| Cancer is one of the most common | | | | should only be to give the body enough nutrition |
| life-threatening illnesses in the world today. Many | | | | and strengthen the anti-cancer cells. |
| people are suffering from it, but medical science | | | | To benefit from this natural treatment, it is |
| has not yet found a cure to beat this terminal | | | | recommended that a cancer patient drink at least |
| disease. Many herbal concoctions have come out | | | | ten ounces and at most twenty ounces of |
| in the market saying they can cure cancer. The | | | | mangosteen juice a day. |
| mangosteen is one of the fruits believed to be | | | | Mangosteen and durian |
| able to cure cancer. Is there really a truth to this? | | | | If there is a king and queen in a prom and a king |
| Mangosteen's anti-cancer properties | | | | and queen in chess, would you believe that there |
| Researches have shown that the Xanthones | | | | is also a "King and Queen of All Tropical Fruits?" |
| compound found in the Mangosteen fruit carry | | | | Yes, that's right! And this title belongs to the |
| the properties of anti-leukemia, anti-tumor (shrinks | | | | durian (Durio zibethinus) and mangosteen (Garcinia |
| the tumor in the body), anti-fungal (critical for all | | | | mangostana), respectively. |
| cancer patients), antibacterial (protects the DNA), | | | | Both "royal" fruits are native to Southeast Asia. |
| antioxidants, and anti-proliferation (kills cancer cells). | | | | They thrive in a warm, humid, equatorial climate. |
| This is perhaps why the mangosteen is revered | | | | The durian |
| as a possible cancer cure. | | | | The durian tree is tall and large. Be sure to stay |
| Xanthones in Mangosteen | | | | away from falling durians because the covering of |
| What makes the mangosteen unique from other | | | | the fruit is made up of hard spines and it weighs |
| fruits that also have anti-cancer properties (like | | | | several kilograms. To open a durian, insert a stout |
| grapes and berries) is the natural occurrence of | | | | knife into a line visible among its spines. Durians |
| Xanthones in the fruit. Most scientific researches | | | | consist of about five segments with several |
| on mangosteen state that it contains about two | | | | seeds in each segment, and are surrounded by |
| dozen Xanthones. However, most of the | | | | custard-like aril. Freshly fallen fruits taste better |
| Xanthones in the fruit have yet to be researched | | | | and are less pungent. |
| for structure, function, and properties. | | | | The mangosteen |
| Some of the Xanthones found in mangosteen are | | | | Mangosteens can be classified according to color - |
| alpha-Mangostin, beta-Mangostin, 3-Isomangostin, | | | | yellow mangosteens and purple mangosteens. |
| Mangostanol, Gertanin, Garcinone A, Garcinone B, | | | | Yellow mangosteens are easier to grow and bring |
| Garcinone C, Garcinone D, Garcinone E, and | | | | to fruiting than purple mangosteens. Other species |
| Maclurin among others. | | | | of yellow mangosteen include the mundu (G. |
| Mangosteen has numerous health benefits, most | | | | dulcis), the kochin goroka (G. xanthochymus), and |
| resulting from the Xanthones and their antioxidant | | | | the asam gelugur (G. atroviridis). |
| properties. However, mangosteen also contains | | | | Mangosteens, when ripe, are dark red. They taste |
| other vitamins, minerals, and enzymes like | | | | best if harvested before they get darker (say, |
| catechins and polyphenols. | | | | purple or blue-black). They do not ripen |
| Taking Advantage of the Treatment | | | | post-harvest. The fruit size is the same as that of |
| While mangosteen seems to be an effective | | | | an apple and tastes like a mixture of orange and |
| cancer treatment by itself, the evidence in terms | | | | strawberry. The outer skin or rind measures up |
| of actual experiments are not yet enough and | | | | to 8 mm thick and is rich in tannic acid, making |
| conclusive. Eating mangosteen should only be | | | | fruit insects resistant. To open a mangosteen, cut |
| supplementary to the main treatment to ensure | | | | only through its skin, then lightly pull and twist the |
| the wellness of the patient. Its main function | | | | fruit apart. |