Exotic Fruit That Could Change Lives

Exotic fruit that could change lives

Daniel Bateman
The Cairns Post
Wednesday, October 20, 2010

It's small, purple, and has the potential to change the lives of those suffering a debilitating mental illness.
James Cook University is starting a pioneering study of the mangosteen, a tropical fruit that originated in South-East Asia and is grown in the Far North, to examine its potential use as a side-effect free treatment for schizophrenia.
Mangosteens are high in nutrients called xanthones, which have been found to have strong anti-oxidant activity, supporting the body's immune system.
Xanthones are found in concentrated amounts in the purple rind, the pericarp, of the mangosteen. The $10,000 study is sponsored by Mangosteen Dietary Supplements, a South Australian company that produces Vitalxan, a mangosteen health extract.
JCU Professor of Nursing Kim Usher said patients suffering schizophrenia would take about 1000mg of mangosteen daily for about six months.
"it's proven to be safe - it's a fruit juice supplement, anyway," Prof Usher said.
"All we're doing is giving it to people at a slightly larger dose to the fruit juices available commercially, for about 180 days."
Some side effects existing anti-psychotic medications have include dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision, drowsiness, sexual dysfunction and menstrual changes.
Prof Usher said the fruit had the potential to change the lives of people with the mental illness.
"If this study proves successful, it will be a wonderful thing," she said.
"People living with schizophrenia live a life of taking medication."

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