What the evidence says. Early or small human trials; promising but not yet conclusive.
Nutrition per serving 1 cup, drained (196 g), canned in syrup
Water158.6 g81%
Sugars31.6 g16%
Fibre3.5 g2%
Protein0.8 g0%
Fat1.1 g1%
What's in one serving, by weight — average composition (USDA).One serving as % of the adult daily requirement (FDA Daily Values). The bold outer ring = 100% of a day's needs.
Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) is a fruit used for antioxidant capacity: a xanthone-rich mangosteen beverage acutely raised plasma orac by up to 60% within 1 h in healthy adults (smaller multi-ingredient liquids showed ~18%). NutriDex grades the human evidence as Preliminary. Human evidence for mangosteen is preliminary and dominated by small, often industry-linked trials of xanthone-rich juices, beverages or pericarp extracts rather than the fresh edible aril most people eat. Pharmacokinetic work confirms alpha-mangostin is absorbed (especially with a high-fat meal, though only ~2% appears in urine) and that the beverages transiently raise plasma antioxidant capacity. A few short randomized trials report lower CRP and favorable immune shifts, improved insulin sensitivity (HOMA-IR) in obese women, and adjunctive benefit of a topical pericarp gel in periodontitis, but sample sizes are tiny (often 10-60 participants), durations short, and several test multi-ingredient products (mangosteen combined with aloe, green tea and multivitamins) that confound attribution to mangosteen itself. There are no large outcome trials and no meta-analyses of clinical endpoints; much of the antioxidant/anticancer literature is in vitro or animal-based. The edible aril is also nutritionally modest, so claimed benefits hinge on concentrated pericarp xanthones rather than eating the fruit. Overall it is a pleasant, safe food, but marketed disease claims for mangosteen supplements outrun the human data.
Purported Benefits
✓Antioxidant capacity: a xanthone-rich mangosteen beverage acutely raised plasma ORAC by up to 60% within 1 h in healthy adults (smaller multi-ingredient liquids showed ~18%)
✓Anti-inflammatory/immune: 30-day supplementation lowered C-reactive protein and modulated immune markers (T-helper frequency, complement) in a small RCT of a multi-ingredient mangosteen product
✓Insulin sensitivity: 26-week mangosteen extract improved HOMA-IR vs behavioral therapy alone in obese women (small pilot RCT, n=20 completers)
✓Periodontal/oral health: topical pericarp gel as an adjunct to scaling/root planing improved pocket depth and gingival/bleeding indices
✓Bioavailability of alpha-mangostin: confirmed absorption and glucuronide/sulfate conjugation when taken with a high-fat meal (only ~2% recovered in urine)
✓Acne: topical alpha-mangostin nanoparticles improved lesions in a tiny 4-week split-face trial (n=10)
Dosing & Compounds
Typical Dose
1 medium fruit (~3-4 segments of edible aril, ~40-60 g flesh); studied supplement doses use ~59-245 mL xanthone-rich juice/beverage or pericarp extracts, not the fresh aril
Active Compounds
Prenylated xanthones (alpha-mangostin, gamma-mangostin) - the signature bioactives, concentrated in the pericarp/rindGarcinones (C, D, E) and gartanins - minor xanthonesTannins and procyanidins (condensed tannins of the rind)Phenolic acids and flavonoids (epicatechin; anthocyanins give the purple rind)Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) - modest amount in edible arilB vitamins (thiamin, riboflavin, folate)Dietary fiber (soluble and insoluble in the aril)Minerals (potassium, magnesium, copper, manganese) in small amounts
Safety & Cautions
⚠
The fresh aril is generally safe as a food. Concern is mainly with concentrated juices/supplements: a published case of severe, refractory lactic acidosis followed daily mangosteen juice for ~12 months (possible mitochondrial electron-transport interference). Its antioxidant load may theoretically blunt some chemotherapy (anthracyclines, platinums, alkylators) and radiation, so avoid high-dose supplements during active cancer treatment. Alpha-mangostin and related xanthones can modulate several CYP450 enzymes (e.g., CYP1A2, 2C9, 2D6, 3A) in preclinical work, raising drug-interaction potential; possible additive immunosuppression with calcineurin inhibitors (cyclosporine, tacrolimus). Canned-in-syrup and juice products are high in added sugar - a consideration in diabetes. A theoretical antiplatelet effect warrants caution around surgery or with anticoagulants pending data. Educational only — always check with your doctor or pharmacist before combining Mangosteen with any medicine.
