Sunday, April 24, 2011

Mangosteen - Queen Of Tropical Fruit

Mangosteen Fruit (Garcinia mangostana)

Garcinia is a Genus of 400 species with seven being indigenous to Australia but plants that produce edible fruits are few. The most well known in commerce is the delicious Mangosteen from Malaya and SE. Asia with peach like flowers and purplish fruits, known as "Queen of Tropical Fruit".

Dried Fruit

Mangosteen is a small and slow-growing tropical evergreen tree growing to a maximum of about 20m. The tree is a broad leafed evergreen with short columnar or pyramidal form. The large green/yellow flowers are tinged with red - about 20-30 mm in diameter occurring singly or in pairs on older branchlets. Male or hermaphrodite flowers can be found on the same tree.

Purple Mangosteen is a common fruit native to South East Asia and found in Thailand, India, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines requiring very humid, equatorial climate. The flavour is sweet and melting. It has a reputation for being the most delicious tropical fruit in existence! The tree takes from 12-20 years to reach full fruiting maturity. The seeds are edible and eaten boiled or roasted.

The accumulated knowledge of centuries of ancient Asian medicine has been passed down from generation to generation and also to early European explorers and settlers. It is no wonder that recent modern scientific research seeks to verify the traditional claims of the beneficial properties of the fruit and rind when research already indicates properties in the fruit that can inhibit several types of cancer including breast cancer, liver cancer and leukemia.

Mangosteen also has anti-histamine and anti-inflammatory properties. The whole fruit has been used traditionally, as a medicinal treatment for diarrhoea, skin infection and wounds throughout South East Asia.

One of the most powerful antioxidants in nature, called xanthone, is found in the Mangosteen pericarp and also in the whole fruit. Xanthones are recognized for their medicinal potential, and proven benefit in certain diseases as well as providing a general health benefit, particularly on the cardiovascular system. They are also naturally antibiotic, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory. Mangosteen has an inhibitory action against the bacterial organisms such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Staphylococcus aureus. It has also gained a reputation for effective strengthening the immune system.

Its cultivation outside S.E. Asia generally has little success because of the trees' need of heat and water. In spite of that, many people have tried to plant Mangosteen in other places, such as California, Florida, North Queensland with a degree of success. Mature trees of about 10 years of age begin to yield from 500-1500 fruits. Fruit quality is destroyed with refrigeration and this presents problems with marketing and transport.

The Mangosteen fruit consist of 3 major parts.

The Pericarp - is the rind or peel and contains the highest level of xanthones.

The fruit pulp - is considered as one of the tastiest fruits in the world - commercially offered as a juice

The seeds - found within the white pulp

The other known species of the genus also produce fruits that may have potentially similar properties but scientific tests have so far focused upon the popular "Queen of Fruits" or Purple Mangosteen to which the above information relates. Although other species offer fruits that are reported as edible, none deserve as much attention and appreciation as the one that is popularly known as the Mangosteen.

Other species however, may promise further rewards for those who persist in seeking to demonstrate the validity of traditional therapeutic claims such as the recent findings of the Purple Mangosteen in successful treatment of a wide range of difficult conditions such as autism and neurological diseases. Others offer avenues for possible discovery of other interesting properties-

1. gibbsiae Mountain Mangosteen of Australia from Atherton region is a tree with simple leaves and twigs that exude yellow latex. The fruits are to 60 mm with green flesh and are not edible. They contain clearly segmented 8 or 9 cells each containing a single seed has yellow waxy perfumed flowers and purple berries. It is attracting some attention by plant researchers.

2. hanburyii Gutta gamba, Gamboge from Thailand and Sri Lanka provides the official Gamboge, a bright yellow pigment esteemed by artists because it imparted a wonderful orange colour to their paintings. Also used as dye for yellow robes of Buddhist priests. Still mentioned in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia for use in dropsical conditions and to lower blood pressure where there is cerebral congestion but now greater caution is advised.It has a reputation as a drastic and sometimes dangerous cathartic.

3. indica Goa Butter, Kokam butters, produce an edible oil from seeds. The dried fruit rind is used in curries.

4. intermedia Lemon Drop Mangosteen has pleasant melting flesh and wrinkled skin. All species of mangosteen rind is used as a spice.

5. mestonii Native Mangosteen, Meston's Mangosteen from Queensland rainforests growing to 15m. Flowers are pink in terminal clusters. Large reddish purple large, edible fruits to 7 cm. It is related but cannot compare to the exotic mangosteen. It has not been developed in cultivation.

6. sessilis has an ornamental deep pink/red flower is adopted as the national flower of Tonga.

7. subellipticad Fukugi from Japan is held as the floral symbol of Mobuto and Tarama on Okinawa.

8. tinctoria - related to the mangosteen - and is reported to have a delicious fruit.

9. warrenii Native Mangosteen White, beautifully fragrant flowers followed by round purple fruit with sweet orange/brown edible flesh. Slow growing to 13m. It has been recommended for cultivation. Branches and leaves when bruised exude yellow latex. It is a large fruit to 60 mm occurring singly or in clusters and contains either 2-3 seeds. Found from Babinda to Cape York.

Most species in Garcinia are known for their resins or yellowish gums used as purgatives but recent research claims to have found hydroxycitric acid in the rind. Although toxic it suggests an appetite suppressant could be developed as medication in over indulged wealthy countries. There is considerable interest in the successful results of the whole fruit juice in treatment of autism and many other symptoms so evident now in our chemically toxic environment.

Mangosteen - Queen Of Tropical Fruit

Aromatherapy or the science of Osmics is proving immensely popular when applied in self help or in professional healing. It is a delightful way to employ natural perfumes to assist mood and mind states and is particularly helpful as an adjunct to relaxation techniques and stress relief. Sally Wilson is an expert in aromatics and author of one of the earliest publications on the subject, directing its use in incense and in healing and has utilized the subtle benefits in her naturopathic practice over many years.

More details at associated sites....
http://www.essence-of-yoga.net
http://www.breathing-fragrance.com

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1 comments:

kumari said...

Great thoughts you got there, believe I may possibly try just some of it throughout my daily life.







Diwali Dry Fruits Gifts to Chennai

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