Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana). The rind (pericarp) holds the xanthones studied in supplements.

Herbs & Botanicals · Herbs · Tropical fruit sold as juice and rind extract, with low-certainty evidence for gum health at best

Mangosteen

Q: What is mangosteen used for?

Traditionally the fruit and rind were used for skin infections, wounds and diarrhea. Today juice and rind extract are sold for antioxidant, immune, blood sugar and weight claims. Research has mainly tested gum health, mood disorders as add-ons, and blood sugar, with low or very low evidence. Most of the biology comes from cell and animal studies.

Q: Is mangosteen safe?

Eaten as fruit it is a common food in Southeast Asia. Concentrated juice supplements, rind extracts and pure xanthones are different. Small trials reported no side effects, but one case report describes severe lactic acidosis with mangosteen juice, and lab work shows possible drug interactions. Ask a doctor or pharmacist, especially if you take medicines.

Q: Can mangosteen cause lactic acidosis?

One case report in 2008 describes severe lactic acidosis associated with mangosteen juice used as a supplement. Memorial Sloan Kettering summarises it as daily juice for 12 months. A single case cannot prove cause, and no other cases were found. We read only the abstract, so other illnesses or medicines are unknown. Seek urgent care for fast breathing, vomiting, severe weakness or confusion.

Q: Does mangosteen interact with blood thinners?

Possibly, but only lab data exist. Alpha- and gamma-mangostin reduced platelet clumping in rat platelets in a dish. No human case or trial with warfarin, aspirin or clopidogrel was found. Tell the doctor who manages your blood thinner before starting.

Q: Should I stop mangosteen before surgery?

No rule from a medical agency was found. Because of the lab platelet findings, a cautious step is to tell your surgeon about any mangosteen product and ask when to stop. This is a precaution, not a proven bleeding risk.

Q: Does mangosteen interact with other medicines?

Lab and animal work suggests it can block drug-processing enzymes (CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP3A4) and the P-gp drug pump, and in rats alpha-mangostin raised levels of the drug tofacitinib. Memorial Sloan Kettering also flags calcineurin inhibitors such as cyclosporine and tacrolimus. None has been shown in people. Ask a pharmacist before combining it with medicines that have a narrow safety margin.

Q: Does mangosteen lower blood sugar?

Maybe a little, but the human evidence is very weak. One pilot of 22 obese women found a larger fall in an insulin resistance score with a rind extract than with diet alone, and a review found only two human studies. Mangosteen juice contains sugar. If you take diabetes medicines, talk to your doctor first.

Q: Does mangosteen help with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder?

A good 24-week trial in schizophrenia found no benefit over placebo. A trial in bipolar depression found no clear difference on the main measure, with some secondary gains that faded. Do not stop psychiatric medicine for a supplement.

Q: Does mangosteen help with gum disease?

A mangosteen gel used by dentists as an add-on to deep cleaning improved pocket depth in several small trials, and propolis-mangosteen capsules lowered gum inflammation markers. Evidence is low, and the capsule contained propolis too.

Q: Does mangosteen help with weight loss or cancer?

No clear human evidence supports either. Cancer results are from cells and animals, and Memorial Sloan Kettering warns antioxidants may interfere with chemotherapy.

Garcinia mangostana L. · also called Mangosteen, purple mangosteen, mangostino (Spanish), mangoustan (French), mangostão (Portuguese), Mangostane (German), manggis (Indonesian and Malay), 山竹 shān zhú (Chinese)

Mangosteen is a tropical fruit tree from Southeast Asia. The pulp is eaten as a fruit. The tough rind (pericarp) is rich in plant chemicals called xanthones, such as alpha-mangostin, and is the part used in most supplements. Juice blends, rind extracts and pure xanthones are different products and have been tested in different ways. This profile is about mangosteen as a health product, not as a fruit snack. Most of the research is small, short, from the lab, or tested a mix of ingredients.

General information, not medical advice. Last substantive update October 25, 2026 · Not medically reviewed. A named clinician has not signed off on this page. How this page is made

About Mangosteen

Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) is a tropical fruit from Southeast Asia. The pulp is eaten as food. The rind (pericarp) is rich in xanthones such as alpha-mangostin and is the part used in extracts and many supplements; juice blends add other fruit juices. The research so far is mostly lab and animal work, with a handful of small human trials of mixed products. No use is rated better than low. Safety is not well mapped: there is one case of severe lactic acidosis with the juice, lab signs of drug interactions and platelet effects, and no data in pregnancy.

What it is

Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) is a tree of the family Clusiaceae, native to Southeast Asia. The fruit is round with a thick purple rind and sweet white pulp (a general description; the plant itself was not studied in our sources). The rind, called the pericarp, holds the xanthones that are the main focus of research.

Three kinds of product are tested and sold, and they are not the same: juice blends such as XanGo, rind (pericarp) extracts and powders, and pure xanthones such as alpha-mangostin used in the lab. Many trials also tested mixtures with propolis, vitamins, green tea or other herbs. This profile names the product in every result.

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Traditional and current uses

Memorial Sloan Kettering says mangosteen fruit is eaten and also used in traditional medicine for skin infections, wounds and diarrhea, and that clinical data for these uses are lacking. A 2023 review says traditional uses range from dysentery to wound healing.

Today mangosteen is sold as juice and rind extract for antioxidant, immune and anti-aging claims. A 2013 review notes aggressive marketing that made mangosteen a 'superfruit', with US drink sales above $200 million in 2008 despite very limited human studies. Be cautious about health claims from sellers, especially for cancer, immunity and weight loss. No EMA or NCCIH guidance on mangosteen was found.

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What is in it and how it works

The rind contains many prenylated xanthones; a 2023 review counts 68 and says alpha- and gamma-mangostin are the best studied. In the lab they are antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, slow cancer cells, and affect drug-processing enzymes, a drug pump and platelets.

How much reaches the blood is a big question. Pure alpha-mangostin was so poorly absorbed by mouth in rats that a full blood curve could not be drawn. In one human study of a combination liquid, alpha-mangostin appeared in blood at about 1 hour. Almost all the mechanism data are from cells and animals, at amounts far above ordinary fruit intake.

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What the research shows

Nothing is rated better than low. Gum health from a dentist-applied mangosteen gel, and from propolis-mangosteen capsules, is low, as is bipolar depression as an add-on. Insulin resistance, inflammation markers, immune markers, acne and skin are very low, from tiny trials, some paid for by the juice maker (XanGo) or testing mixtures.

Two trials found no benefit: a good 24-week trial in schizophrenia and a small trial of exercise fatigue. Weight loss, cancer and memory are insufficient, because no usable human trials were found. Results apply to the named product only, and an improved blood marker is not the same as better health.

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At a glance

Traditional uses history, not proof

Southeast Asian traditional medicine: the fruit and rind have been used for skin infections, wounds and diarrhea, according to Memorial Sloan Kettering. The clinical data for these uses are lacking.
Modern marketing: from about 2008 mangosteen juice and rind products were sold as antioxidant and immune 'superfruit' drinks; a 2013 review notes aggressive marketing and more than $200 million of US sales in 2008, despite very limited human studies.
Dentistry: small trials tested a mangosteen gel placed in gum pockets as an add-on to deep cleaning.

Studied for research

Gum health (mangosteen gel and propolis-mangosteen capsules), low
Bipolar depression as an add-on, low; insulin resistance, inflammation (CRP), immune markers, acne and skin, very low
Schizophrenia as an add-on, and tiredness during exercise: trials were negative; weight, cancer and memory: insufficient

Main compounds

Alpha-mangostin and gamma-mangostin: the main xanthones in the rind; antioxidant and anti-inflammatory in the lab, poorly absorbed in rats
Beta-mangostin, gartanin and garcinone E: other xanthones studied in the lab
Isogarcinol: a compound from mangosteen that blocks calcineurin, an immune-system enzyme, in the lab

Common forms

Fresh fruit pulp as food
Juice blends such as XanGo (made with fruit puree and other juices)
Rind (pericarp) powder or extract capsules
Gels used by dentists, and creams in mixed skin products

Research links: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: Mangosteen (About Herbs) · PubMed: Severe lactic acidosis associated with juice of the mangosteen fruit (case report) · GBIF: Garcinia mangostana L. (accepted name) · PubChem: alpha-mangostin · Research Library · Genes & Biomarkers Library

The plant and its history

Accepted scientific name: Garcinia mangostana L.
Naming authority: L. (Linnaeus), Species Plantarum 1: 443-444 (1753), per GBIF. NCBI Taxonomy lists the species as Garcinia mangostana (taxid 58228, active).
Synonyms: Mangostana garcinia Gaertn.
Common names: Mangosteen (English); Purple mangosteen (English); King's-fruit (English); Mangostino (Spanish); Mangoustan (French); Mangostão (Portuguese); Mangostane (German); Manggis (Indonesian and Malay); มังคุด (Thai); 山竹 (shān zhú) (Chinese)
Botanical family: Clusiaceae (GBIF), the family of the mangosteen and other Garcinia species.
Classification: Plantae > Tracheophyta > Magnoliopsida (GBIF) > Malpighiales > Clusiaceae > Garcinia > Garcinia mangostana
Native range: Reviews describe mangosteen as a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia; one review names Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, India and the Philippines. It is now grown and sold well beyond that region, including as juice in the United States.
Habitat: A tropical tree. Detailed growing conditions were not covered by the sources read (NOT verified).
What the plant looks like: Roots: Not covered by the sources read (NOT verified).; Stems: Not covered by the sources read (NOT verified). The reviews list xanthones in several parts, including the pericarp, fruit rind, peel, stem bark, root bark and leaf.; Leaves: Not covered by the sources read (NOT verified).; Flowers: Not covered by the sources read (NOT verified).; Fruit: The part eaten and sold is the fruit. Its rind, called the pericarp or hull, is the part used for most supplements and for the xanthones studied in the lab (Memorial Sloan Kettering and reviews). A dark purple rind and white pulp are the usual description of the fruit (general knowledge, NOT verified from the sources read).
Cultivation: Not covered by the sources read (NOT verified).
Harvest and processing: Products tested in trials were made in different ways: a standardized pericarp extract (40% alpha- and gamma-mangostin), a pericarp powder, a juice blend with other fruit juices, a combination liquid with aloe vera, green tea and vitamins, and a dentist-applied 4% gel. Details of extraction were not in the abstracts.
Look-alikes and adulterants: Name: Garcinia cambogia (garcinia, Malabar tamarind); Note: A different species sold in weight-loss products for its hydroxycitric acid. Labels that say only 'Garcinia' may refer to it. One mangosteen-based juice in a trial also contained hydroxycitric acid. NOT verified beyond that.; Name: Mango (Mangifera indica); Note: Not related to mangosteen despite the similar name (general knowledge, NOT verified from the sources read).; Name: Other Garcinia species; Note: Many Garcinia species produce xanthones and resins; results for mangosteen should not be applied to them. Not examined in detail.
Sustainability and conservation: Not assessed in the sources read.

Traditional use and history history, not clinical proof

Tradition or era	Documented use	Source
Southeast Asian traditional medicine	Memorial Sloan Kettering says the fruits are eaten and also used in traditional medicine for skin infections, wounds and diarrhea. A 2017 review says the seeds and pericarps have a long history in traditional medicine in the region.	s-msk-mangosteen
Traditional medicine (review)	A 2023 review says mangosteen has been used to treat illnesses ranging from dysentery to wound healing.	p36581166
Modern supplement market (about 2008 onward)	Mangosteen juice and rind products are sold as dietary supplements for antioxidant and immune claims. A 2013 review says aggressive marketing led to the 'superfruit' label and US sales of mangosteen drinks above $200 million in 2008, despite very limited animal and human studies. Whether network (multi-level) marketing was behind these sales was not verified in the sources read.	p23945675

Traditional use shows how a plant was used. It does not show that a supplement works or is safe today.

What is inside, and how it may work

What the plant contains and how those compounds act in cells and animals. Laboratory and animal mechanisms are not proven effects in people.

Main compounds

Compound	Family	Where it is concentrated	Activity studied	Level of evidence
Alpha-mangostin PubChem 5281650	prenylated xanthone	Pericarp (rind) 25.19% of one crude methanol rind extract in a mouse study; 40% alpha plus gamma-mangostin in the extract used by Watanabe 2018.	The most abundant xanthone in mangosteen and the most studied. Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cell-killing in the lab; inhibits P450 enzymes and the P-gp pump in test systems; reduces platelet clumping in rat platelets; poorly absorbed by mouth in rats. ^{7 5 16 15 26 14}	Laboratory research
Gamma-mangostin PubChem 5464078	prenylated xanthone	Pericarp (rind) Part of the 40% alpha plus gamma-mangostin in the extract used by Watanabe 2018.	Second most studied xanthone; reduced platelet clumping and caused shape change in rat platelets at lab amounts. ^{16 26 12}	Laboratory research
Beta-mangostin PubChem 5495925	prenylated xanthone	Pericarp (rind)	Inhibited P-gp in gut-cell models along with alpha-mangostin. ⁵	Laboratory research
Gartanin PubChem 5281633	prenylated xanthone	Pericarp (rind)	Memorial Sloan Kettering notes lab effects on bladder cancer cell pathways and effects on CYP2C9 and CYP2D6 expression; clinical significance not known. ³¹	Laboratory research
Garcinone E PubChem 10298511	prenylated xanthone	Pericarp (rind)	Reported in lab studies on liver cancer cells (per Memorial Sloan Kettering). ³¹	Laboratory research
Isogarcinol PubChem 11135781	benzophenone derivative (isolated from mangosteen)	Not stated in the source	Inhibits calcineurin in the lab and has immune-suppressing effects in animals (per Memorial Sloan Kettering); clinical relevance not known. ³¹	Animal research
Hydroxycitric acid PubChem 123908	organic acid	Reported in one mangosteen-based juice used in a trial (278 mg in 250 mL) 278 mg per 250 mL of that juice (Chang 2016)	Best known from Garcinia cambogia; its role in mangosteen products was not examined. ²	Laboratory research

