Mangosteen
Garcinia mangostana L.
Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) is called the 'queen of fruits': its thick purple rind encloses moist, snow-white segments with a sweet-tart taste; the rind is rich in antioxidant xanthones used in cosmetics and supplements.
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MangostanMangostanMangosteen fruitOverview
Mangosteen is a slow-growing evergreen tropical tree 10–25 m tall, yellow latex oozing from any cut. Its thick, glossy leaves are opposite, and the fleshy-petalled flowers are pink. The fruit is a sphere 4–8 cm across weighing 50–150 g; its thick dark-purple rind is rich in xanthones, enclosing 4–8 moist white segments (seed arils), some bearing flat seeds.
Mangosteen originated in Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Indonesia) and is widely grown in Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines; in Vietnam it is famous in Lâm Đồng, Bến Tre, Đồng Nai and the south. The fruit is eaten fresh when the rind turns dark purple; the rind's xanthones (alpha-, beta- and gamma-mangostin) are studied for antioxidant and antibacterial activity and used in cosmetics, while the wood is used for furniture.
Life cycle
From seed to productSeed & germination
The plant is propagated mainly by **seed**: sow fresh or pre-treated seed in loose, moist soil and keep it evenly damp; germination follows within a few weeks.
Seedling & growth
Seedlings establish, forming leaves and roots; growth rate depends on light and moisture.
Flowering
The plant blooms with **deep red flowers, March–May**; pollination is by insects and wind.
Fruiting & harvest
After flowering the plant sets fruit and seed; **purple-red ripe fruits picked June–September**.
Distribution & origin
Share of recorded occurrences by region- Thailand25%
- Vietnam20%
- Indonesia & Malaysia25%
- Others30%
Chemical composition
Relative content in agarwood resin- Xanthones (mangostin)Antioxidant in the rind45%
- Dietary fibreSupports digestion30%
- Vitamin CAntioxidant25%
Uses
- Ripe fruit eaten fresh
- Rind xanthones for cosmetics and supplements
- Wood used for furniture
Properties
- Taste
- Sweet-tart, refreshing
- Value
- Rind rich in antioxidant xanthones
Habitat & conservation
Humid tropics with heavy, stable rainfall; deep, humus-rich soil.
Conservation
Mainly cultivated; wild populations limited in Southeast Asia.
References
- 1Kew Science – Plants of the World Online: Garcinia mangostana — Kew (Plants of the World Online), 2026
- 2Wikipedia – Mangosteen — Wikipedia, 2026