What are Xanthones?...

The mangosteen fruit is growing in popularity around the world. However, its active ingredients, xanthones, are still relatively unknown. What are xanthones? In 1855, a German scientist (Schmid) isolated a yellow, crystalline compound from the pericarp of the mangosteen fruit.[1] Due to its yellow color, he named the compound after the Greek word for yellow (xanthus). Thus, the term “xanthone,” has been in use since.[2] Xanthones are “biologically active” and “taxonomically restricted.”[3] In other words, xanthones possess numerous bioactive...

How well do you know the Mangosteen?...

Just when you thought you knew everything there is to know about the mangosteen fruit, here are some facts you might not have known. Name: The latin name for our beloved mangosteen fruit is Garcinia mangostana L. The plant is in the family name Guttiferae and the genus Garcinia is an honor bestowed upon Laurent Garcin by Linaeus for his work as a botanist and naturalist in the 18th century. Tree: The mangosteen tree is an evergreen, cultivated tree that grows 20-82 feet (6-25 meters) tall and grows in tropical climates. The tree needs approximately 50 inches of annual...