Mechanisms, receptors and pathways

Target or pathway	Gene or receptor	What was found	Level
Cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYP2C8, CYP2C9 and others)	CYP2C8, CYP2C9	Xanthones were substrates and inhibitors of several P450 isoforms in human enzyme tests. Predicted blood levels of alpha-mangostin exceeded the inhibition constants for CYP2C8 and CYP2C9. Lab and computer work, not measured in people. ⁷	Laboratory research
P-glycoprotein drug pump	ABCB1 (MDR1)	Alpha- and beta-mangostin lowered P-gp efflux ratios in Caco-2 gut cells, reduced MDR1 expression, and in mouse intestine increased absorption of a P-gp substrate. ⁵	Laboratory research
CYP3A4 and tofacitinib metabolism	CYP3A4	Alpha-mangostin inhibited tofacitinib metabolism in rat liver microsomes and, with 7 days of dosing, raised tofacitinib exposure in rats. Docking suggested it sits near CYP3A4. ²⁹	Animal research
Platelet signalling (Rho/ROCK)	ROCK, myosin light chain	Alpha- and gamma-mangostin changed platelet shape through Rho/ROCK signalling, blocked clumping at 1 to 10 micromolar and caused platelet breakdown at higher amounts. ¹⁶	Laboratory research
Oxidative stress and inflammation in brain models	NF-kB, COX-2	Mangosteen extracts and xanthones reduced oxidative markers and pro-inflammatory cytokines and modulated NF-kB and COX-2 pathways in brain-related lab and animal models (40-study review). ²³	Laboratory research
Gut bacteria and colitis	Not applicable	Dietary alpha-mangostin shifted mouse gut bacteria toward more Proteobacteria and fewer Firmicutes and worsened experimental colitis. ⁹	Animal research
Glucose handling	Not applicable	Mangosteen extracts lowered blood glucose in diabetic rodents (network meta-analysis). The mechanism in people is not known. ³	Animal research
Cancer cell pathways	Many (apoptosis, autophagy, MMPs)	Xanthones killed or slowed several cancer cell lines in dishes; a 2023 review calls the findings encouraging but experimental. ^{12 31}	Laboratory research

Absorption, metabolism and elimination

Absorption: In rats, alpha-mangostin by mouth was absorbed so poorly that a full blood-level curve could not be drawn. In people, one study of a combination liquid (59 mL) detected alpha-mangostin in blood, peaking at about 1 hour.
Distribution: After injection in rats, alpha-mangostin spread out very quickly (half-life 3 minutes), which the authors take to mean high tissue binding.
Metabolism: Xanthones are substrates of several cytochrome P450 enzymes in lab tests. Human metabolism was not studied in the sources read.
Elimination: Terminal half-life after injection in rats was about 3.5 hours.
Bioavailability: The rat authors warn it is uncertain whether lab effects of pure alpha-mangostin will be reached in vivo given its low oral bioavailability. A 2013 review says very limited human data exist. The human result is for a combination product, so it cannot be applied to juice alone or to rind extract.

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Isolated compounds versus whole extracts

Three different things get called 'mangosteen'. (1) Juice blends such as XanGo contain fruit puree and other juices, so their effect cannot be assigned to xanthones. (2) Pericarp (rind) extracts and powders carry most of the xanthones and are what the mental-health, insulin and some gum trials used. (3) Isolated xanthones such as alpha-mangostin appear mostly in lab and animal studies, where amounts are far higher than people would get from the fruit or juice. Results from one form should not be applied to another, and the sugar content of juice is another difference.

Nutritional composition

No nutrition table for mangosteen fruit was read for this profile (USDA FoodData Central not checked). Memorial Sloan Kettering notes only that mangosteen fruit is high in sugar. NOT verified beyond that.

12benefits and uses looked at

33studies and sources checked

Low certaintybest evidence rating found

8lab markers tracked in trials

3 low certainty4 very low certainty3 not enough evidence2 evidence against

What is Mangosteen good for?

The main proposed uses and how strong the human evidence is for each. "Low" means small or inconsistent studies, "very low" means a single small or unclear study, "against" means a trial found no benefit, and "insufficient" means there is not enough to judge. Juice, rind extract and pure xanthones are different products, and many trials used mixtures, so results cannot be moved from one to another.

Gum health: gum disease and gingivitisLow certaintyThis is the most-studied use and still only low. A meta-analysis and a systematic review of dental trials, mostly of a 4% mangosteen gel placed in gum pockets after deep cleaning, found smaller pocket depth and attachment loss, with lower gum-fluid inflammation markers. Two Korean trials of a capsule combining propolis and mangosteen found lower gum inflammation markers, but gum scores improved in only one, and propolis was in the capsule. Trials are small, gels differ, and the gel is applied by a dentist. Bipolar depression: an add-on to usual treatmentLow certaintyOne 24-week trial of mangosteen rind extract in 152 adults found no clear difference on the main depression measure. Some mood and social-functioning scores were better at week 24 but faded after stopping. The authors ask for replication, and the research group is linked to a patent on mangosteen rind. Insulin resistance and blood sugarVery low certaintyA pilot of 22 obese women found a standardized rind extract lowered an insulin resistance score more than diet alone, without a placebo. A 2026 review found only two human studies. Rodent studies are positive. Inflammation (CRP) in obese adultsVery low certaintyOne pilot of about 10 people per group, paid for by the juice maker, found a change in CRP for the highest juice amount only. Other markers did not change. Immune function and general wellbeingVery low certaintyA 30-day trial of a mangosteen product that also contained vitamins and minerals reported more T-helper cells and better self-rated health. The mixed product and the unstated sponsor mean this cannot be credited to mangosteen. Infections were not counted. Acne and skin appearanceVery low certaintyA four-herb skin product that included mangosteen reduced acne lesions in an 8-week trial of 60 people. A review found a mangosteen-containing blend did not reduce wrinkles. Schizophrenia: an add-on to usual treatmentEvidence againstA 24-week placebo-controlled trial in 148 people found no benefit. Both groups improved to the same degree. Tiredness during exerciseEvidence againstA 12-person crossover trial of one dose of a mangosteen-based juice found no help for exercise fatigue, although a mood score was better. Weight and waist sizeNot enough evidenceNo clear weight result was found for mangosteen on its own. Trials reported only trends or did not report numbers for weight. CancerNot enough evidenceXanthones kill cancer cells in dishes. No human trial shows mangosteen prevents or treats cancer, and antioxidants may interfere with chemotherapy. Brain protection and memoryNot enough evidenceCell and animal studies show less oxidative stress and inflammation in brain models. No human trial of memory or brain protection was found.

Benefits, one by one

Each card is a research question, not a promise. Tap a goal to filter. Open a card to see the studies, doses and limits.

Schizophrenia: an add-on to usual treatment

Evidence against

A well-run 24-week trial of mangosteen rind (pericarp) as an add-on for schizophrenia found no benefit over placebo. Both groups improved about the same. The idea came from lab work, but the human test did not support it.

1 studiesMangosteen pericarp (rind) 1,000 mg a day for 24 weeks, as an add-on …

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

One randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (Turner 2021) in 148 people with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder at two Australian sites. People took mangosteen pericarp or matched placebo on top of their usual treatment for 24 weeks, with a check 4 weeks after stopping. No other human trial for this use was found.

Results

Both groups got better over time on symptoms, daily functioning and quality of life. There was no difference between groups in the rate of change at 24 or 28 weeks. The mangosteen group had higher symptom severity than the placebo group. The authors say the results do not support mangosteen pericarp as an add-on treatment.

Effect sizes as reported

No between-group difference in rate of change on the PANSS total score or secondary outcomes at 24 or 28 weeks. Numbers were not in the abstract.

Why this rating

One properly sized, registered, placebo-controlled trial was negative. One trial is not the last word, but there is no positive human trial to set against it.

Form and dose studied

Mangosteen pericarp (rind) 1,000 mg a day for 24 weeks, as an add-on to usual medicines. Not a juice and not an isolated xanthone.

Who was studied

Adults with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder in Australia, taking their usual treatment.

Limits

A single trial and a single product and amount. The treatment group started with higher symptom severity. Only the abstract was read.

Why researchers looked

Lab work suggested mangosteen rind contains compounds that act on inflammation, oxidative stress and brain chemistry, which are all thought to play a part in schizophrenia. A research group in Australia therefore tested it as an extra treatment.

Traditional use

Traditional uses of mangosteen are for skin infections, wounds and diarrhea (per Memorial Sloan Kettering). No traditional use for schizophrenia was found.

Proposed mechanism Preliminary mechanism

The researchers proposed that xanthones in the rind could act on inflammation, oxidative stress and nerve-cell pathways. This is a lab-based idea; the human trial did not confirm it.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Do not replace psychiatric medicine with a supplement. If you take psychiatric medicines, ask your prescriber before adding mangosteen because the interaction data are mostly lab-based (see the safety tab).

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Bipolar depression: an add-on to usual treatment

Low certainty

In a 24-week trial in people with bipolar depression, mangosteen rind extract added to usual care did not clearly beat placebo on the main measure. Some mood and daily-function scores were better at week 24, but the gains faded after stopping. The authors say it needs repeating.

1 studiesMangosteen pericarp extract added to treatment as usual for 24 weeks.…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

One randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-site trial (Dean 2025): 152 adults with bipolar I or II and at least moderate depression (70 to mangosteen pericarp extract, 82 to placebo), on top of treatment as usual, for 24 weeks, with a check at 28 weeks. 114 people finished and were analysed.

Results

The abstract says there was limited support for the main hypothesis: overall change in depression scores did not differ much between groups. At week 24 the mangosteen group improved more than placebo on mood symptoms, clinician-rated severity and social functioning, but these differences got smaller by week 28 after stopping. Manic symptoms and quality of life did not improve.

Effect sizes as reported

Primary outcome: no substantial difference. Secondary measures better at week 24 (compared with baseline), attenuated at week 28. No effect sizes were in the abstract.

Why this rating

One trial, a weak primary outcome, many dropouts, several secondary outcomes tested, and an author team that includes a co-inventor of a related patent. The trial authors themselves ask for replication.

Form and dose studied

Mangosteen pericarp extract added to treatment as usual for 24 weeks. Details of the extract were not in the abstract.

Who was studied

Adults with bipolar I or II disorder and at least moderate depressive symptoms, taking their usual treatment.

Limits

A single trial; 20 of 70 in the mangosteen group and 18 of 82 in the placebo group did not complete; the secondary benefits faded after stopping. Deakin University holds a patent on mangosteen pericarp in schizophrenia, with the senior author as a co-inventor; the trial also had in-kind support from supplement companies.

Why researchers looked

Bipolar depression is hard to treat. Lab work links mangosteen rind to serotonin pathways, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects and nerve-cell growth, so the same Australian group tested it after the schizophrenia study.

Traditional use

No traditional use of mangosteen for mood was found in the sources read.

Proposed mechanism Preliminary mechanism

The authors point to serotonin-related, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and nerve-growth effects seen in the lab. This has not been shown to be the reason for any effect in people.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

People with bipolar disorder should not change their medicines without their doctor. Mangosteen has laboratory evidence of enzyme effects (see the safety tab) that could matter with some psychiatric medicines; no clinical study has tested this.

⁴

Brain protection and memory

Not enough evidence

In cell and animal studies mangosteen extracts and xanthones reduce signs of oxidative stress and inflammation in brain models. We found no human trial of mangosteen for memory or brain protection.

2 studiesStudies used crude mangosteen extracts and purified xanthones such as…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

None found. The 2025 systematic review (Thew) covered 40 lab and animal studies and says clinical trials are still needed. The two mental-health trials above looked at illness symptoms, not memory.

Results

Lab and animal studies consistently reported lower oxidative markers and less inflammation. No human result exists to report.

Effect sizes as reported

Not applicable (no human data).

Why this rating

Only cell and animal studies; no human trial found. Results in dishes and rodents often do not carry over to people.

Form and dose studied

Studies used crude mangosteen extracts and purified xanthones such as alpha-mangostin in cells and animals. These amounts say nothing about what people should take.

Who was studied

Cell lines and animals. No human population.

Limits

Different extracts and purified compounds; pure alpha-mangostin was poorly absorbed by mouth in rats, and how much reaches the brain in people is unknown (see the science tab).

Why researchers looked

Oxidative stress and inflammation are involved in brain diseases such as Alzheimer's. Mangosteen xanthones are antioxidants in the lab, so researchers have tested them in brain-cell and animal models.

Traditional use

No traditional use of mangosteen for memory was found in the sources read.

Proposed mechanism Laboratory research

Extracts and xanthones lowered oxidative markers and reduced inflammatory signals (including the NF-kB and COX-2 pathways) in brain-related lab models, according to a 2025 systematic review of 40 studies.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

No special safety note beyond the main safety tab.

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Gum disease: mangosteen gel placed in gum pockets

Low certainty

Several small dental trials used a 4% mangosteen gel placed in gum pockets after cleaning. Two reviews found better pocket depth and attachment scores than with cleaning alone or placebo. The trials are small and used different gels, so the evidence is low. This is a dentist-applied gel, not a supplement you swallow.

2 studiesMostly a 4% mangosteen gel placed by a dentist, as an add-on to scali…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

A 2025 meta-analysis of randomized trials (Ramesh) of mangosteen gel as local drug delivery, and a 2026 systematic review (Estornut) of 10 studies with 422 patients, mostly 4% mangosteen gel added to scaling and root planing (a deep cleaning).

Results

The meta-analysis found smaller pocket depth and attachment loss in mangosteen-treated sites. The systematic review found improvements in pocket depth, gingival index, attachment level and bleeding on probing, lower IL-6 and MMP-9, and higher antioxidant capacity. The authors of the second review say gels and methods differed too much to compare directly.

Effect sizes as reported

Pocket depth effect size -1.08 (95% CI -1.40 to -0.77); attachment level effect size -0.96 (95% CI -1.80 to -0.13) in the meta-analysis, as reported.

Why this rating

Small trials, different gel formulations and methods, no standard product, and abstracts only. The benefit is added to cleaning by a dentist.

Form and dose studied

Mostly a 4% mangosteen gel placed by a dentist, as an add-on to scaling and root planing. Not a pill or juice.

Who was studied

Adults with periodontitis (gum disease) in dental clinics.

