Health Benefits of Xanthones

XANTHONES are natural chemical compounds that are considered to be some of the most “biologically active” plant-derived compounds. Xanthones have a range of different health benefits. This article will show some of the most exciting research, & many benefits they offer...

The Mangosteen plant - Latin name Garcinia mangostana - is a native of South East Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia) & is sometimes known as the “Queen of Fruits”. The multiple medicinal benefits, have begun to be verified in carefully-controlled laboratory studies. Xanthones are found in all parts of the Mangosteen plant, but are most concentrated in the “pericarp” - the tough hull or outer skin of the fruit which is removed before eating. To experience the full xanthone & nutritional value of mangosteen, a whole fruit product needs to be consumed.

Extracts from the pericarp have been traditionally used to speed up wound healing & to treat conditions like dysentery, but increasing interest in the medical benefits of xanthones has shown many additional effects from the high concentrations of xanthones found in Mangosteen,

A Rich Source of Antioxidants

The concept of “free radicals” is well established. These unstable molecules have an uneven number of electrons flying around them & they attempt to “steal” electrons from other molecules. Once molecules lose an electron then they too try to scavenge electrons from others, & so the process cascades. This leads to significant damage & seems intricately linked to a range of unfortunate biological processes, from natural ageing to the onset of heart disease. Antioxidants are the solution. They freely donate electrons to free radicals, thus balancing them out & preventing damage to cells. Xanthones offer exceptionally high levels of protection against free radicals. A group of volunteers were given a xanthone-rich beverage made from crushed Mangosteen for a period of 30 days. At the end of this study, blood samples proved that consuming the Mangosteen beverage gave 15% more antioxidant capacity than the control group. The consumption of Mangosteen xanthones “significantly increases antioxidant capacity & possesses anti-inflammatory benefits with no side effects on immune, hepatic, & renal functions for long-term consumption.”

Helps to Control Inflammation

Inflammation is your body's way of dealing with infection or tissue damage. The immune system will focus on one particular area of the body, & send in white blood cells to tackle the identified problem. However, inflammation is not positive over an extended period of time. Chronic inflammation can lead to swelling, discomfort, allergies, atherosclerosis & some forms of arthritis. Natural treatments that reduce inflammation can have enormous value.  Mangosteen acts as a natural healing remedy. It can reduce swelling & inflammation of wounds, thus speeding up the healing process. The anti-inflammatory properties of Mangosteen have been demonstrated in a laboratory setting, in which human cells known to signal inflammation were monitored before & after applying Mangosteen-derived xanthones. Mangosteen positively impacted a range of different messengers & justified “the traditional use of Garcinia mangostana fruit hull for treatment of inflammatory conditions”.

If you want to manage inflammation, particularly chronic diseases in which inflammation represents a key ingredient, mangosteen xanthones represent a potent natural solution.

Confers Antimicrobial Benefits

We have already highlighted the traditional use of Mangosteen for the treatment of wounds. The anti-inflammatory properties of xanthones have been confirmed in laboratory settings, as well as their ability to fight pathogens such as bacteria, fungi and viruses.

One study treated 18 different common bacterial strains with a xanthone solution, & the xanthones reduced bacterial growth by between 72% and 83% depending on species.

Other studies examined the effect of xanthones on microbes known to be of medical importance. Studies found that xanthones have “moderate activity” against Staphylococcus aureus. This is the bacterium that causes “Staph infections”. Minor, surface-based infections can lead to skin boils, abscesses & wound infections or more serious consequences that can include toxic shock syndrome, sepsis & even pneumonia.

Along with bacteria being affected by xanthones; studies showed they also impact a variety of fungal species. One such study looked at the effects of xanthones on three different fungi & announced that “natural xanthones showed good inhibitory activity”. Most interesting was the effect xanthones had on Alternaria alternata which can cause respiratory problems.

