Leukemia is cancer of the blood. A brutal disease, it attacks the bone marrow… Replaces good cells with bad ones… Depletes blood platelets… Disrupts the immune system… And makes you prone to infection, anemia, and uncontrolled bleeding.

In the United States, it kills 20,000 people annually. And strikes 43,000 new victims each year.

But now there’s hope. It comes from a tropical fruit native to Southeast Asia.

The Asians call it the “Queen of Fruits” – and they’ve used it for years to treat skin infections and wounds.

The fruit has powerful phytonutrients called xanthones. They fight free radicals in the body and boost the immune system. They also ignite antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal properties.

In 2003, Japanese scientists found that these xanthones also inhibit the growth of leukemia cells. The study was conducted at the Gifu International Institute of Biotechnology in Kakamigahara.

Looking for a Cure

The Japanese researchers used six xanthones extracted from the dried and ground hulls of the fruit. (One of the study’s authors had collected the hulls in Indonesia in 1993.)

They applied the xanthones to leukemia cells and then examined them under a florescent microscope. All six of the xanthones seemed to inhibit the growth of the cells to some degree. But one in particular stopped it completely. It did it by inducing “apoptosis” – a natural process that causes cells to self-destruct.

The results of this study supported the findings of research on other types of cancer.

In 2002, for example, Chinese scientists from the Department of Medical Research & Education, Veterans General Hospital were looking for a safe alternative to chemotherapy.

Working with a compound derived from those same six xanthones, the researchers tested it on 14 different types of human cancer cells. The compound – garcinone E – appeared to have a powerful toxic effect on liver, gastric, and lung cancer cells.

An Exotic Fruit Worth Seeking Out

So what is the “Queen of Fruits?” It’s the mangosteen (not to be confused with the mango).

You probably won’t be able to find it at your local grocery store, but it is available at Asian markets in the US. It’s dark purple on the outside and white on the inside. It has a delicious, sweet taste. And it can be eaten just like any other fruit.

You can also purchase mangosteen as a supplement. (Check with your doctor, of course, before taking it.) It comes in 500 mg capsules. The recommended dose is one or two a day.

Mangosteen is just one of the promising new developments on the cancer front. We will continue to keep you updated.

To your best health,

Michael Jelinek,
Managing Editor, NHD “Health Watch”