Limits

Only abstracts were read; the number of trials in the meta-analysis was not given in its abstract; formulations differed; most trials are small.

Why researchers looked

Gum disease is caused by bacteria and inflammation. Mangosteen xanthones are antibacterial and antioxidant in the lab, so dentists have tested a mangosteen gel as an add-on.

Traditional use

Mangosteen rind has been used traditionally for infections, wounds and diarrhea (per Memorial Sloan Kettering). Use in the mouth is a modern idea.

Proposed mechanism Preliminary mechanism

Antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of xanthones, shown in the lab.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

No safety problems were reported in the abstracts read. Gels used in the mouth are not the same as swallowing mangosteen products.

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Gingivitis: a propolis and mangosteen capsule

Low certainty

Two 8-week Korean trials gave people with gingivitis a capsule combining propolis and mangosteen extract. Gum-fluid inflammation markers fell in both, but gum health scores improved in only one. Because propolis was in the capsule, the effect cannot be credited to mangosteen alone.

2 studiesA propolis plus mangosteen extract complex capsule (a combination pro…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Park 2021: 104 people with gingivitis or early periodontitis took one capsule a day (194 mg of a mangosteen and propolis extract complex) or placebo for 8 weeks. Jung 2024: 104 people took a propolis-mangosteen extract complex or placebo for 8 weeks.

Results

Park 2021: the modified gingival index was lower with the complex at weeks 4 and 8, gum-fluid IL-6 fell, but salivary MMP-9 rose. Jung 2024: gum-fluid IL-1 beta, PGE2, MMP-8 and MMP-9 fell more than with placebo, but gum clinical measures did not differ significantly between groups. No significant adverse events.

Effect sizes as reported

Park 2021: significant difference in modified gingival index at weeks 4 and 8. Jung 2024: gum-fluid markers p < 0.0001 vs placebo; clinical measures not significant between groups.

Why this rating

Two small trials of a combination product with mixed results (clinical benefit in one, none in the other); a company funded the 2024 trial.

Form and dose studied

A propolis plus mangosteen extract complex capsule (a combination product, not mangosteen alone).

Who was studied

Adults with gingivitis or early periodontitis in Korea.

Limits

Two trials in the same country; combination capsule; 8 weeks; markers moved more than symptoms. The 2024 trial received funding from Lab Co., Ltd; the funder had no role in design, analysis or publication, per the paper.

Why researchers looked

Both propolis and mangosteen have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects in the lab, and the pair has been tested as a gum-health supplement.

Traditional use

None specific to gum health in the sources read.

Proposed mechanism Preliminary mechanism

Xanthones and propolis compounds may calm inflammatory chemicals in gum tissue. Shown in the lab and by markers in gum fluid; not proven as the reason for any clinical change.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

No significant adverse events reported. Propolis can cause allergic reactions in some people (not examined in the abstracts read).

^{18 11}

Insulin resistance and blood sugar

Very low certainty

One small pilot trial in obese women found that a standardized mangosteen rind extract capsule improved a measure of insulin resistance more than diet and activity advice alone. A 2026 review found only two human studies and calls the evidence limited. Rodent studies are positive but do not prove the same in people.

4 studiesA standardized pericarp extract capsule (40% alpha- and gamma-mangost…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Watanabe 2018: 22 obese women with insulin resistance in Rome, 20 finished 26 weeks; a standardized mangosteen pericarp extract capsule (40% alpha- and gamma-mangostin) plus a calorie-reduced diet vs diet alone. Purwoko 2026: a systematic review that found two human studies in type 2 diabetes (Watanabe and a small non-randomized study of peel decoction for 7 days). Chatatikun 2024: a rodent meta-analysis (9 studies).

Results

HOMA-IR (an insulin resistance score) fell more with mangosteen (-53.22% vs -15.23%, p = 0.004) and no side effect attributable to treatment was reported. The small decoction study reported lower fasting glucose after 7 days. In diabetic rodents all extracts lowered glucose more than control.

Effect sizes as reported

HOMA-IR -53.22% vs -15.23% (p = 0.004) in Watanabe 2018. Rodent meta-analysis: direction of effect only in the abstract.

Why this rating

One unblinded pilot of 22 people (no placebo), a second study that was not a randomized trial, and rodent work. The review authors say larger trials with standardized preparations are needed.

Form and dose studied

A standardized pericarp extract capsule (40% alpha- and gamma-mangostin) for 26 weeks, and a 7-day peel decoction in another study. Mangosteen juice has not been tested for blood sugar control in the studies read.

Who was studied

Obese women with insulin resistance in Italy; adults with type 2 diabetes in the small second study; diabetic rodents.

Limits

Tiny sample; not blinded; one extract; the abstract gives percentage changes only. HOMA-IR is a blood-test measure, not a diabetes outcome such as complications.

Why researchers looked

Obesity and type 2 diabetes involve insulin resistance and low-grade inflammation. Mangosteen extracts lower blood sugar in diabetic rodents, so a small human trial followed.

Traditional use

No traditional use for diabetes was found in the sources read.

Proposed mechanism Animal research

Xanthones have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in the lab, and extracts lowered blood glucose in diabetic rodents. The route in people is unknown.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Anyone using diabetes medicines should check with their doctor: a blood-sugar-lowering effect could add to the medicine (not tested in people). Mangosteen fruit and juice also contain sugar (per Memorial Sloan Kettering).

^{26 19 3 31}

Inflammation (C-reactive protein) in obese adults

Very low certainty

A small pilot trial paid for by the juice maker found that the highest daily amount of XanGo juice lowered the change in C-reactive protein (CRP) compared with placebo. Other inflammation markers did not change. It is a juice blend, not a rind extract, and the sponsor made the product.

2 studiesXanGo Juice, a proprietary mangosteen juice blend with other fruit ju…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Udani 2009: 44 obese adults with raised CRP, 40 finished 8 weeks of XanGo Juice at 3, 6 or 9 oz twice a day or placebo. Sponsored by XanGo LLC, the maker of the juice. Tang 2009 (immune function, below) also measured CRP.

Results

CRP fell from baseline in all juice groups and rose in placebo, but changes from baseline were not significant. Compared with placebo the change was significant only for the highest dose (p = 0.02). Other inflammatory cytokines and a marker of fat oxidation did not differ from placebo. No side effects reported.

Effect sizes as reported

Highest dose (18 oz a day) vs placebo: p = 0.02 for change in hs-CRP; other markers no difference.

Why this rating

A pilot of about 10 people per group, sponsor-run, with only one of several comparisons significant; the juice blend also contains other fruit juices.

Form and dose studied

XanGo Juice, a proprietary mangosteen juice blend with other fruit juices (whole-fruit puree base per the full text). This is a juice product, not a pericarp extract.

Who was studied

Obese adults with raised CRP in the USA.

Limits

Sponsor made and supplied the product; very small; multiple doses compared; CRP is a blood marker and not a health outcome.

Why researchers looked

Inflammation in overweight people is linked to later heart disease and diabetes. Mangosteen is marketed as an anti-inflammatory fruit.

Traditional use

Mangosteen has been used for inflammation in traditional medicine (per Memorial Sloan Kettering), but no clinical trials support that use outside the studies listed here.

Proposed mechanism Laboratory research

Xanthones reduce inflammatory enzymes such as COX-1 and COX-2 in the lab (per Memorial Sloan Kettering). Not confirmed in people.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Large daily amounts of juice contain a lot of sugar. A case of severe lactic acidosis was reported with a mangosteen juice (see the safety tab).

^{25 31}

Immune function and general wellbeing

Very low certainty

One 30-day trial of a mangosteen product that also contained vitamins and minerals reported more T-helper cells, lower CRP and better self-rated health than placebo. Because the product was a mix and the sponsor is not stated, it cannot show that mangosteen itself boosts immunity.

2 studiesA xanthone-rich mangosteen product also containing multivitamins and …

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Tang 2009: 59 healthy adults aged 40 to 60 took a xanthone-rich mangosteen product containing multivitamins and minerals, or placebo, for 30 days.

Results

The product group had more T-helper cells (p = 0.020), lower CRP (p = 0.014), and higher complement C3 and C4 and interleukin-1 alpha than placebo. More people in the product group reported greatly improved overall health (p = 0.001). The study did not count colds or infections.

Effect sizes as reported

T-helper cells p = 0.020; CRP p = 0.014; C3 p = 0.017; C4 p = 0.031; IL-1 alpha p = 0.006; self-rated health p = 0.001.

Why this rating

A single 30-day trial of a mixed product with vitamins and minerals; no sponsor stated; blood markers only; no infection outcomes.

Form and dose studied

A xanthone-rich mangosteen product also containing multivitamins and minerals. Not mangosteen alone.

Who was studied

Healthy adults aged 40 to 60.

Limits

Combination product; short; markers can move without any benefit to health; sponsor not stated in the abstract (not verified).

Why researchers looked

Mangosteen is often sold with claims that it supports the immune system. This trial tested those claims in healthy adults.

Traditional use

Used traditionally for infections (per Memorial Sloan Kettering); human data on infections are lacking.

Proposed mechanism Preliminary mechanism

Xanthones are antioxidant and anti-inflammatory in the lab. The immune-cell changes in this trial may come from the vitamins and minerals in the product.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

People who take drugs that suppress the immune system should ask their doctor first: Memorial Sloan Kettering notes that isogarcinol from mangosteen inhibits calcineurin in the lab (clinical relevance not known).

^{22 31}

Tiredness during exercise

Evidence against

A small crossover trial of a single glass of a mangosteen-based juice found no help for tiredness or time to exhaustion on a bike, although a mood score was better.

1 studies250 mL of a mangosteen-based juice (also containing hydroxycitric aci…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Chang 2016: 12 healthy adults took 250 mL of a mangosteen-based juice (305 mg alpha-mangostin and 278 mg hydroxycitric acid) or placebo one hour before cycling, in a crossover design.

Results

Exercise changed all measures, but there were no differences between mangosteen and placebo except a positive effect on a mood questionnaire (POMS). The authors conclude acute mangosteen did not ease exercise fatigue.

Effect sizes as reported

No difference in time to exhaustion, heart rate, perceived exertion or blood markers; mood score improved.

Why this rating

A randomized, blinded crossover trial was negative, though small (12 people, single dose).

Form and dose studied

250 mL of a mangosteen-based juice (also containing hydroxycitric acid), one dose before exercise.

Who was studied

Twelve healthy adults.

Limits

Very small; single dose; one juice product.

Why researchers looked

Antioxidants have been tried to reduce muscle fatigue and speed recovery.

Traditional use

None found.

Proposed mechanism Preliminary mechanism

Antioxidant effects in the lab. The trial did not show that this helps fatigue.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

No safety issue reported in the abstract.

Acne and skin appearance

Very low certainty

A four-herb skin product that included mangosteen reduced acne lesions in an 8-week Korean trial, but because the product combined four plants the credit cannot be given to mangosteen. A review of skin anti-aging botanicals found a mangosteen-containing blend did not reduce wrinkles.

3 studiesTopical mixed herbal products (not mangosteen alone).

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Yang 2021: 60 people with mild to moderate acne used a mixed topical product (mangosteen, Lithospermum officinale, Tribulus terrestris and Houttuynia cordata extracts) or vehicle for 8 weeks. Hunt 2010: a systematic review of 11 trials of botanical anti-aging products found no significant wrinkle reduction for Vitaphenol (a green and white tea, mangosteen and pomegranate blend).

Results

Acne lesion counts fell significantly in the herbal group and some skin inflammation markers were lower than with vehicle; no serious adverse events. In the anti-aging review the blend with mangosteen did not significantly reduce wrinkling and all trials were poor quality.

Effect sizes as reported

Acne lesion counts decreased in the herbal group (p < .05). No significant wrinkle reduction for Vitaphenol.

Why this rating

Acne: one small trial of a four-herb mix. Skin aging: a negative result for a four-ingredient blend. Neither isolates mangosteen.

Form and dose studied

Topical mixed herbal products (not mangosteen alone).

Who was studied

Adults with mild to moderate acne in Korea; people in anti-aging trials.

Limits

Combination products; 60 people; 8 weeks; the anti-aging review searched to 2009.

Why researchers looked

Mangosteen xanthones are antibacterial and anti-inflammatory in the lab, which suits acne. Antioxidants are also used in skin anti-aging products.

Traditional use

Used traditionally on skin infections and wounds (per Memorial Sloan Kettering); clinical data for wounds are lacking.

Proposed mechanism Preliminary mechanism

Antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in the lab; skin biopsies in the acne trial showed lower IL-1 alpha, IL-8 and keratin 16 in the herbal group.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

No serious adverse events in the acne trial. Patch-test any new skin product.

^{28 10 31}

Weight and waist size

Not enough evidence

Claims of weight loss rest on weak support. The Rome pilot trial and a juice-blend trial each looked at weight, but neither abstract reports a clear weight result. No clear human evidence of weight loss from mangosteen was found.

3 studiesNot applicable.

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Watanabe 2018 (22 women, 26 weeks) was designed to look at weight as well as insulin resistance. Udani 2009 noted only a trend toward lower BMI in the juice groups.

Results

The abstracts do not report a weight effect with numbers. The Udani trial described a trend toward lower BMI that was not significant.

Effect sizes as reported

Not reported in the abstracts read.

Why this rating

No adequately sized human trial with a clear weight result for mangosteen on its own. Memorial Sloan Kettering lists mangosteen extracts as useful for weight management from small studies, some of which used combination products that we did not read.

Form and dose studied

Not applicable.

Who was studied

Obese adults in the two small trials.

Limits

Weight was not the headline result in either abstract.

Why researchers looked

Mangosteen is marketed for weight control, and rodent studies suggest metabolic effects.

Traditional use

None found.

Proposed mechanism Animal research

Mangosteen extract increased AMP-activated protein kinase and sirtuin 1 activity in the liver in animal work (per Memorial Sloan Kettering).

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

See the safety tab. Weight-loss products sold with 'Garcinia' on the label may contain a different plant (Garcinia cambogia).

^{26 25 31}

Cancer

Not enough evidence

Mangosteen xanthones kill or slow cancer cells in dishes and some animal tumours. No human trial shows mangosteen prevents or treats cancer. Antioxidants may even interfere with some chemotherapy.

