Background

• Mangosteen is a tropical tree native to Asia. In southeast Asian traditional medicine, such as Thai indigenous medicine, the fruit hulls (pericarp) or rinds of mangosteen are used for many different conditions, including skin infections, wounds, and diarrhea. Other plant parts, such as the leaves, bark, and fruit pulp, are also used in traditional medicine.
• Mangosteen contains many active phytochemicals. One set of compounds, the prenylated xanthones, has been well-researched; there are several laboratory studies showing antibacterial, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory effects, and studies in animals showing anti-inflammatory effects. However, currently there are no high-quality human trials supporting the effectiveness of mangosteen for any indication.

References

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