Mangosteen – tall evergreen tree up to 25 m with a pyramidal crown and black-and-brown bark. Leaves ovate-oblong, dark green above and yellow-green bottom, 9 – 25 cm long and 4. 5 – 10 cm wide. Young leaves pink.
Flowers with fleshy green with red spots on petals. The fruit is round with a diameter of 3. 4 – 7. 5 cm, covered with a thick (1 cm), maroon-purple inedible containing coloring gummy latex skin, beneath which is 4-8 segments of the white edible pulp with a skintight to her seeds. The plant bears fruits later – the first fruit trees at 9-20 year of life.
The birthplace of the mangosteen from Southeast Asia. Widely cultivated in Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, India, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, the Antilles, Central America, Colombia, tropical Africa
Oddly enough, but in the wild mangosteen is not found, it is known only as a natural cultivar. It is believed that this is just a whim of nature – a natural hybrid of two related species (Garcinia hombroniana and Garcinia malaccensis), aromatic polyploid, morphologically combines qualities of both parents. The name “polyploid” means a genetic change associated with the fold increase of the basic number of chromosomes in body cells.
Polyploidy is widely distributed in plants. Usually polyploid plants of larger dimensions, increased content of several substances, the best resistance to adverse environmental conditions.
But the main mystery of the Queen of fruits: mangosteen is asexual – this plant reproduction occurs without vmeshatelstva mujkic cells, all the flowers are both male and female, able to pregnant. Is a very rare natural phenomenon called parthenogenesis. Not formed its flowers and nectar, attracting native pollinators, so during flowering, our Queen is in splendid isolation – insects and birds do not cause her even a simple courtesy call.
Good mangosteen must be large and dense to the touch, but nevertheless slightly soft bounce when you touch the fruit. Do not take a little fruit, as they contain less pulp. Fruit, firm to the touch, dry, chapped skin is already overdue. Circular motion cut the mangosteen at the top, try not to touch the flesh. The cuts can be done on the sides and bottom of the fruit then the peel is carefully removed. Mangosteen can be stored in the refrigerator for one to two weeks.
The beneficial properties of the mangosteen
Mangosteen is the real source of the most important human elements: vitamins C and E, Riboflavin, thiamine, nitrogen, calcium, magnesium, zinc, sodium and potassium. And thus, she has a very low level of acid-alkaline balance (pH) – total 3. 2.
Thais eat a mangosteen in cheese form, but also on the “bed” of crushed ice. In this kind mangosteen has a very refreshing taste, especially after hot and spicy food. Mangosteen can be filling for pies, add the fruit and spicy fruit salads, milk shakes, cook with the pulp of mangosteen soufflé, and curry sauces for fish. A light, delicate taste. goes well with seafood, especially squid and shrimp.
For medical purposes mangosteen is used for diarrhea. The flesh remaining on the peel to clean, cook and prepare this healthful tea. Alternatively, the flesh can be baked, then soaked in water and add to the mashed potatoes, which is to be every two hours. Mangosteen is very rich in calcium, phosphorus and vitamins B and C.
Mangostin and used in pharmacology. Almost everyone knows about the antioxidant properties of vitamins C and E, however, much less people are aware of the incredible capabilities of xanthones – natural chemical substances, which recently were discovered by scientists.
In a careful study of the medical capabilities of xanthones, it was discovered the following pharmacological properties:
Maintaining the microbiological balance;
Protection of the immune system;
Improve the overall adaptability of the organism to the external environment;
Ensuring good mental activity.
But what is most interesting is that not only the inner flesh, but the whole fruit as a whole , is yet the only known source of this substance is representative of a new generation of strong phytonutrients that has yet to change the future of dietary supplements.
And in recent time the world markets appeared mangostine juice, called “XanGo”, it is recommended to drink to maintain good health and a speedy recovery after serious diseases and operations. Studies on the possible beneficial effects of xanthones in the treatment of cancer.
According to scientific data contained in mangostana xanthones can affect blood clotting. So doctors advise to eat these fruits people taking medications that thin the blood. Also possible allergic reactions to mangostin and individual intolerance of the fruit.