2 studiesStudies used purified xanthones and crude extracts in cells and anima…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

None found in the sources read. A 2023 review (Kalick) of mostly experimental work says 68 xanthones are known and that the anticancer data are encouraging but experimental.

Results

No human results. Lab and animal results do not show that eating or taking mangosteen prevents or treats cancer in people.

Effect sizes as reported

Not applicable.

Why this rating

Only cell and animal work.

Form and dose studied

Studies used purified xanthones and crude extracts in cells and animals; those amounts are not comparable to what a person drinks.

Who was studied

Cell lines and animals.

Limits

No clinical trials found. Only abstracts read.

Why researchers looked

Alpha-mangostin and related xanthones damage cancer cell lines in the lab, which has made them popular in cancer research.

Traditional use

No traditional use for cancer was found in the sources read.

Proposed mechanism Laboratory research

Xanthones triggered cell death and slowed growth in leukemia, breast, gastric and pancreatic cancer cell lines (per Memorial Sloan Kettering and a 2023 review). Lab evidence.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Memorial Sloan Kettering warns that mangosteen antioxidants may interfere with anthracyclines, platinum drugs and alkylating chemotherapy and lists chemotherapy or radiation as a time not to take it. Discuss with the cancer care team.

^{12 31}

Connections to the rest of health

How Mangosteen connects to the rest of our health knowledge graph. Every link says what kind of connection it is. A safety link (for example to the liver) is a warning, not a benefit. A study that merely mentions a topic never creates a benefit link.

Explore every connection: goals, body systems, organs, symptoms, genes

Kind of connection Connected to Search

A. Wellness goals

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
Mental Clarity	Biological association	Evidence against	Schizophrenia: an add-on to usual treatment: A well-run 24-week trial of mangosteen rind (pericarp) as an add-on for schizophrenia found no benefit over placebo. Both groups improved about the same. The idea came from lab work, but the human test did not support it.	²⁴
Brain Health	Biological association	Evidence against	Schizophrenia: an add-on to usual treatment: A well-run 24-week trial of mangosteen rind (pericarp) as an add-on for schizophrenia found no benefit over placebo. Both groups improved about the same. The idea came from lab work, but the human test did not support it.	²⁴
Mood Balance	Potential benefit	Low certainty	Bipolar depression: an add-on to usual treatment: In a 24-week trial in people with bipolar depression, mangosteen rind extract added to usual care did not clearly beat placebo on the main measure. Some mood and daily-function scores were better at week 24, but the gains faded after stopping. The authors say it needs repeating.	⁴
Stress Reduction	Potential benefit	Low certainty	Bipolar depression: an add-on to usual treatment: In a 24-week trial in people with bipolar depression, mangosteen rind extract added to usual care did not clearly beat placebo on the main measure. Some mood and daily-function scores were better at week 24, but the gains faded after stopping. The authors say it needs repeating.	⁴
Memory Support	Preliminary mechanism	Not enough evidence	Brain protection and memory: In cell and animal studies mangosteen extracts and xanthones reduce signs of oxidative stress and inflammation in brain models. We found no human trial of mangosteen for memory or brain protection.	^{23 15}
Brain Health	Preliminary mechanism	Not enough evidence	Brain protection and memory: In cell and animal studies mangosteen extracts and xanthones reduce signs of oxidative stress and inflammation in brain models. We found no human trial of mangosteen for memory or brain protection.	^{23 15}
Healthy Aging	Preliminary mechanism	Not enough evidence	Brain protection and memory: In cell and animal studies mangosteen extracts and xanthones reduce signs of oxidative stress and inflammation in brain models. We found no human trial of mangosteen for memory or brain protection. Cancer: Mangosteen xanthones kill or slow cancer cells in dishes and some animal tumours. No human trial shows mangosteen prevents or treats cancer. Antioxidants may even interfere with some chemotherapy.	^{23 15 12 31}
Digestive Support	Potential benefit	Low certainty	Gum disease: mangosteen gel placed in gum pockets: Several small dental trials used a 4% mangosteen gel placed in gum pockets after cleaning. Two reviews found better pocket depth and attachment scores than with cleaning alone or placebo. The trials are small and used different gels, so the evidence is low. This is a dentist-applied gel, not a supplement you swallow. Gingivitis: a propolis and mangosteen capsule: Two 8-week Korean trials gave people with gingivitis a capsule combining propolis and mangosteen extract. Gum-fluid inflammation markers fell in both, but gum health scores improved in only one. Because propolis was in the capsule, the effect cannot be credited to mangosteen alone.	^{20 6 18 11}
Healthy Aging	Potential benefit	Low certainty	Gum disease: mangosteen gel placed in gum pockets: Several small dental trials used a 4% mangosteen gel placed in gum pockets after cleaning. Two reviews found better pocket depth and attachment scores than with cleaning alone or placebo. The trials are small and used different gels, so the evidence is low. This is a dentist-applied gel, not a supplement you swallow.	^{20 6}
Inflammation Balance	Potential benefit	Low certainty	Gingivitis: a propolis and mangosteen capsule: Two 8-week Korean trials gave people with gingivitis a capsule combining propolis and mangosteen extract. Gum-fluid inflammation markers fell in both, but gum health scores improved in only one. Because propolis was in the capsule, the effect cannot be credited to mangosteen alone. Inflammation (C-reactive protein) in obese adults: A small pilot trial paid for by the juice maker found that the highest daily amount of XanGo juice lowered the change in C-reactive protein (CRP) compared with placebo. Other inflammation markers did not change. It is a juice blend, not a rind extract, and the sponsor made the product.	^{18 11 25 31}
Blood Sugar Balance	Potential benefit	Very low certainty	Insulin resistance and blood sugar: One small pilot trial in obese women found that a standardized mangosteen rind extract capsule improved a measure of insulin resistance more than diet and activity advice alone. A 2026 review found only two human studies and calls the evidence limited. Rodent studies are positive but do not prove the same in people.	^{26 19 3 31}
Metabolic Health	Potential benefit	Very low certainty	Insulin resistance and blood sugar: One small pilot trial in obese women found that a standardized mangosteen rind extract capsule improved a measure of insulin resistance more than diet and activity advice alone. A 2026 review found only two human studies and calls the evidence limited. Rodent studies are positive but do not prove the same in people. Weight and waist size: Claims of weight loss rest on weak support. The Rome pilot trial and a juice-blend trial each looked at weight, but neither abstract reports a clear weight result. No clear human evidence of weight loss from mangosteen was found.	^{26 19 3 31 25}
Heart Health	Potential benefit	Very low certainty	Inflammation (C-reactive protein) in obese adults: A small pilot trial paid for by the juice maker found that the highest daily amount of XanGo juice lowered the change in C-reactive protein (CRP) compared with placebo. Other inflammation markers did not change. It is a juice blend, not a rind extract, and the sponsor made the product.	^{25 31}
Immune Support	Potential benefit	Very low certainty	Immune function and general wellbeing: One 30-day trial of a mangosteen product that also contained vitamins and minerals reported more T-helper cells, lower CRP and better self-rated health than placebo. Because the product was a mix and the sponsor is not stated, it cannot show that mangosteen itself boosts immunity.	^{22 31}
Energy Boost	Potential benefit	Very low certainty	Immune function and general wellbeing: One 30-day trial of a mangosteen product that also contained vitamins and minerals reported more T-helper cells, lower CRP and better self-rated health than placebo. Because the product was a mix and the sponsor is not stated, it cannot show that mangosteen itself boosts immunity.	^{22 31}
Reduce Fatigue	Potential benefit	Evidence against	Tiredness during exercise: A small crossover trial of a single glass of a mangosteen-based juice found no help for tiredness or time to exhaustion on a bike, although a mood score was better.	²
Physical Stamina	Potential benefit	Evidence against	Tiredness during exercise: A small crossover trial of a single glass of a mangosteen-based juice found no help for tiredness or time to exhaustion on a bike, although a mood score was better.	²
Healthy Skin	Potential benefit	Very low certainty	Acne and skin appearance: A four-herb skin product that included mangosteen reduced acne lesions in an 8-week Korean trial, but because the product combined four plants the credit cannot be given to mangosteen. A review of skin anti-aging botanicals found a mangosteen-containing blend did not reduce wrinkles.	^{28 10 31}
Weight Management	Potential benefit	Not enough evidence	Weight and waist size: Claims of weight loss rest on weak support. The Rome pilot trial and a juice-blend trial each looked at weight, but neither abstract reports a clear weight result. No clear human evidence of weight loss from mangosteen was found.	^{26 25 31}
Longevity	Preliminary mechanism	Not enough evidence	Cancer: Mangosteen xanthones kill or slow cancer cells in dishes and some animal tumours. No human trial shows mangosteen prevents or treats cancer. Antioxidants may even interfere with some chemotherapy.	^{12 31}

B. Body systems

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
Liver	Drug or supplement interaction	Not enough evidence	Lab inhibition of drug-processing P450 enzymes (CYP2C8, CYP2C9) and the P-gp pump; no human interaction study. Lab inhibition of CYP2C8, CYP2C9 and the P-gp pump; no human interaction study. Preparation or compound: Mangosteen xanthones (alpha-mangostin)	^{7 5}
Cardiovascular system	Drug or supplement interaction	Not enough evidence	Reduced platelet clumping in rat platelets in a dish; possible added effect with blood thinners; no human data. Preparation or compound: Alpha- and gamma-mangostin	¹⁶
Endocrine system	Drug or supplement interaction	Not enough evidence	Possible added blood-sugar-lowering effect with diabetes drugs; fruit and juice contain sugar. Preparation or compound: Pericarp extract and juice	^{26 31}
Digestive system	Adverse effect or risk	Not enough evidence	Made experimental colitis worse and shifted gut bacteria in mice. Preparation or compound: Pure alpha-mangostin	⁹
Metabolism	Adverse effect or risk	Very low certainty	One case report of severe lactic acidosis with juice used as a supplement. Preparation or compound: Mangosteen juice	^{27 31}
Immune system	Drug or supplement interaction	Not enough evidence	Possible additive effect with calcineurin inhibitors and possible interference with chemotherapy, per Memorial Sloan Kettering; clinical relevance not known. Preparation or compound: Isogarcinol and antioxidant effects	³¹
Endocrine system	Potential benefit	Very low certainty	Better insulin resistance score in one unblinded pilot of 22 women. Preparation or compound: Standardized rind extract	^{26 19}
Digestive system	Potential benefit	Low certainty	Better gum measures in small dental trials; pure alpha-mangostin worsened colitis in mice. Preparation or compound: Mangosteen gel and propolis-mangosteen capsule	^{20 6 9}
Nervous System	Biological association	Evidence against	Studied for: Schizophrenia: an add-on to usual treatment Studied for: Bipolar depression: an add-on to usual treatment	^{24 4 23 15}
Stress Mood	Biological association	Evidence against	Studied for: Schizophrenia: an add-on to usual treatment Studied for: Bipolar depression: an add-on to usual treatment	^{24 4}
Digestive System	Biological association	Low certainty	Studied for: Gum disease: mangosteen gel placed in gum pockets Studied for: Gingivitis: a propolis and mangosteen capsule	^{20 6 18 11}
Immune System	Biological association	Low certainty	Studied for: Gingivitis: a propolis and mangosteen capsule Studied for: Inflammation (C-reactive protein) in obese adults	^{18 11 25 31 22 12}
Endocrine System	Biological association	Very low certainty	Studied for: Insulin resistance and blood sugar	^{26 19 3 31}
Metabolism Weight	Biological association	Very low certainty	Studied for: Insulin resistance and blood sugar Studied for: Weight and waist size	^{26 19 3 31 25}
Cardiovascular System	Biological association	Very low certainty	Studied for: Inflammation (C-reactive protein) in obese adults	^{25 31}
Musculoskeletal System	Biological association	Evidence against	Studied for: Tiredness during exercise	²
Integumentary System	Biological association	Very low certainty	Studied for: Acne and skin appearance	^{28 10 31}

I. Biomarkers

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
PANSS total score (schizophrenia symptom scale)	Biological association	Evidence against	Measured in trials: no-change. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	²⁴
Depression symptom score in bipolar depression	Biological association	Low certainty	Measured in trials: mixed. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	⁴
HOMA-IR (insulin resistance score)	Biological association	Very low certainty	Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	^{26 19}
Fasting blood glucose	Biological association	Very low certainty	Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	^{19 3}
C-reactive protein (CRP)	Biological association	Very low certainty	Measured in trials: mixed. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	^{25 22}
Gum pocket depth and attachment level	Biological association	Low certainty	Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	^{20 6}
Inflammation markers in gum fluid (IL-1 beta, MMP-8, MMP-9)	Biological association	Low certainty	Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	^{11 18}
Blood antioxidant capacity (ORAC)	Biological association	Very low certainty	Measured in trials: raised. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	¹³

J. Genes, receptors and enzymes

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP3A4	Preliminary mechanism	In vitro	Drug-processing enzymes inhibited by mangosteen xanthones in lab or animal work.	^{7 29}
ABCB1 (MDR1, P-glycoprotein)	Preliminary mechanism	In vitro	Drug pump inhibited by alpha- and beta-mangostin in gut-cell models.	⁵

K. Biological pathways

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
Rho/ROCK signalling in platelets	Preliminary mechanism	In vitro	Triggered by alpha- and gamma-mangostin in rat platelets, leading to shape change.	¹⁶
NF-kB and COX-2 inflammation pathways	Preliminary mechanism	In vitro	Reduced by mangosteen extract in brain-related lab models.	²³
Calcineurin	Preliminary mechanism	In vitro	Inhibited by isogarcinol from mangosteen in the lab (per Memorial Sloan Kettering).	³¹

L. Active compounds

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
Alpha-mangostin	Biological association	In vitro	The most abundant xanthone in mangosteen and the most studied. Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cell-killing in the lab; inhibits P450 enzymes and the P-gp pump in test systems; reduces platelet clumping in rat platelets; poorly absorbed by mouth in rats. Preparation or compound: Pericarp (rind)	^{7 5 16 15 26 14}
Gamma-mangostin	Biological association	In vitro	Second most studied xanthone; reduced platelet clumping and caused shape change in rat platelets at lab amounts. Preparation or compound: Pericarp (rind)	^{16 26 12}
Beta-mangostin	Biological association	In vitro	Inhibited P-gp in gut-cell models along with alpha-mangostin. Preparation or compound: Pericarp (rind)	⁵
Gartanin	Biological association	In vitro	Memorial Sloan Kettering notes lab effects on bladder cancer cell pathways and effects on CYP2C9 and CYP2D6 expression; clinical significance not known. Preparation or compound: Pericarp (rind)	³¹
Garcinone E	Biological association	In vitro	Reported in lab studies on liver cancer cells (per Memorial Sloan Kettering). Preparation or compound: Pericarp (rind)	³¹
Isogarcinol	Biological association	Animal	Inhibits calcineurin in the lab and has immune-suppressing effects in animals (per Memorial Sloan Kettering); clinical relevance not known. Preparation or compound: Not stated in the source	³¹
Hydroxycitric acid	Biological association	In vitro	Best known from Garcinia cambogia; its role in mangosteen products was not examined. Preparation or compound: Reported in one mangosteen-based juice used in a trial (278 mg in 250 mL)	²

Each connection is stored with the ingredient, the connected record, the kind of connection, the evidence status, the supporting studies, the preparation or compound involved, and a review date (last reviewed October 25, 2026).

