more antioxidant capacity in their bloodstream, and they had their inflammation biomarkers decreased by 46%. However the immunity biomarkers were not affected, and this is due to the drink being mainly based on the mangosteen fruit rather than the peel, while the peel is what is the richest in xanthones and polysaccharides. However, even with just the consumption of the fruit, we can see that free radicals were still greatly targeted and the participants had improved inflammation response and antioxidant concentration.

Dietary administration of mangosteen peel extract enhances the growth and physiological and immunoendocrinological regulation of prawn

This study was done on prawns to look over the effects of mangosteen peel extract, 

The results showed a significant increase in haemocytes, which are the prawn equivalent to human macrophages which we previously discussed.⁸ The prawns developed good protection against common harmful organisms which would previously put the prawns at risk, and it enhanced the innate immune response in the prawns. Therefore, it was considered a great immunostimulant for future use.

Summary

The high nutritional value of mangosteen, coupled with the xanthones and polysaccharides, makes this an excellent addition to your diet for an improved immune system. Mangosteen helps combat free radicals and supports cells involved in your immune system such as macrophages and lymphocytes in carrying out their function in protecting your body from harmful organisms like bacteria. Not only that, but it can reduce inflammation which can impact your immune system, while overall being beneficial to your health due to its nutrients and antibacterial and anti-cancer properties.

Mangosteen is an incredible source of nutrients and a perfect source for improving your immune system support. However, it should be noted that since xanthones, the most important compounds in mangosteen, are concentrated in the peel of mangosteen, it would be more beneficial to look into mangosteen supplements or sources of mangosteen which include the peel, rather than just the fruit.

Even if you choose to only consume the fruits of mangosteen, you will still gain all the vitamins and minerals that are essential for a well-functioning immune system and body, and it will still be very beneficial for you.