Hepatitis C is a virus that damages the liver. Mangosteen xanthones α-mangostin & γ-mangostin are effective at preventing the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) from replicating. This can protect the liver from the level of damage normally seen. As the experts concluded, “this finding will provide a valuable molecular basis to further develop Mangosteen as an important dietary supplement to combat HCV-induced liver diseases”.

Improved Skin Health

The well-known anti-inflammatory & anti-bacterial properties of Mangosteen xanthones improve some skin conditions. For example, Cutibacterium acnes is a bacterium linked to cases of acne. Cutibacterium acnes live in pores of the skin & hair follicles, causing no major problems until their populations multiply rapidly causing skin inflammation. Acne is a result. Certain mangosteen xanthones are able to suppress the inflammation caused by Cutibacterium acnes bacteria, keeping skin healthier & better-looking.

"Atopic dermatitis” also called “eczema” is linked to inflammation. Most skin experts agree that it is caused in part by an allergic reaction that causes skin inflammation & dryness.The potent anti-inflammatory properties of xanthones offer relief to eczema sufferers. Inflammation arises when the body sends out messengers - known as cytokines - which then trigger the reaction.

Studies have proven that multiple xanthones are able to downregulate these chemical pathways that cause inflammation - specifically known to experts as the “nuclear factor (NF)κB signaling pathway”. Xanthones seem able to “cut the telephone cable”, preventing pro-inflammatory messengers from being released, & thus reducing symptoms of inflammation.

Xanthones also benefit skin by a process known as glycosylation. This occurs naturally in the body when sugar binds to collagen in the skin & substances known as Advanced Glycation End Products (AGE's) are produced as a byproduct. AGE's accumulate in the skin, & contribute to skin ageing. Xanthones reduce the production of AGE's. One study provided 100mg of a xanthone-rich Mangosteen extract per day to a group of volunteers for three months. This treatment “reduced AGE accumulation in the skin” & “the elasticity & moisture content of the skin was also improved”.

From skin ageing to dryness, from eczema to acne, the beneficial effects of xanthones on the skin are wide-ranging. 

Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic Syndrome is an umbrella term used to describe a range of conditions associated with cardiovascular disease & diabetes. The seriousness of these conditions cannot be underestimated, as their prevalence continues to increase in the developed world, leading to them being implicated as the number one cause of death in the West.

Cytokines can be thought of as chemical messengers in the body. When they are released the body responds by increasing inflammation in the affected area as white blood cells rush in. In healthy people this inflammation can be positively beneficial - helping to direct the immune system to potentially dangerous infections that need to be eliminated. Studies have also found, however, that one cytokine in particular - cytokine TNF-α - can reduce insulin sensitivity. Worryingly, cytokine TNF-α is produced by the adipose tissues that store fat in the body. This means that obesity can contribute to insulin resistance which, ultimately, can lead to diabetes.

This is hardly news. The link between obesity & diabetes has long been known. Xanthones, may prove another useful tool in this battle.

Xanthones in Mangosteen have been found to have a significant impact on the development of insulin resistance. A study treated human cells with xanthones found in Mangosteen, & they disrupted the production of inflammatory cytokines. In doing so, they may reduce the danger of insulin resistance arising.

However, it's not just the potential for xanthones to disrupt inflammatory signals that can confer benefits for Metabolic Syndrome. A group of scientists investigating the benefits of a xanthone found that a xanthone-rich formula reduced the multiplication of fat cells in the body & also led to these cells absorbing less fat from the gut.  There's more. The onset of heart disease can be a slow, progressive process with no external symptoms until serious complications occur. One of the most common elements involves a gradual build-up of cholesterol in the arteries that feed the heart - known to doctors as atherosclerosis. The process of atherosclerosis is complex and can have multiple causes. One of these is the process of oxidative damage to LDL-cholesterol molecules - often termed “bad cholesterol” in the media.Free radicals, which are absorbed from your environment, or are created in normal metabolic processes have the potential to turn standard LDL cholesterol into a slightly different form known as OxLDL. Preventing the chemical reaction that turns LDL cholesterol into OxLDL can be an effective way to slow the onset of atherosclerosis and, by extension, heart disease. We have already mentioned a number of studies outlining the antioxidant potential of xanthones, so it should come as no surprise that these same xanthones help reduce the transformation of LDL to OxLDL in the body.