Evidence at a glance: what changed in 8 lab markers

Tap a number to show only those markers. Counts are markers, not people.

Metabolic2 Inflammatory1 Other2111

The evidence

The research centre for Mangosteen. Every record here was checked against PubMed or the publisher's page; we never list a study we have not verified.

Evidence by outcome

Schizophrenia: an add-on to usual treatment 1 studies · 148 people in trials Evidence against Bipolar depression: an add-on to usual treatment 1 studies · 152 people in trials Low certainty Brain protection and memory 2 studies Not enough evidence Gum disease: mangosteen gel placed in gum pockets 2 studies Low certainty Gingivitis: a propolis and mangosteen capsule 2 studies · 208 people in trials Low certainty Insulin resistance and blood sugar 4 studies · 22 people in trials Very low certainty Inflammation (C-reactive protein) in obese adults 2 studies · 44 people in trials Very low certainty Immune function and general wellbeing 2 studies · 59 people in trials Very low certainty Tiredness during exercise 1 studies · 12 people in trials Evidence against Acne and skin appearance 3 studies · 60 people in trials Very low certainty Weight and waist size 3 studies · 66 people in trials Not enough evidence Cancer 2 studies Not enough evidence

Bars show how many studies we found for each outcome, not how well it works. People are added up across trials only (reviews are not added, to avoid double counting).

How we rate evidence

High certainty

Several well-run trials or reviews agree; further research is unlikely to change the picture much.

Moderate certainty

Good trials point the same way, but some doubt remains.

Low certainty

Small, short or inconsistent trials. The finding could change with better research.

Very low certainty

Very little or very weak human data. Treat as a possibility only.

Mixed findings

Trials or reviews disagree with each other.

Not enough evidence

Not enough human research to say either way.

Evidence against

Good research found no benefit, or found harm.

We take the reviewers' own risk-of-bias and GRADE statements where they exist, and otherwise judge from study size, design, consistency, directness and whether a product matches what is sold. Many publications do not make evidence high. Method note: We searched PubMed, read Memorial Sloan Kettering's mangosteen page in full, and checked plant names in GBIF and the NCBI taxonomy and compounds in PubChem. Studies were checked against their PubMed records and abstracts; full texts were opened only for a few funding and product details. NCCIH has no mangosteen page, and EMA, FDA, WHO, Commission E, LactMed and LiverTox positions on mangosteen could not be confirmed; they are marked as not verified.

