Mangosteen: the magical fruit? Mangosteen is nature's best source of xanthones--a family of powerful antioxidants.(SUPPLEMENTS: CHECK OUT)(Cover story)

After all the noni, goji and pomegranate we've consumed in the past few years, you'd think we'd have had our fill of exotic fruits promising cures for everything from arthritis to zits. Now mangosteen, the newest contender in the tropical elixir category, is taking the health beverage market by storm. But is mangosteen a true healing tonic--or a pricey fruit drink? Probably a little of both: It's not a panacea, but some interesting research suggests it may pack a nutritional punch.

Mangosteen, or Garcinia mangostana, was reportedly named for the 16th-century French priest and explorer Laurentiers Garcin, who was the first to write about it. The fruit is about the size of a tangerine and is a deep, purplish red color, with a hard rind. The pulp's flavor is something like that of a pineapple or peach. Mangosteen grows wild and in abundance in the tropical climes of Southeast Asia, and has been used for centuries in Chinese, Ayurvedic and folk medicine as a treatment for dysentery, diarrhea, inflammation, skin disorders and other ailments.

Xanthones for Healing

Xanthones, mangosteen's main healing compounds, are potent antioxidants that are structurally similar to flavonoids. Mangosteen is thought to be nature's richest source of xanthones. Dozens of papers have been published on the beneficial properties of these substances. Some highlights:

HEALTH SUPPORT REJUVENADE JUICES TO GO combine organic mangosteen, green tea and other juices in a convenient packet that can be easily added to bottled water.

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XANGO JUICE blends whole mangosteen fruit with other whole fruit juices; a portion of the proceeds goes to charity.