Risk factors
include a family history of arthritis, being over 50, being obese or having
experienced repeated joint injury. The juice of the mangosteen, an Asian fruit,
contains natural compounds that may help relieve the inflammation and pain of
arthritis. Consult your doctor to determine if adding mangosteen to your
regimen is advisable for you.
Mangosteen
The mangosteen, or
Garcinia mangostana, is a Southeast Asian plant that produces fruit similar in
size and shape to a tangerine. The fruit has a thick, reddish rind surrounding
creamy, white flesh divided into several segments. Mangosteen is a traditional
component of Asian herbal medicine, often used by practitioners to treat
gastric upset and diarrhea, or as a topical treatment for skin wounds and
infections. It also contains a number of natural compounds called xanthones
that may have many health benefits, including treatment of arthritis.
Xanthones
Mangosteen
contains over 40 compounds that belong to a class called xanthones, natural
antioxidants with many potential health benefits. These compounds are contained
in all parts of the fruit, but are most concentrated in the rind or skin.
Because of their antioxidant properties, xanthones help remove free radicals,
byproducts of metabolism that may potentially damage cells. Two of these
compounds, alpha-mangostin and gamma-mangostin, also inhibit the activity of
two enzymes, called COX-1 and COX-2, that help cause inflammation and the pain
of arthritis.
The
Evidence
A number of
laboratory studies examined the possible anti-inflammatory activity of
xanthones in mangosteen. For example, in the January 2002 "Biochemica
Pharmacology," Dr. K. Nakatini and colleagues report finding that
gamma-mangostin inhibits COX enzymes and reduces production of prostaglandin,
an inflammatory compound, in cell cultures. In addition, Dr. L. Chen and
colleagues published a study in the February 2008 "Food and Chemical
Toxicology" showing that both alpha-mangostin and gamma-mangostin have
anti-inflammatory activity in animals and in cultured cells. These and other
studies suggest that mangosteen may reduce or prevent the inflammation caused
by arthritis, although clinical studies in humans are needed to confirm this
possibility.
Mangosteen is
available as juice or as a supplement in capsules from health food stores.
Although it is generally considered safe, the juice contains sugar and may not
be suitable for diabetics. In addition, the antioxidant properties of
mangosteen may interfere with the action of certain drugs, including
chemotherapy drugs. Consult your doctor to determine if consuming mangosteen is
appropriate for your situation.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Arthritis
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Mangosteen
- MayoClinic.com: Can Drinking Mangosteen Juice Reduce Arthritis Inflammation and Pain?
- PubMed.gov: "Anti-inflammatory Activity of Mangostins from Garcinia Mangostana," Chen, G. et al. "Food and Chemical Toxicology," 2008
- PubMed.gov: "Inhibition of Cyclooxygenase and Prostaglandin E2 Synthesis by Gamma-mangostin, a Xanthose Derivative in Mangosteen, in C6 Rat Glioma Cells," Nakatani, K. et al. "Biochemical Phamacology," 2002
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