Study library: every study we checked 33

Design Research type Plant part Year from Search

Study	Design	People	Product, dose, length	Result
Benatrehina 2018 Usage, biological activity, and safety of selected botanical dietary supplements consumed in the United States. J Tradit Complement Med · PMID 29736381 · DOI	Narrative review in-vitro	Review of five fruit supplements (acai, noni, mangosteen, black chokeberry, maqui berry)	Fruit-derived dietary supplements fruit Not applicable Not applicable · vs Not applicable	The authors consider these fruits generally safe on the basis of safety studies and case reports, but note some conflicting mangosteen safety results and a case of adulteration in an acai product that warrant further investigation. Not applicable (Not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Usage, activity and safety Limitations: Narrative review; only the abstract was read. The adulteration case was an acai product, not mangosteen. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in abstract. Read: abstract
Chang 2016 Acute Garcinia mangostana (mangosteen) supplementation does not alleviate physical fatigue during exercise: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. J Int Soc Sports Nutr · PMID 27152103 · DOI	Controlled trial	12 Twelve healthy adults	A mangosteen-based juice (250 mL, containing 305 mg alpha-mangostin and 278 mg hydroxycitric acid) juice One 250 mL dose 1 hour before cycling Single dose (crossover) · vs Placebo drink	Exercise changed all measures, but there were no differences between mangosteen and placebo except a positive effect on the mood questionnaire (POMS). The authors conclude acute mangosteen did not ease exercise fatigue. No difference apart from mood score Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Time to exhaustion, heart rate, perceived exertion, blood markers, muscle stiffness, mood (POMS) Limitations: Only 12 people; single dose; juice also contained hydroxycitric acid. Funding and conflicts: No competing interests declared (full text); supported by a grant (details not read). Read: abstract (competing interests from the full text)
Chatatikun 2024 Hypoglycemic activity of Garcinia mangostana L. extracts on diabetes rodent models: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. Front Pharmacol · PMID 39415841 · DOI	Meta-analysis animal	Diabetic rodent models (10 articles found, 9 in the quantitative analysis)	Mangosteen (G. mangostana) extracts, including ethanol and methanol extracts various Rodent doses (for example 200 mg/kg); not human doses Up to and beyond 2 weeks · vs Control animals	All mangosteen extracts lowered blood glucose more than control in diabetic rodents; the 200 mg/kg ethanol extract ranked best for glucose, total cholesterol and triglycerides. The authors say human trials are needed. Direction of effect only in the abstract; numbers not read (Not read in abstract) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Blood glucose; cholesterol, triglycerides Limitations: Rodents only. Animal results often do not carry over to people. Numeric results were not in the abstract. Funding and conflicts: Authors declare no commercial or financial conflicts (per the abstract). Registration: PROSPERO CRD42023426254 Read: abstract
Dean 2025 The efficacy of adjunctive Garcinia mangostana Linn. (mangosteen) pericarp extract for bipolar depression: 24-week randomised controlled trial. Br J Psychiatry · PMID 40637133 · DOI	Controlled trial	152 Adults with bipolar I or II and at least moderate depressive symptoms; 70 mangosteen, 82 placebo randomized; 50 and 64 completed	Mangosteen pericarp extract as an add-on to usual treatment pericarp (peel) Not stated in the abstract 24 weeks (plus follow-up to week 28) · vs Placebo	The abstract reports limited support for the main hypothesis. Overall depressive symptom change did not differ much between groups. At week 24 the mangosteen group showed larger gains than placebo on some mood, severity and social functioning measures, but these faded by week 28. No effect on manic symptoms or quality of life. The authors call for replication. Primary outcome: no substantial difference; some secondary gains at week 24, attenuated at week 28 Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Depression symptoms (primary); mood symptoms, clinical severity, social functioning Limitations: Many dropouts (50 of 70 and 64 of 82 completed); several secondary results; extract details not in the abstract. Funding and conflicts: Funded by Australia's NHMRC. Deakin University holds a patent on mangosteen pericarp in schizophrenia, on which the senior author is a co-inventor (per the paper's conflict statement); in-kind support from supplement companies is also declared. Registration: ACTRN12616000028404 Read: abstract
Dechwongya 2020 The Intestinal Efflux Transporter Inhibition Activity of Xanthones from Mangosteen Pericarp: An In Silico, In Vitro and Ex Vivo Approach. Molecules · PMID 33322620 · DOI	In vitro study in-vitro	Computer models, Caco-2 gut cell layers and mouse intestine	Alpha-mangostin and beta-mangostin from the pericarp pericarp Not applicable Not applicable · vs Control compound	Both compounds were predicted to inhibit Pgp. In gut cell layers they lowered the Pgp efflux ratio and reduced MDR1 gene expression, and in mouse intestine alpha-mangostin increased absorption of a Pgp substrate. The authors say the compounds may influence the absorption of Pgp substrate drugs. Efflux ratio 44.68 (alpha) and 46.08 (beta) vs 66.26 control (p < 0.05) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: P-glycoprotein (Pgp) activity Limitations: Lab and mouse tissue only; no human data. Funding and conflicts: No conflict of interest declared (per the abstract). Read: abstract
Estornut 2026 Impact of Antioxidant Mangosteen on Clinical and Biochemical Parameters of Periodontitis-A Systematic Review. Planta Med · PMID 41461206 · DOI	Systematic review	422 Patients with periodontitis in 10 studies (422 people)	Mostly 4% mangosteen gel as an add-on to scaling and root planing pericarp (not stated) 4% gel Not stated · vs Placebo or conventional therapy	The 4% gel added to scaling and root planing improved pocket depth, gingival index, attachment level and bleeding on probing; IL-6 and MMP-9 fell and antioxidant capacity rose. The authors note that formulations and methods differed too much to compare. Improvements in PPD, GI, CAL, BOP; lower IL-6 and MMP-9 Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Pocket depth, gingival index, attachment level, bleeding on probing, IL-6, MMP-9, antioxidant capacity Limitations: Ten small studies of different formulations; no pooled effect size in the abstract. Funding and conflicts: No conflicts declared (per the abstract). Read: abstract
Foti 2009 In vitro inhibition of multiple cytochrome P450 isoforms by xanthone derivatives from mangosteen extract. Drug Metab Dispos · PMID 19541824 · DOI	In vitro study in-vitro	Human liver enzymes in the laboratory plus computer modelling	Mangosteen xanthones, including alpha-mangostin, and aqueous pericarp extracts pericarp Not applicable Not applicable · vs Not applicable	Xanthones were both substrates and inhibitors of several P450 isoforms. Computer predictions of alpha-mangostin blood levels were well above the lab inhibition values (Ki) for CYP2C8 and CYP2C9. Predicted levels above Ki for CYP2C8 and CYP2C9 (prediction, not measured in people) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Inhibition of cytochrome P450 enzymes Limitations: Test-tube work plus a computer prediction; no human drug-interaction study. Authors are from a drug company (Amgen). Funding and conflicts: Not stated in abstract; author affiliation Amgen. Read: abstract
Gutierrez-Orozco 2013 Biological activities and bioavailability of mangosteen xanthones: a critical review of the current evidence. Nutrients · PMID 23945675 · DOI	Narrative review in-vitro	Review of lab, animal and human work on mangosteen xanthones	Mangosteen xanthones (mainly from the pericarp) pericarp Not applicable Not applicable · vs Not applicable	Many lab studies show xanthones act on cells, but animal and human studies are very limited. The review notes aggressive marketing of health claims, with mangosteen drink sales in the USA alone above $200 million in 2008. Not applicable (Not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Bioavailability, metabolism, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory evidence Limitations: A narrative review (not systematic). Published 2013, so newer work is not included. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in abstract. Read: abstract
Gutierrez-Orozco 2014 Dietary alpha-mangostin, a xanthone from mangosteen fruit, exacerbates experimental colitis and promotes dysbiosis in mice. Mol Nutr Food Res · PMID 24668769 · DOI	Animal study animal	C57BL/6J mice with induced colitis and healthy mice	Alpha-mangostin (0.1% of the diet) isolated compound 0.1% of diet Not stated in abstract · vs Control diet	Alpha-mangostin worsened induced colitis and shifted gut bacteria toward a pattern similar to that seen in human ulcerative colitis. The authors say people with ulcerative colitis using alpha-mangostin supplements may face unintentional risk. Greater inflammation and injury than controls Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Colitis severity; gut bacteria Limitations: Mice and one pure compound at a high dietary level; human relevance unknown. Funding and conflicts: No conflicts declared (per the abstract). Read: abstract
Hunt 2010 Botanical extracts as anti-aging preparations for the skin: a systematic review. Drugs Aging · PMID 21087067 · DOI	Systematic review	11 trials of botanical extracts for skin wrinkling	Many botanicals; one trial tested Vitaphenol, a combination of green and white teas, mangosteen and pomegranate various Not applicable Not applicable · vs Control	Some botanicals showed a significant reduction in wrinkling, but Vitaphenol (with mangosteen) and others did not. All trials were of poor quality and adverse effects were often not reported. No significant reduction for Vitaphenol (Not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Skin wrinkling Limitations: The mangosteen-containing product was a four-ingredient blend; all trials poor quality. Searched to October 2009. Funding and conflicts: No funding information in the abstract. Read: abstract
Jung 2024 The Clinical Effect of a Propolis and Mangosteen Extract Complex in Subjects with Gingivitis: A Randomized, Double-Blind, and Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. Nutrients · PMID 39275315 · DOI	Controlled trial	104 People with gingivitis or early periodontitis in Korea	Propolis plus mangosteen extract complex (a combination, taken by mouth) not stated Not stated in abstract 8 weeks · vs Placebo	Gum-fluid inflammation markers (IL-1 beta, PGE2, MMP-8, MMP-9) fell more than with placebo, but the clinical gum measures did not differ significantly between groups. No significant adverse events were reported. Biomarkers p < 0.0001 vs placebo; clinical measures not significant between groups Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Inflammation markers in gum fluid (primary); gum clinical measures (secondary) Limitations: Combination with propolis, so the effect cannot be given to mangosteen alone. Lab markers moved but clinical signs did not. Funding and conflicts: The authors state the study received funding from Lab Co., Ltd; the funder had no role in design, analysis or publication (per the statement). Industry-linked. Read: abstract
Kalick 2023 Mangosteen for malignancy prevention and intervention: Current evidence, molecular mechanisms, and future perspectives. Pharmacol Res · PMID 36581166 · DOI	Narrative review in-vitro	Review of mostly cell and animal studies of mangosteen and cancer	Mangosteen constituents, mainly alpha- and gamma-mangostin pericarp and other parts Not applicable Not applicable · vs Not applicable	The review says 68 xanthones are known and that alpha- and gamma-mangostin are the best studied, and that research on anticancer effects is encouraging but mostly experimental. Not applicable (Not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Cancer-preventive and anticancer potential, bioavailability, safety Limitations: Narrative review; abstract only; it describes laboratory evidence, not treatment results in patients. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in abstract. Read: abstract
Kondo 2009 Bioavailability and antioxidant effects of a xanthone-rich Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) product in humans. J Agric Food Chem · PMID 19807152 · DOI	Pharmacokinetic study	Healthy volunteers (number not given in the abstract)	A xanthone-rich liquid containing mangosteen, aloe vera, green tea and multivitamins (a combination product) not stated 59 mL, one serving Single dose, measured over several hours · vs None stated	Alpha-mangostin and vitamins B2 and B5 were detected in blood, peaking around 1 hour. Blood antioxidant capacity (ORAC) rose by a maximum of 18% after 2 hours and stayed up at least 4 hours. ORAC up to +18% at 2 hours Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Blood levels of alpha-mangostin and vitamins; antioxidant capacity (ORAC) Limitations: Combination product; single dose; antioxidant capacity measured in a test tube from blood does not show a health benefit. Funding and conflicts: The abstract does not name a sponsor; one author lists Brunswick Laboratories, a commercial lab, as affiliation. Sponsor NOT verified. Read: abstract
Kosem 2013 In vivo toxicity and antitumor activity of mangosteen extract. J Nat Med · PMID 22622784 · DOI	Animal study animal	Female BALB/c mice, with and without tumours	Crude methanol extract of mangosteen pericarp containing 25.19% alpha-mangostin pericarp (peel) Mouse doses; 100 to 200 mg/kg for the antitumour effect Short term · vs Control mice	Acute toxicity LD50 and approximate lethal dose were 1,000 mg/kg; the authors say a suitable dose for short-term study should be 200 mg/kg or less. At 100 to 200 mg/kg tumour size was reduced 50 to 70% in mice. LD50 about 1,000 mg/kg in mice Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Acute toxicity; tumour size and survival Limitations: Mouse study of a crude methanol extract; not applicable to people. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in abstract. Read: abstract
Li 2011 Pharmacokinetics of alpha-mangostin in rats after intravenous and oral application. Mol Nutr Food Res · PMID 21254395 · DOI	Pharmacokinetic study animal	Rats	Pure alpha-mangostin, by injection and by mouth isolated compound Not stated in abstract Single dose · vs None	After injection alpha-mangostin showed fast distribution (half-life 3 minutes) and a terminal half-life of 3.5 hours, suggesting high tissue binding. After oral dosing the bioavailability was so low that a full blood-level curve could not be drawn. Terminal half-life 3.5 h (injected) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Alpha-mangostin levels in plasma Limitations: Rats and the pure compound, not a juice or whole extract. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in abstract. Read: abstract
Liu 2015 alpha- and gamma-mangostin cause shape changes, inhibit aggregation and induce cytolysis of rat platelets. Chem Biol Interact · PMID 26343955 · DOI	In vitro study in-vitro	Isolated rat platelets	Pure alpha- and gamma-mangostin isolated compounds 1 to 100 micromolar in the dish Not applicable · vs Untreated platelets	Alpha-mangostin at 1 to 10 micromolar reduced platelet clumping caused by collagen, thrombin or ADP. At 25 to 50 micromolar it broke platelets apart. Gamma-mangostin acted in a similar way. The authors say clinical effects have not been assessed. Concentration-dependent inhibition in the dish Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Platelet aggregation, shape change, cell breakdown Limitations: Rat platelets in a dish; the amounts reaching blood after eating mangosteen are unknown. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in abstract. Read: abstract
Ovalle-Magallanes 2017 Medicinal properties of mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.): A comprehensive update. Food Chem Toxicol · PMID 28842267 · DOI	Narrative review in-vitro	Review of toxicology, animal and early human work	Mangosteen extracts and isolated xanthones pericarp and seed Not applicable Not applicable · vs Not applicable	The review says the main chemicals are isoprenylated xanthones, that seeds and pericarps have a long history in regional traditional medicine, and that drinks containing mangosteen pulp and pericarp are sold worldwide as supplements. It covers animal toxicology and a few dose-finding human trials. Not applicable (Not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Toxicology in animals, anticancer, analgesic, neuroprotective, antidiabetic effects; pharmacokinetics; dose-finding human trials Limitations: Narrative review; only the abstract was read. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in abstract. Read: abstract
Park 2021 Clinical and Immunological Efficacy of Mangosteen and Propolis Extracted Complex in Patients with Gingivitis: A Multi-Centered Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial. Nutrients · PMID 34444764 · DOI	Controlled trial	104 People with gingivitis or early periodontitis, multiple centres in Korea	Mangosteen and propolis extract complex capsule (a combination) not stated One capsule a day containing 194 mg of the extract complex 8 weeks · vs Placebo	Gingival index was lower with the complex than with placebo at 4 and 8 weeks. Gum-fluid IL-6 fell, but salivary MMP-9 rose. Quality-of-life scores improved up to week 4. Significant difference in modified gingival index at weeks 4 and 8 Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Modified gingival index, immune markers in gum fluid and saliva, quality-of-life questionnaire Limitations: Combination with propolis; short; mixed marker results. Funding and conflicts: No conflict of interest declared (per the abstract). Read: abstract
Purwoko 2026 Effects of Garcinia mangostana Peel Extract on Glycemic Control in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review of Human Studies. Acta Med Indones · PMID 41978307	Systematic review	Adults with type 2 diabetes in two studies (the review searched up to December 2022)	Mangosteen peel extract or alpha-mangostin (one standardized extract; one 7-day peel decoction) pericarp (peel) Not stated in abstract 26 weeks (one trial); 7 days (the other) · vs Control groups as in the two studies	Only two studies qualified: the Rome pilot trial (HOMA-IR -53.2% vs -15.2%, p = 0.004) and a small quasi-experimental study that reported lower fasting glucose after 7 days of peel decoction. The authors call the evidence limited and say larger trials with standardized preparations are needed. Two studies; HOMA-IR -53.2% vs -15.2% (p = 0.004) in one (No pooled estimate) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Fasting blood glucose, HOMA-IR, HbA1c Limitations: Only two small studies; different preparations; the second was not a randomized trial. The review searched only up to December 2022. Funding and conflicts: No funding or conflict information in the abstract. Read: abstract
Ramesh 2025 Efficacy of mangosteen as local drug delivery for improving periodontal health in adults with periodontitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Complement Integr Med · PMID 40314616 · DOI	Meta-analysis	Adults with periodontitis in randomized trials (number of trials and people not given in abstract)	Mangosteen gel placed in the gum pockets (local drug delivery), compared with placebo or standard treatment pericarp (assumed; not stated in abstract) Not stated Not stated · vs Placebo or conventional therapies	Pooled results showed smaller pocket depth and attachment loss in the mangosteen group. PPD effect size -1.08; CAL effect size -0.96 (PPD 95% CI -1.40 to -0.77; CAL 95% CI -1.80 to -0.13) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Pocket depth (PPD) and clinical attachment level (CAL) Limitations: Small trials of a gel used by a dentist, not a swallowed product; the abstract does not give the number of trials or the heterogeneity result. Funding and conflicts: No funding or conflict information in the abstract. Read: abstract
Setyawati 2023 General toxicity studies of alpha mangostin from Garcinia mangostana: A systematic review. Heliyon · PMID 37215800 · DOI	Systematic review animal	20 animal toxicity studies	Alpha-mangostin or mangosteen containing it pericarp Animal doses Various · vs Control	In animals the LD50 of alpha-mangostin was between more than 15.48 mg/kg and up to 6,000 mg/kg, and the NOAEL between below 100 and up to 2,000 mg/kg. The wide ranges show results varied between studies and methods. LD50 >15.480 to <=6000 mg/kg; NOAEL <100 to <=2000 mg/kg (Not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: LD50 and NOAEL (no-observed-adverse-effect level) Limitations: Animal data only; huge range between studies; none are human safety data. Funding and conflicts: No conflicts declared (per the abstract). Read: abstract
Tang 2009 Effect of a mangosteen dietary supplement on human immune function: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. J Med Food · PMID 19697997 · DOI	Controlled trial	59 Healthy adults aged 40 to 60	A xanthone-rich mangosteen product that also contained multivitamins and essential minerals (a combination product) not stated Not stated in abstract 30 days · vs Placebo	The product group had more T-helper cells (p = 0.020), lower CRP (p = 0.014) and higher complement C3 and C4 and interleukin-1 alpha than placebo, and more people reported greatly improved overall health (p = 0.001). T-helper cells p = 0.020; CRP p = 0.014; C3 p = 0.017; C4 p = 0.031; self-rated health p = 0.001 Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Immune cell counts, C-reactive protein, complement, interleukins, self-rated health Limitations: Combination product with vitamins and minerals, so effects cannot be put down to mangosteen. Only 30 days. Changes in blood markers are not proof of fewer infections or better health. Funding and conflicts: The abstract does not name a sponsor. Sponsor NOT verified. Read: abstract
Thew 2025 A Systematic Review of Neuroprotective Effects of Mangosteen and its Xanthones Against Oxidative Stress and Inflammation. Planta Med · PMID 40845897 · DOI	Systematic review in-vitro	40 laboratory and animal studies (149 screened, search to July 2024)	Mangosteen crude extracts and purified xanthones various Not applicable Not applicable · vs Not applicable	Extracts and xanthones reduced oxidative markers and inflammatory signals in cell and animal brain models. The authors say clinical trials are still needed. Direction of effect only (Not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Markers of oxidative stress and inflammation in brain-related models Limitations: Lab and animal work only; no human outcome data. Funding and conflicts: No conflicts declared (per the abstract). Read: abstract
Turner 2021 Adjunctive Garcinia mangostana Linn. (Mangosteen) Pericarp for Schizophrenia: A 24-Week Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo Controlled Efficacy Trial. Can J Psychiatry · PMID 33355478 · DOI	Controlled trial	148 People with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder at 2 Australian sites; 136 had follow-up data	Mangosteen pericarp (fruit rind) as an add-on to usual treatment pericarp (peel) 1,000 mg a day 24 weeks (plus 4 weeks after stopping) · vs Matched placebo	Both groups improved over time on symptoms, functioning and quality of life, and there was no difference between groups in the rate of change. The mangosteen group had higher symptom severity than placebo. The authors conclude the results do not support mangosteen pericarp as an add-on for schizophrenia. No between-group difference in rate of change at 24 or 28 weeks Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total score and secondary outcomes Limitations: Single product and dose; the authors note the treatment group started with higher symptom severity. Funding and conflicts: No conflicts declared in this paper (per the abstract). A later paper from the same group reports that Deakin University holds a patent on mangosteen pericarp in schizophrenia. Registration: ACTRN12616000859482 Read: abstract
Udani 2009 Evaluation of Mangosteen juice blend on biomarkers of inflammation in obese subjects: a pilot, dose finding study. Nutr J · PMID 19843321 · DOI	Controlled trial	44 Obese adults with raised C-reactive protein; 44 randomized, 40 completed	XanGo Juice, a proprietary mangosteen juice blend (the full text says it contains whole-fruit puree plus other fruit juices) whole fruit puree blend 3, 6 or 9 oz twice a day (6 to 18 oz total a day) 8 weeks · vs Placebo	hs-CRP fell from baseline in all three juice groups and rose in placebo, but changes from baseline were not significant. Compared with placebo the change was significant only for the highest dose (p = 0.02). Other inflammation markers did not differ from placebo. No side effects reported. Highest dose vs placebo: p = 0.02 for change in hs-CRP; other markers no difference Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: hs-CRP (primary); other inflammation markers Limitations: Tiny pilot (about 10 per group), several doses compared, single juice blend, juice contains other fruit juices. Funding and conflicts: Sponsored by XanGo LLC, the maker of the juice, which also supplied the product (competing-interests and acknowledgements sections of the full text). Industry-linked. Registration: ISRCTN9300027 Read: abstract (sponsor from the full text)
Watanabe 2018 Mangosteen Extract Shows a Potent Insulin Sensitizing Effect in Obese Female Patients: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Pilot Study. Nutrients · PMID 29747432 · DOI	Controlled trial	22 Obese women with insulin resistance in Rome, Italy; 22 randomized, 20 completed	Mangosteen fruit-rind (pericarp) extract capsule, titrated to 40% alpha- and gamma-mangostin, plus diet and activity advice pericarp (peel) 1 capsule a day (400 mg extract, per the full text) 26 weeks · vs Diet and activity advice alone (no placebo capsule, per the full text)	The extract group had a larger fall in HOMA-IR (insulin resistance score). No side effect attributable to treatment was reported. The control group got no placebo, so people knew which group they were in. HOMA-IR -53.22% vs -15.23% (p = 0.004) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), weight, inflammation Limitations: Very small pilot (22 people, 20 finished), women only, not blinded, one extract product, one centre. The abstract gives percentage changes only. Funding and conflicts: Authors declare no conflict of interest; funders had no role (per the abstract). Read: abstract (product details from the full text methods)
Wong 2008 Severe lactic acidosis associated with juice of the mangosteen fruit Garcinia mangostana. Am J Kidney Dis · PMID 18436094 · DOI	Case report	1 One person (details in the full text, not read)	Mangosteen fruit juice taken as a dietary supplement juice Not stated in the abstract (Memorial Sloan Kettering's summary says daily for 12 months) Not stated in the abstract · vs None	The authors describe a case of severe lactic acidosis associated with use of mangosteen juice as a dietary supplement. The abstract gives no more detail. Single case (Not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Severe lactic acidosis Limitations: One case report. A case report cannot prove the juice caused the problem. Only the short abstract was read; the patient's other conditions and medicines were not checked. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in abstract. Read: abstract
Yang 2021 Clinical efficacy of herbal extracts in treatment of mild to moderate acne vulgaris: an 8-week, double-blinded, randomized, controlled trial. J Dermatolog Treat · PMID 31424962 · DOI	Controlled trial	60 People with mild to moderate acne in Korea	A four-herb skin product (mangosteen, Lithospermum officinale, Tribulus terrestris and Houttuynia cordata extracts) (a combination) not stated Not stated 8 weeks · vs Vehicle (base cream without herbs)	Lesion counts fell in the herbal group, and some skin inflammation markers (IL-1 alpha, IL-8, keratin 16) fell more than with vehicle. No serious adverse events. Lesion counts significantly decreased in the herbal group (p < .05) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne lesion counts; skin biopsy markers Limitations: Four herbs mixed together, so mangosteen cannot be singled out; only 60 people for 8 weeks. Funding and conflicts: No funding or conflict information in the abstract. Read: abstract
Yao 2025 The Effect of alpha-Mangostin on the Pharmacokinetic Profile of Tofacitinib in Rats Both In Vitro and In Vivo. Biopharm Drug Dispos · PMID 40818108 · DOI	Animal pk study animal	Rat liver microsomes and Sprague-Dawley rats	Pure alpha-mangostin given before the drug tofacitinib isolated compound 50 mg/kg (rat dose), single or daily for 7 days 7 days · vs Control rats	Multiple-dose alpha-mangostin raised tofacitinib's AUC and Cmax, lengthened its half-life and reduced its clearance in rats. The authors suggest a possible herb-drug interaction (CYP3A4) and say use with tofacitinib should be monitored. Higher AUC and Cmax; lower clearance (numbers not read) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Tofacitinib blood levels Limitations: Rats given a high dose of the pure compound; not shown in people. Funding and conflicts: No conflicts declared (per the abstract). Read: abstract
s-gbif-garcinia-mangostana GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Garcinia mangostana L. (usageKey 3189571) · Source	Reference database n/a			Methods, limits and funding Read: full-text
s-msk-mangosteen Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: Mangosteen (About Herbs) · Source	Authoritative guidance n/a			Methods, limits and funding Read: full-text
s-ncbi-taxonomy-garcinia-mangostana NCBI Taxonomy: Garcinia mangostana (taxid 58228) · Source	Reference database n/a			Methods, limits and funding Read: full-text
s-nccih-mangosteen-notfound NCCIH: no mangosteen page found · Source	Authoritative guidance n/a			Methods, limits and funding Read: full-text

