Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) is a plant that grows in Southeast Asia. The fruit is dark purple or red. The fruit pulp is slightly acidic and sweet.
Mangosteen contains chemicals that might act as antioxidants and fight infections.
People use mangosteen for serious gum infections, obesity, muscle strength, diarrhea, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these uses.
Uses and Effectiveness
Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.
The effectiveness ratings for MANGOSTEEN are as follows:
Possibly effective for…
- A serious gum infection (periodontitis). Taking mangosteen by mouth or applying a gel containing mangosteen to the gums might help improve gum health.
There is interest in using mangosteen for a number of other purposes, but there isn’t enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.
Safety and Side Effects
When applied to the gums: Mangosteen gel is possibly safe.
Special precautions & warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn’t enough reliable information to know if mangosteen is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Bleeding disorders: Mangosteen might slow blood clotting. Taking mangosteen might increase the risk of bleeding in people with bleeding disorders.
Surgery: Mangosteen might slow blood clotting. Taking mangosteen might increase the risk of bleeding during or after surgery. Stop taking mangosteen 2 weeks before surgery.
Interactions with Medications
- Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs)
- Mangosteen might slow blood clotting. Taking mangosteen along with medications that also slow blood clotting might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.
- Donepezil (Aricept)
- Mangosteen might increase the effects of donepezil.
Interactions with Herbs and Supplements
- Herbs and supplements that might slow blood clotting
- Mangosteen might slow blood clotting and increase the risk of bleeding. Taking it with other supplements with similar effects might increase the risk of bleeding in some people. Examples of supplements with this effect include garlic, ginger, ginkgo, nattokinase, and Panax ginseng.
Interactions with Foods
- There are no known interactions with foods.
Dosage
Other Names
Amibiasine, Fruit des Rois, Garcinia mangostana, Jus de Xango, Mang Cut, Manggis, Manggistan, Mangosta, Mangostan, Mangostán, Mangostana, Mangostanier, Mangostao, Mangostier, Mangoustan, Mangoustanier, Mangouste, Mangoustier, Manguita, Meseter, Queen of Fruit, Queen of Fruits, Sementah, Semetah, Xango, Xango Juice.
Source: MedlinePlus