Mangosteen is most often taken for Antioxidant capacity: a xanthone-rich mangosteen beverage acutely raised plasma ORAC by up to 60% within 1 h in healthy adults (smaller multi-ingredient liquids showed ~18%), Anti-inflammatory/immune: 30-day supplementation lowered C-reactive protein and modulated immune markers (T-helper frequency, complement) in a small RCT of a multi-ingredient mangosteen product, Insulin sensitivity: 26-week mangosteen extract improved HOMA-IR vs behavioral therapy alone in obese women (small pilot RCT, n=20 completers), Periodontal/oral health: topical pericarp gel as an adjunct to scaling/root planing improved pocket depth and gingival/bleeding indices. Xanthone-rich tropical fruit, more hype than proof
Does Mangosteen work — what does the evidence say?
Preliminary evidence. Early or small human trials; promising but not yet conclusive. Human evidence for mangosteen is preliminary and dominated by small, often industry-linked trials of xanthone-rich juices, beverages or pericarp extracts rather than the fresh edible aril most people eat. Pharmacokinetic work confirms alpha-mangostin is absorbed (especially with a high-fat meal, though only ~2% appears in urine) and that the beverages transiently raise plasma antioxidant capacity. A few short randomized trials report lower CRP and favorable immune shifts, improved insulin sensitivity (HOMA-IR) in obese women, and adjunctive benefit of a topical pericarp gel in periodontitis, but sample sizes are tiny (often 10-60 participants), durations short, and several test multi-ingredient products (mangosteen combined with aloe, green tea and multivitamins) that confound attribution to mangosteen itself. There are no large outcome trials and no meta-analyses of clinical endpoints; much of the antioxidant/anticancer literature is in vitro or animal-based. The edible aril is also nutritionally modest, so claimed benefits hinge on concentrated pericarp xanthones rather than eating the fruit. Overall it is a pleasant, safe food, but marketed disease claims for mangosteen supplements outrun the human data.
What is the typical dose of Mangosteen?
1 medium fruit (~3-4 segments of edible aril, ~40-60 g flesh); studied supplement doses use ~59-245 mL xanthone-rich juice/beverage or pericarp extracts, not the fresh aril
Is Mangosteen safe? Any cautions or side effects?
The fresh aril is generally safe as a food. Concern is mainly with concentrated juices/supplements: a published case of severe, refractory lactic acidosis followed daily mangosteen juice for ~12 months (possible mitochondrial electron-transport interference). Its antioxidant load may theoretically blunt some chemotherapy (anthracyclines, platinums, alkylators) and radiation, so avoid high-dose supplements during active cancer treatment. Alpha-mangostin and related xanthones can modulate several CYP450 enzymes (e.g., CYP1A2, 2C9, 2D6, 3A) in preclinical work, raising drug-interaction potential; possible additive immunosuppression with calcineurin inhibitors (cyclosporine, tacrolimus). Canned-in-syrup and juice products are high in added sugar - a consideration in diabetes. A theoretical antiplatelet effect warrants caution around surgery or with anticoagulants pending data.
How many studies support Mangosteen?
NutriDex cites 13 sources for Mangosteen, graded "Preliminary".
Cite this page
APA
Peh, D. (2026). Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana): Benefits, Dosage, Side Effects & Evidence. NutriDex — The Supplement Research Compendium. Retrieved 16 Sept 2026, from https://nutridex.info/s/mangosteen
BibTeX
@misc{nutridex_mangosteen,
author = {Peh, Daryl},
title = {Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana): Benefits, Dosage, Side Effects \& Evidence},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {NutriDex --- The Supplement Research Compendium},
url = {https://nutridex.info/s/mangosteen},
note = {Reviewed by Dr Daryl Peh, MBBS Singapore, MMed FM. Accessed 2026-09-16}
}
For medical claims, citing the underlying primary studies linked above is preferred. NutriDex is an educational reference, not medical advice.