What we do not know yet

What the evidence supports: gum health from a dentist-applied gel and from propolis-mangosteen capsules is low, as is bipolar depression as an add-on. Insulin resistance, inflammation, immune markers and acne are very low. Schizophrenia and exercise fatigue trials were negative. Weight, cancer and memory are insufficient.
What is uncertain: most trials are small, short and use different products (juice, rind extract, mixtures, gels). The main juice trial was paid for by the juice maker. Funding is unstated for others. Mind trials come from one research network linked to a patent on mangosteen rind.
What has never been tested: mangosteen with blood thinners, diabetes drugs, transplant drugs or chemotherapy in people; safety in pregnancy, breastfeeding and children; long-term safety; liver safety of concentrated extracts; testing of products for contamination or mislabelling; any trial for memory.

How new research is added

New studies are found by a saved PubMed search and are placed in a review queue. A person reads each one before it changes any evidence rating or safety wording. New publications never change ratings automatically.

Lab markers

What changed in blood or saliva tests during trials. A changed number is not the same as feeling or being healthier, and we give no "normal ranges".

Metabolic 2

▼

HOMA-IR (insulin resistance score)

Lowered in trials

A calculation from fasting insulin and fasting glucose. A higher score means more insulin resistance.

Very low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

Primary measure of the mangosteen extract pilot in obese women.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

A measured drop in a calculated score in 20 unblinded women. It does not show fewer diabetes cases or complications.

Safety implication

Might add to the effect of diabetes medicines; not tested.

Study	Result	People	Product
²⁶	-53.22% with mangosteen extract vs -15.23% with diet alone (p = 0.004)	22 obese women (20 completed)	Pericarp extract capsule (40% alpha- and gamma-mangostin) plus diet advice, 26 weeks

^{26 19}

▼

Fasting blood glucose

Lowered in trials

Blood sugar after not eating overnight.

Very low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

Used to see how well sugar is controlled.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

The human result comes from a non-randomized study; rodent results do not show the same in people.

Safety implication

Could add to diabetes drugs and cause low blood sugar; no human interaction study was found.

Study	Result	People	Product
¹⁹	A small quasi-experimental study (not a randomized trial) reported lower fasting glucose after 7 days of mangosteen peel decoction. Rodent studies: lower glucose with all extracts.	Adults with type 2 diabetes (one small study); diabetic rodents	Peel decoction (human); extracts (rodents)

^{19 3}

Inflammatory 1

↕

C-reactive protein (CRP)

Mixed results in trials

A blood marker of general inflammation.

Very low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

Used as a sign of inflammation linked to heart disease and diabetes risk.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

Two small trials of mixed products, one sponsor-run. A lower CRP is not the same as better health.

Safety implication

None identified.

Study	Result	People	Product
²⁵	hs-CRP change from baseline was significantly better than placebo only for 18 oz a day of XanGo Juice (p = 0.02); changes from baseline within groups were not significant.	Obese adults with raised CRP	XanGo Juice blend, 8 weeks (sponsor: XanGo LLC)
²²	Serum CRP was lower with the mangosteen-plus-vitamins product than placebo (p = 0.014).	59 healthy adults	Mangosteen product with multivitamins and minerals, 30 days

^{25 22}

Other 5

●

PANSS total score (schizophrenia symptom scale)

No clear change in trials

A clinician-rated scale of positive, negative and general symptoms of schizophrenia. Lower scores mean fewer symptoms.

Evidence against

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

Primary outcome of the mangosteen schizophrenia trial.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

A symptom scale is the clinical outcome in this trial, and it did not favour mangosteen.

Safety implication

None identified in the abstract.

Study	Result	People	Product
²⁴	Both groups improved over 24 weeks; no between-group difference in rate of change at 24 or 28 weeks. The mangosteen group had higher severity than placebo.	148 people with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder	Mangosteen pericarp, 1,000 mg a day, vs placebo, as an add-on

²⁴

↕

Depression symptom score in bipolar depression

Mixed results in trials

A rating of how severe depression symptoms are. Lower means fewer symptoms. The specific scale was not named in the abstract.

Low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

Primary outcome of the bipolar depression trial.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

The main outcome was not clearly better; secondary gains were not sustained after stopping, so clinical importance is unclear.

Safety implication

People on mood stabilisers or antipsychotics should speak to their prescriber.

Study	Result	People	Product
⁴	Overall change in depression symptoms did not differ substantially between groups; some mood, severity and social-functioning measures were better with mangosteen at week 24 compared with baseline, and the differences shrank by week 28.	152 adults with bipolar I or II depression	Mangosteen pericarp extract vs placebo, added to usual treatment

⁴

▼

Gum pocket depth and attachment level

Lowered in trials

Pocket depth is how deep the space between tooth and gum is. Attachment level shows how much gum support has been lost. Smaller is better.

Low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

Standard dentist measures of gum disease.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

These are real clinical measures, but trials were small and gels differed.

Safety implication

No safety signal in the abstracts.

Study	Result	People	Product
²⁰	Meta-analysis: pocket depth effect size -1.08 (95% CI -1.40 to -0.77); attachment level -0.96 (95% CI -1.80 to -0.13) with mangosteen gel.	Adults with periodontitis	Mangosteen gel as local drug delivery
⁶	4% gel added to scaling and root planing improved pocket depth, gingival index, attachment level and bleeding on probing (10 studies, 422 patients).	Patients with periodontitis	Mostly 4% mangosteen gel

^{20 6}

▼

Inflammation markers in gum fluid (IL-1 beta, MMP-8, MMP-9)

Lowered in trials

Chemicals measured in the fluid around teeth that rise when gums are inflamed.

Low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

Primary outcome in the 2024 propolis-mangosteen trial.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

Markers moved but gum health measures did not consistently improve; combination with propolis.

Safety implication

No significant adverse events reported.

Study	Result	People	Product
¹¹	IL-1 beta, PGE2, MMP-8 and MMP-9 were significantly lower with the complex than placebo (p < 0.0001) but clinical measures were not significantly different.	104 adults with gingivitis	Propolis-mangosteen extract complex, 8 weeks
¹⁸	Gum-fluid IL-6 fell, but salivary MMP-9 rose in the test group after eight weeks.	104 adults with gingivitis	Mangosteen-propolis capsule (194 mg), 8 weeks

^{11 18}

▲

Blood antioxidant capacity (ORAC)

Raised in trials

A test-tube test of how well a blood sample can neutralize free radicals.

Very low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

Used by supplement makers to show an antioxidant effect.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

A short-lived lab number. ORAC does not show a health benefit, and the product also contained green tea and vitamins.

Safety implication

Antioxidants may interfere with some chemotherapy (see the safety tab).

Study	Result	People	Product
¹³	ORAC rose by a maximum of 18% two hours after one 59 mL serving of a mangosteen, aloe, green tea and vitamin liquid; the rise lasted at least 4 hours. Alpha-mangostin peaked in blood at about 1 hour.	Healthy volunteers	One serving of a xanthone-rich combination liquid

¹³

Safety

What studies and official sources say about side effects, medicines and who should check first. Each point shows what kind of evidence it comes from.

Main points to know 8

A case of severe lactic acidosis was reported with mangosteen juice. A case report in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases (2008) describes severe lactic acidosis, a dangerous build-up of acid in the blood, associated with use of mangosteen juice as a dietary supplement. Memorial Sloan Kettering summarises it as juice taken daily for 12 months. One case cannot prove the juice was the cause, and we read only the short abstract, so the patient's other illnesses and medicines are not known to us. No other case was found in the sources read. Case report ^{27 31}
If you take blood thinners or have surgery coming up, tell your doctor before using mangosteen products. In a dish, alpha- and gamma-mangostin reduced the clumping of rat platelets caused by collagen, thrombin or ADP, and at higher amounts broke platelets apart. The authors say the effect in people has not been assessed. We found no human case of bleeding or any trial with warfarin, aspirin or similar drugs. This is a theoretical risk from lab work, not a documented one. A reasonable precaution, not an agency rule, is to stop mangosteen supplements before planned surgery and to ask your doctor how long beforehand. Laboratory research ¹⁶
Mangosteen compounds block drug-processing enzymes and a drug pump in the lab. In test-tube work, mangosteen xanthones inhibited several cytochrome P450 enzymes, and computer predictions put alpha-mangostin levels above the levels needed to inhibit CYP2C8 and CYP2C9. Alpha- and beta-mangostin also inhibited the drug pump P-glycoprotein in gut-cell models. In rats, alpha-mangostin raised blood levels of the drug tofacitinib. None of this has been tested in people, so the real risk is unknown. Ask a pharmacist before combining mangosteen supplements with medicines that have a narrow safety margin. Laboratory research ^{7 5 29}
Diabetes medicines: possible added effect, not tested. One small trial reported better insulin sensitivity with a mangosteen extract, and rodent studies show lower blood sugar. No study has tested mangosteen with insulin, metformin or other diabetes drugs, so a risk of low blood sugar is theoretical. Memorial Sloan Kettering also notes mangosteen fruit is high in sugar. If you have diabetes, check your blood sugar more often if you start a mangosteen product and tell your doctor. Pharmacological theory ^{26 3 31}
Cancer treatment: Memorial Sloan Kettering advises against use during chemotherapy or radiation. The cancer centre says mangosteen's antioxidant effects may interfere with the action of anthracycline, platinum and alkylating chemotherapy. This is based on laboratory reasoning, not a clinical study of patients. Ask your cancer care team before using any mangosteen product. Authoritative guidance ³¹
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: no safety data found. We found no human study or case report of mangosteen supplements in pregnancy or breastfeeding, and no LactMed entry. Absence of data is not proof of safety. Eating the fruit as food is common in Southeast Asia, but concentrated rind extracts, juice blends and isolated xanthones are different. Avoid supplements unless your doctor approves. Authoritative guidance ³¹
Ulcerative colitis: a mouse study found alpha-mangostin made colitis worse. In mice with induced colitis, a diet containing 0.1% alpha-mangostin made the disease worse and shifted gut bacteria towards a pattern seen in human ulcerative colitis. The authors suggest people with ulcerative colitis using alpha-mangostin supplements may face unintentional risk. Whether this happens in people is unknown. Memorial Sloan Kettering lists the finding and says its clinical relevance is not known. Animal research ^{9 31}
Most trial participants reported no side effects, but trials were small and short. The Rome extract pilot reported no side effect attributable to treatment, the XanGo juice trial reported no side effects, and the propolis-mangosteen capsule trial reported no significant adverse events. These trials involved at most about 150 people for up to 6 months, so rare problems would not show up. Controlled trial ^{26 25 11}

Side effects 5

Effect	How often	Severity and recovery	Evidence
Severe lactic acidosis (one case report, mangosteen juice) One case, with juice as a supplement. Frequency is unknown. The abstract does not give the patient's other conditions or the outcome.	Not established	severe Not stated in the abstract	Case report ^{27 31}
No side effects reported in small trials Trials reported no attributable side effects or no significant adverse events, but they were small. The abstract of the exercise trial reports no differences in liver blood tests between mangosteen and placebo.	Not established	mild Not applicable	Controlled trial ^{26 25 11}
Worse inflammation of the gut in mice with colitis Mouse study with a high dietary level of pure alpha-mangostin. Not shown in people.	Not established	moderate Not studied	Animal research ⁹
Effects on platelets (clumping) in the lab Rat platelets in a dish; the authors say in vivo or clinical consequences have yet to be assessed.	Not established	moderate Not studied	Laboratory research ¹⁶
Sugar load from juice products Memorial Sloan Kettering says mangosteen is high in sugar and lists diabetes as a reason for caution.	Not established	mild Not applicable	Authoritative guidance ³¹

Liver

We found no published human case of liver injury linked to mangosteen in the sources searched. A search of the NCBI Bookshelf found no LiverTox entry for mangosteen. In the 12-person exercise trial, AST and ALT were measured and did not differ between mangosteen juice and placebo. In animals, a 2023 systematic review of 20 toxicity studies put the no-observed-adverse-effect level of alpha-mangostin between below 100 and 2,000 mg/kg, a wide range, so animal data do not settle human liver safety. No liver data were found for concentrated extracts in people. ^{2 21}

How often. No frequency of human liver injury was found because no case was found.