Mangosteen – a tall evergreen tree up to 25 m high with a pyramidal crown and a black-brown bark. The leaves are oval-oblong, dark green on top and yellow-green from below, 9 – 25 cm long and 4. 5 – 10 cm wide. Young leaves are pink. Flowers with fleshy, green petals with red spots. The fruit is round, 3. 4 to 7. 5 cm in diameter, on top covered with a thick (up to 1 cm) burgundy-violet inedible, containing an adhesive latex dye, with a skin under which there are 4-8 segments of white pulp with edible seeds tightly adhering. The plant fructifies late – the first fruits on the trees for 9-20 years of life.
The homeland of mangosteen is Southeast Asia. It is widely cultivated in Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, India, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, the Antilles, Central America, Colombia, tropical Africa
Ironically, but in the wild, the mangosteen is not found, it is known only as a natural cultivar. It is believed that this is just the whim of nature – a natural hybrid of two related species (Garcinia hombroniana and Garcinia malaccensis), an aromatic polyploid that combines the qualities of both parents morphologically tagged. The name “polyploid” means a hereditary change associated with a multiple increase in the basic number of chromosomes in the cells of the body.
Polyploidy is widespread in plants. Polyploid plants Usually have larger sizes, higher content of a number of substances, better resistance to unfavorable environmental conditions.
But here is the main secret of the queen of fruits: mangosteen is asexual – this plant reproduces without the interference of male cells, all flowers are both male and female, capable of self-fertilization. Such a very rare phenomenon of nature is called parthenogenesis. Nor does her nectar, which distance natural pollinators, form in her flowers, so during the flowering our queen remains in proud solitude – insects and birds do not even bring her a simple courtesy visit.
A good mangosteen should be large and dense to the touch, but nevertheless slightly spring when the fruit is softly pressed. Do not take small fruits, because they contain less pulp. Fruits, hard to the touch, dry, with a cracked skin is already overripe. Cut the mangosteen from above with a circular motion, try not to touch the flesh. The incisions can be made on the sides and bottom of the fetus, after which the skin is carefully removed. Mangosteen can be stored in the refrigerator for one or two weeks.
Useful properties of mangosteen
Mangosteen is a true source of the most important elements for humans: vitamins C and E, riboflavin, thiamine hydrochloride, nitrogen, calcium, magnesium, zinc, sodium and potassium. And at the same time, it has a very low level of acid-base balance (pH) is only 3. 2.
Thais eat mangosteen in a raw form, as well as on the “crib” of crushed ice. In this form, mangosteen has a very refreshing taste, especially after hot and spicy food. From mangosteen you can make a filling for pies, add this fruit to the sharp and fruit salads, milkshakes, cook from the pulp of mangosteen souffle, as well as curry sauces to fish. Light, delicate taste of mangosteen is combined perfectly with seafood, especially with squid and shrimp.
For medical purposes, mangosteen is used for diarrhea. The flesh remaining on the peel is scraped off, cooked and cooked with curative tea. Alternatively, the flesh can be baked, then soaked in water and added in puree, there is which should be every two hours. Mangosteen is very rich in calcium, phosphorus and vitamins B and C.
Mangosteen Used in pharmacology. Virtually everyone knows about the antioxidant properties of vitamins C and E, but much less people are aware of the incredible possibilities of xanthones – natural chemicals that were discovered recently by scientists.
With a careful study of the medical capabilities of xanthones, the following pharmacological properties were found:
Maintenance of microbiological balance;
Protection of the immune system;
Increase in the general adaptability of the organism to the external environment;
Providing good mental performance.
But what is most interesting is that not only the internal flesh, but the whole fruit as a whole, is the only known source of this substance – a representative of a new generation of strong phyto-intragenutics, which has yet to change the future of dietary food supplements.
Recently, mangosteen juice appeared on the world markets, which was called “XanGo”, it is recommended to drink it to maintain good health and speedy recovery after severe illnesses and surgeries. Studies are under way on the possible beneficial effects of xanthones in the treatment of cancer.
Dangerous properties of mangosteen
According to scientific data, xanthones contained in mangostines can affect blood coagulability. Therefore, doctors are not advised to eat these fruits to people who take medicines that dilute blood. Also, allergic reactions to mangosteen and individual intolerance to fruit are possible.
