In this section, I will analyze the research that exists and describe the pathophysiology of the medical conditions to which the research pertains. (Pathophysiology simply means how normal body function is disrupted to cause disease states.) I will not reference individual research papers here as there are usually several studies that support each condition described. All the relevant studies are listed in an Adobe File in the end of this page.

Each reference is accompanied by a brief description that will allow readers to connect that study with what I have written. In each section I will identify the mangosteen phytonutrient category to which the research refers (e.g., xanthones, catechins, proanthocyanidins).

I recognize this approach of discussing pathophysiology may not be the optimal way of dealing with the research, but it meets my goal of teaching readers a little about what has gone wrong with the body when disease appears. I think when we understand why the body loses its healthful equilibrium, it makes it easier for us to see how the mangosteen's key nutrients could be used by the body to restore balance. First, I need to make a few statements about genes and cells that will help you to understand what I write about later.

All Disease Begins at the Cellular Level

Our body is composed of microscopic units called cells, of which there are approximately 6 x 1013 (that's about 600 trillion). Cells all begin as undifferentiated units (stem cells) that gradually develop specialized characteristics. These characteristics allow the cells to be categorized as nerve ceils, liver ceils, lung ceils, and so forth.

The differentiation process of cells and all subsequent cellular function is under control of the genes located on the DNA material (chromosomes) contained in the nucleus of each cell. Genes are either turned on or turned off, and the combinations that can exist are infinite in number since there are more than a million genes in each cell.

No cellular function occurs in health or in disease that is not governed by genes. When the body's equilibrium is disturbed and homeostasis (the steady state of health) is disrupted, the process always begins at the cellular level.

More About Genes and Cells

The number of cells in the adult human body, ideally, remains relatively constant. Cells continually turn over by dividing, quantitatively and qualitatively (mitosis), into two daughter cells identical to the cell from which they spring. One daughter cell divides again, while the second daughter cell is programmed by its genes to function and then to die on schedule.

The process of cell division, all elements of cell function, and programmed cell death (apoptosis) is controlled by genes. In homeostasis (health), cell division is balanced, orderly, and varies only slightly. In cancer, this orderly process of cell replication, genetic control of cell function and the cell's eventual programmed death are the first things to be disrupted.

Generally, the disruption starts when the combination of genes (some turned on and others turned off) in a given cell is altered by the mutation of one or more genes and some that were turned on are turn cell off or vice versa.