Monitoring. No agency advice on liver tests was found. Stop and seek care for yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, pale stools or severe tiredness with abdominal pain.

This is a safety connection. It is not evidence that Mangosteen supports liver health.

Medicines and supplements 8

With	Why it matters	Importance	Evidence	What to do
Warfarin, aspirin, clopidogrel, NSAIDs and other blood thinners or antiplatelet drugs prescription	Alpha- and gamma-mangostin reduced platelet clumping and at higher amounts damaged platelets in a rat platelet study. Memorial Sloan Kettering also notes COX-1 and COX-2 inhibition in the lab.	No human study or case report of an interaction was found. The risk is based on laboratory work only.	Laboratory research Very low certainty ^{16 31}	Tell the doctor who manages your blood thinner before starting a mangosteen supplement. Do not combine without advice.
Drugs broken down by CYP2C8 or CYP2C9 (for example some diabetes, anti-inflammatory and anticoagulant drugs) prescription	Xanthones inhibited several cytochrome P450 enzymes in human liver enzyme tests. Computer prediction of alpha-mangostin plasma levels exceeded the lab inhibition values for CYP2C8 and CYP2C9. Memorial Sloan Kettering also lists CYP1A, 2E1 and 3A-type effects and says clinical significance is not known.	Test-tube and computer evidence only; no human drug-interaction study.	Laboratory research Very low certainty ^{7 31}	Ask a pharmacist before combining with drugs that have a narrow safety margin.
Drugs moved by P-glycoprotein (P-gp), such as digoxin and some cancer and heart drugs prescription	Alpha- and beta-mangostin inhibited P-gp in gut-cell layers and lowered MDR1 expression; in mouse intestine alpha-mangostin raised absorption of a P-gp substrate.	Lab and mouse-tissue data only; not tested in people.	Laboratory research Very low certainty ⁵	Ask a pharmacist before combining with P-gp substrate drugs.
Tofacitinib (a JAK inhibitor for arthritis and bowel disease) prescription	In rats, 7 days of alpha-mangostin raised tofacitinib's AUC and Cmax, lengthened its half-life and reduced clearance; docking suggested closeness to CYP3A4.	Animal and lab study with a high dose of the pure compound. The authors suggest clinical monitoring if used together.	Animal research Very low certainty ²⁹	If you take tofacitinib, tell your prescriber before using mangosteen supplements.
Diabetes medicines (insulin, metformin, sulfonylureas and others) prescription	A mangosteen extract improved an insulin resistance score in one small trial and lowered glucose in rodents, so an added effect is plausible.	No study tested mangosteen with diabetes drugs.	Pharmacological theory Not enough evidence ^{26 19}	Monitor blood sugar and tell your doctor if you start a mangosteen product.
Calcineurin inhibitors (cyclosporine, tacrolimus) and other immune-suppressing drugs prescription	Memorial Sloan Kettering notes that isogarcinol from mangosteen inhibits calcineurin and may have additive effects.	Clinical relevance is not known per the source.	Authoritative guidance Not enough evidence ³¹	Do not combine without your transplant or immune specialist knowing.
Chemotherapy (anthracyclines, platinum drugs, alkylating agents) and radiation prescription	Antioxidant effects of mangosteen could interfere with how these treatments kill cancer cells (Memorial Sloan Kettering).	Based on laboratory reasoning; no clinical study in patients was found.	Authoritative guidance Not enough evidence ³¹	Ask your cancer care team before using any mangosteen product.
Other antioxidant, green tea, aloe or vitamin supplements in combination products supplement	Several tested products combined mangosteen with other ingredients, so effects and side effects cannot be assigned to mangosteen alone.	No interaction study; this is a labelling caution.	Pharmacological theory Not enough evidence ^{13 22}	Read the full ingredient list and count all supplements when you tell your doctor.

Who should check first 10

Situation	Advice	Evidence
Taking warfarin, other blood thinners or antiplatelet drugs	Talk to your prescriber before using; the risk comes from lab platelet data and has not been tested in people.	Laboratory research ¹⁶
Planned surgery or dental surgery	Tell your surgeon about any mangosteen product. A cautious approach is to stop supplements before surgery and ask how long beforehand. This is a precaution, not a rule from an agency.	Laboratory research ¹⁶
Receiving chemotherapy or radiation	Memorial Sloan Kettering lists this as a situation not to take mangosteen because antioxidants may interfere. Ask your cancer team.	Authoritative guidance ³¹
Taking calcineurin inhibitors (cyclosporine, tacrolimus)	Memorial Sloan Kettering lists this as a situation not to take mangosteen; clinical relevance is not known.	Authoritative guidance ³¹
Taking medicines broken down by cytochrome P450 enzymes or moved by P-gp, especially narrow-margin drugs	Memorial Sloan Kettering lists P450 substrates as a situation not to take mangosteen; clinical relevance is not known. Ask a pharmacist.	Laboratory research ^{7 5 31}
Diabetes	Monitor blood sugar; mangosteen fruit and juice contain sugar and extracts may lower blood sugar.	Authoritative guidance ^{31 26}
Ulcerative colitis or other inflammatory bowel disease	A mouse study found alpha-mangostin worsened colitis. Avoid concentrated alpha-mangostin supplements unless your gut specialist agrees.	Animal research ⁹
Kidney disease or a past episode of lactic acidosis	Avoid mangosteen juice supplements without medical advice, given the case report of severe lactic acidosis. We could not read the patient details, so whether kidney disease played a part is unknown.	Case report ²⁷
Pregnancy or breastfeeding, supplement doses	No safety data were found. Avoid supplements unless your doctor approves.	Authoritative guidance ³¹
Children, supplement doses	No studies in children were found. Do not give mangosteen supplements to children without medical advice.	Authoritative guidance

Overdose, product quality and regulators

Summary. Mangosteen fruit pulp is eaten as food in Southeast Asia. The toxicity data we found are from animals and concern the rind extract and pure alpha-mangostin. No human overdose data were found.

Animal. A 2023 systematic review of 20 animal studies reported LD50 values for alpha-mangostin from above 15.48 to 6,000 mg/kg and NOAELs from below 100 to 2,000 mg/kg, a very wide range that reflects different methods and routes of giving.

Human doses studied. Trials gave 400 mg a day of a standardized pericarp extract for 26 weeks (Watanabe), 1,000 mg a day of pericarp for 24 weeks (Turner), and juice blends of 6 to 18 oz a day for 8 weeks (Udani), with no significant adverse events reported in the abstracts. These are what was studied, not recommendations.

High dose or long term signals. The lactic acidosis case followed long daily juice use (12 months per Memorial Sloan Kettering). A 2018 review says there are some conflicting results in mangosteen safety studies that warrant further investigation. Pure alpha-mangostin in the diet worsened colitis in mice.

Overdose response. No human overdose information was found.

Genotoxicity. Not found in the sources read.

Toxic plant parts. The rind (pericarp) is where alpha-mangostin is concentrated and it is the part used in extracts. The toxicity of seeds, leaves, bark and roots was not reviewed here.

We found no published report of adulteration or contamination specific to mangosteen supplements. A 2018 review of five fruit supplements mentions an adulteration case in an acai product, not mangosteen. Mangosteen products vary in what they contain, so contamination risk cannot be ruled out.

Adulteration. No mangosteen-specific adulteration case was found. The 2018 review (Benatrehina) said cases of adulteration found in a commercial acai product, together with conflicting mangosteen safety results, warrant further investigation of these supplements. ¹

Product differences. Products tested in trials differed greatly: a standardized pericarp extract (40% alpha- and gamma-mangostin), a rind powder, a juice blend with other fruit juices, a combination liquid with aloe, green tea and vitamins, and gels. Results from one cannot be moved to another. ^{26 25 13}

Heavy metals, pesticides, mislabelling. No testing report of heavy metals, pesticides or plant mislabelling in mangosteen products was found in the sources read. Not verified.

Body	Action	Date
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) (United States)	No NCCIH page on mangosteen was found. The address where it would be hosted returned HTTP 404. source	2026-10-25
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (About Herbs) (United States)	Patient and clinician summary: reports the lactic acidosis case, a mouse colitis finding, possible interference with chemotherapy, calcineurin inhibitors and P450 substrates, and says the claimed benefits need confirmatory studies. source	2026-10-25

When to get medical help

Fast or deep breathing, nausea or vomiting, stomach pain, severe weakness or confusion while using mangosteen juice or supplements: seek emergency care at once (these are general warning signs of lactic acidosis; the case report abstract does not list this patient's symptoms).
Swelling of the face, lips or throat, trouble breathing, wheezing or widespread hives after mangosteen: call emergency services (possible severe allergic reaction; no mangosteen allergy report was found, so this is general advice).
Unusual bleeding, black stools, blood in urine or large bruises if you take a blood thinner and a mangosteen product: contact your doctor now.
Shaking, sweating, confusion or fainting if you take diabetes medicine with mangosteen: check blood sugar and get help (possible low blood sugar).
Yellow skin or eyes, dark urine or severe tiredness with stomach pain: stop the product and see a doctor.

Stop the supplement and contact a clinician or emergency service. In the US, Poison Control is 1-800-222-1222.

General information only, not medical advice. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before use, especially with medicines, in pregnancy or with a health condition. See the Natural Remedy Safety guide.

Frequently asked questions

What is mangosteen used for?

Traditionally the fruit and rind were used for skin infections, wounds and diarrhea. Today juice and rind extract are sold for antioxidant, immune, blood sugar and weight claims. Research has mainly tested gum health, mood disorders as add-ons, and blood sugar, with low or very low evidence. Most of the biology comes from cell and animal studies.

^{31 12}

Is mangosteen safe?

Eaten as fruit it is a common food in Southeast Asia. Concentrated juice supplements, rind extracts and pure xanthones are different. Small trials reported no side effects, but one case report describes severe lactic acidosis with mangosteen juice, and lab work shows possible drug interactions. Ask a doctor or pharmacist, especially if you take medicines.

^{26 25 27}

Can mangosteen cause lactic acidosis?

One case report in 2008 describes severe lactic acidosis associated with mangosteen juice used as a supplement. Memorial Sloan Kettering summarises it as daily juice for 12 months. A single case cannot prove cause, and no other cases were found. We read only the abstract, so other illnesses or medicines are unknown. Seek urgent care for fast breathing, vomiting, severe weakness or confusion.

^{27 31}

Does mangosteen interact with blood thinners?

Possibly, but only lab data exist. Alpha- and gamma-mangostin reduced platelet clumping in rat platelets in a dish. No human case or trial with warfarin, aspirin or clopidogrel was found. Tell the doctor who manages your blood thinner before starting.

¹⁶

Should I stop mangosteen before surgery?

No rule from a medical agency was found. Because of the lab platelet findings, a cautious step is to tell your surgeon about any mangosteen product and ask when to stop. This is a precaution, not a proven bleeding risk.

¹⁶

Does mangosteen interact with other medicines?

Lab and animal work suggests it can block drug-processing enzymes (CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP3A4) and the P-gp drug pump, and in rats alpha-mangostin raised levels of the drug tofacitinib. Memorial Sloan Kettering also flags calcineurin inhibitors such as cyclosporine and tacrolimus. None has been shown in people. Ask a pharmacist before combining it with medicines that have a narrow safety margin.

^{7 5 29 31}

Does mangosteen lower blood sugar?

Maybe a little, but the human evidence is very weak. One pilot of 22 obese women found a larger fall in an insulin resistance score with a rind extract than with diet alone, and a review found only two human studies. Mangosteen juice contains sugar. If you take diabetes medicines, talk to your doctor first.

^{26 19 31}

Does mangosteen help with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder?

A good 24-week trial in schizophrenia found no benefit over placebo. A trial in bipolar depression found no clear difference on the main measure, with some secondary gains that faded. Do not stop psychiatric medicine for a supplement.

^{24 4}

Does mangosteen help with gum disease?

A mangosteen gel used by dentists as an add-on to deep cleaning improved pocket depth in several small trials, and propolis-mangosteen capsules lowered gum inflammation markers. Evidence is low, and the capsule contained propolis too.

^{20 6 18 11}

Does mangosteen help with weight loss or cancer?

No clear human evidence supports either. Cancer results are from cells and animals, and Memorial Sloan Kettering warns antioxidants may interfere with chemotherapy.

^{26 12 31}

Is it safe in pregnancy or breastfeeding?

No data were found for supplements in pregnancy, breastfeeding or children, and there is no LactMed entry. Avoid supplements unless your doctor approves.

³¹

Are the juice studies trustworthy?

Be careful. The main juice trial was paid for by the juice maker, XanGo LLC, and was a pilot of about 10 people per group. Other trials tested mixtures with vitamins, green tea or propolis. A 2013 review notes aggressive marketing of health claims.

^{25 22 8}

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Editorial transparency

Written by: AlternativeMed editorial team. Research compiled with AI assistance, then checked against PubMed records.
Medical review: None. This page has not been reviewed by a physician or pharmacist.
First published: 2026-10-25
Last substantive update: 2026-10-25
How we research: We searched PubMed, read Memorial Sloan Kettering's mangosteen page in full, and checked plant names in GBIF and the NCBI taxonomy and compounds in PubChem. Studies were checked against their PubMed records and abstracts; full texts were opened only for a few funding and product details. NCCIH has no mangosteen page, and EMA, FDA, WHO, Commission E, LactMed and LiverTox positions on mangosteen could not be confirmed; they are marked as not verified.
How we rate evidence: See "How we rate evidence" in the Evidence tab.
Independence: No product is promoted on this page. No affiliate links are shown. If one is added later it will be labelled and kept apart from the evidence.

Sources 33

Each source was opened and checked. Where we read only the abstract, it says so. The small numbers in the text point here.

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. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Garcinia mangostana L. (usageKey 3189571). . . (full-text)
. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: Mangosteen (About Herbs). . . (full-text)
. NCBI Taxonomy: Garcinia mangostana (taxid 58228). . . (full-text)
. NCCIH: no mangosteen page found. . . (full-text)

Education, not medical advice. This page is for general information. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before changing your care, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.