Can drinking mangosteen juice reduce arthritis inflammation and pain?
A number of laboratory and animal studies suggest that mangosteen has significant anti-inflammatory effects. Unfortunately, at this time, there have been no human studies to determine if these anti-inflammatory effects will be helpful to people with arthritis or other inflammatory conditions. Mangosteen is a tropical fruit native to Southeast Asia. Despite its name, mangosteen is not related to the mango. The fruit is the size and shape of a tangerine, with a thick, dark rind and creamy flesh. Mangosteen is marketed as a supplement, as a juice and in capsule form. The juice typically consists of a mix of mangosteen and other fruit juices, such as apple, pear and blueberry — with an often undisclosed amount of mangosteen juice. Like many fruits and vegetables, mangosteen is a rich source of antioxidants. Antioxidants are natural compounds in foods that may protect against certain diseases, such as heart disease and cancer. Mangosteen also contains some unique chemicals called xanthones,