One study that sought to confirm this assumption gave one group of participants a typical diet, another a diet that was high in cholesterol (lipids), while a third group consumed a high cholesterol diet combined with Mangosteen fruit known to be rich in xanthones. As expected, the control group saw no major rise in signs of atherosclerosis, while the high cholesterol participants experienced a rise in potentially-harmful LDL cholesterol. More interestingly, blood samples from those taking the Mangosteen fruit showed a significantly lower level of OxLDL than might otherwise be expected, leading the experts to conclude that Mangosteen can “positively affect plasma lipid profile[s] & antioxidant activity in… cholesterol containing diets”.

Bearing in mind the seriousness of metabolic conditions - from obesity to diabetes & heart disease - it is little wonder that xanthones have attracted so much interest to date. One group of scientists, reviewing all the research to date concluded that “Mangosteen & its xanthones have good potential for controlling & modification of metabolic syndrome & its related disorders such as obesity, disrupted lipid profile, diabetes & its complications”.

Cancer Fighting Properties

Xanthones from the Mangosteen have been proven as a potential treatment for a number of different cancers. Some xanthones may offer protective benefits against the appearance of cancerous cells in the first place.

Apoptosis is the name scientists give to the natural age-related death of cells - including cancer cells. If apoptosis can be accelerated - outpacing the rate of cell replication - then tumours may reduce in size or even die entirely.

One study experimented with human tumour cells treated with xanthones while the rate of apoptosis was measured. It was found that the standard rate of early cell death in untreated samples was just 1.7%, yet in cells treated with the most common Mangosteen-derived xanthone this increased to an incredible 59.6%. Xanthones were able to disrupt the production of energy in the cancerous cells. The cells literally starved to death as a result. Similar improvements in cancer cell apoptosis have been demonstrated by researchers in both human leukemia & breast cancer cells.

Lastly, some interesting research has also been carried out on prostate cancer - a major cause of mortality among older men. The study group was split into two halves, with one group receiving 100mg of the xanthone α-mangostin per kilogram of body weight per day. After 34 days it was found that the average prostate cancer tumor had grown to a volume of 1190mm3 in the untreated group, but just 310mm3 in the xanthone-treated individuals. In short, xanthone research has shown some very positive impacts  & only time will tell if xanthones become part of an accepted treatment regime in the future....meanwhile, I consume whole fruit mangosteen daily for these proven protective benefits.

Conclusion

The “Queen of Fruits” has been exceptionally well-named. With so many different xanthones recognised, & such a wealth of varied health benefits, experts have really only begun to scratch the surface of what these amazing natural substances may be capable of. From inflammation to free radical protection, from improvements in the skin, heart disease, anti cancer protection & more, we see the potential of consuming more xanthones in the diet. While research is ongoing, an increasing number of people are opting to supplement their diet with xanthones.

Bearing in mind the body of research completed to date, it would seem that consuming a supplement that includes the more beneficial pericarp is an excellent daily addition to everyones health regimen.

• In 2002 the mangosteen whole fruit product was first made commercially available. It contains ALL the pericarp plus pulp, & thus ALL the xanthones mangosteen offers. Delicious & effective, it remains the premium mangosteen product in the world. Carefully sourced mangosteens are formulated into XANGO in the USA, NSF certified, & shipped around the world. Best consumed in small 1-3 ounce servings spaced throughout the day, it is a safe product & efficacious for the whole family. This is the only mangosteen product I will consume...don't be fooled by gimmicks or knock off products. 

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