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| Mangosteen |
Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.) is a member of the Clusiaceae family and the Garcinia genus. Garcinia is a large genus of about 400 species native to East India, the Malay Peninsula and Southeast Asia including Indonesia. In addition, based on morphological and cytological studies, it is estimated that the mangosteen originates from Southeast Asia. In addition, researchers argue that mangosteen is a fruit producer in Indonesia.
In fact, the mangosteen is a tropical fruit that has been used for hundreds of years around the world as a traditional medicine. Mangosteen trees can grow in the lowlands. The best growth is achieved in areas with an altitude of 500-600 m above sea level. In Indonesia, the centers for planting mangosteen trees are West Sumatra, Central Kalimantan, Riau, East Kalimantan, North Sumatra and North Sulawesi.
Europeans call this fruit the queen of tropical fruit, this title arises from the reasons for the pleasure of this fruit. Sweet, sour and fresh flavors come together in the perfect blend combination.
Tree and the fruit
The mangosteen is a tropical tree that grows in warm and stable temperatures, exposure to temperatures below 0 °C (32 °F) for long periods of time, generally killing the mature plant. Experienced horticulturists have grown this species outdoors and brought it for development in the extreme, south of Florida.
Mangosteen is obligate apomixis, the seeds do not come from fertilization and are thought to have narrow genetic diversity, so it is estimated that the mangosteen in nature is only one clone and has the same characteristics as its parent. Reality in the field shows the diversity of mangosteen plants which may be caused by environmental factors or genetic factors due to natural mutations in line with the history of mangosteen plants which are thousands of years old.
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| Mangosteen |
Young mangosteen fruit, which do not require fertilization to grow (see agamospermy), will first be pale green or almost white under the canopy. As the fruit enlarges over the next 2 to 3 months, its skin will become a dark green color. During this period, the fruit may increase in size until the skin, which is 6–8 cm (2.4–3.1 in) in outside diameter, remains firm until final ripening.
The chemical properties of the underside of the mangosteen rind consist of various polyphenols, including xanthones and tannins which ensure that the astringents can inhibit the attention of insects, fungi, plant viruses, bacteria and animal predators, when the fruit is not yet ripe. Discoloration and softening of the skin are natural processes that indicate the ripening of the edible fruit and the seeds have finished developing.
Mangosteen fruit has a spherical shape, diameter 3.5-7 cm, dark purple color, thick fruit wall, milky white flesh, with yellow sap. In a mangosteen there are 1-3 seeds, covered by a thick seed membrane watery, white, and edible. In Indonesia, mangosteen has a flowering time between May and January.
Nutritional fact:
Furthermore, mangosteen contains bioactive compounds such as xanthones, terpenes, anthocyanins, tannins, phenols, and several vitamins. The nutritional value of mangosteen per 100 g includes 80.9 g water, 0.5 g protein, 18.4 g carbohydrates, 1.7 g fiber, 9 mg calcium, 14 mg phosphorus, 0.5 mg iron, 2 mg vitamin C, 0.09 mg vitamin B1 (thiamin), 0.06 mg vitamin B2 (riboflavin), and 0.1 mg vitamin B5 (niacin).
The secondary metabolites of the main bioactive compounds of mangosteen are xanthone derivatives. The main constituents of the xanthone fraction in mangosteen were found in α-mangostin and γ-mangostin. More than 60 other xanthones isolated from different parts of the plant including 3-isomangostin, β-mangostin, gartanin, mangostanin, 1-isomangostin, garcinone B, 9-hydroxycalabaxanthone, mangostanol, mangostinone demethylcalabaxanthone, 8-deoxygartanin, and garcinone D. The majority of investigations focused on the extraction and elucidation of the structure of xanthones from mangosteen rind or pericarp.Below is the detail of nutrition of the mangosteen according to USDA;
Economic value
From the explanation above, it can be concluded that this nutritious and delicious fruit has high economic value and is still very potential to be cultivated in a modern way.
This fruit market is global, growing only well in the tropics. So further research needs to be done to create a fruit plantation that has the title of queen of tropical fruit that will increase production and provide optimal economic benefits.
Scientific classification:
Kingdom : Plantae
Clade : Tracheophytes
Clade : Angiosperms
Clade : Eudicots
Clade : Rosids
Order : Malpighiales
Family : Clusiaceae
Genus : Garcinia
Species : Garcinia mangostana
Others :
- Major exporters : Thailand, FOB price between $4 - $6/kg
- Availability : Sessional
- Enjoying the fruit : Mangosteen fruit can be eaten directly without processing. Simply open the skin, when freshly harvested then you can use your hands to open it because it is relatively gentle. But if it had been harvested a few days the skin will tend to harden and of course you need a knife to open it for easy. Color of Mangosteen flesh is creamy white, the flesh formations is like an orange. For large segment of flesh usually containing seeds, the taste of seeds just like it’s pericarp is bitter . So you only get to enjoy the flesh fruit that perfectly sweet.
