A major chemo-preventive phytochemical present in mangoes is mangiferin (1,3,6,7 – tetrahydroxyxanthone – C2-beta-D-glucoside), which is a C-glucosylxanthone. Molecular weight is 422 and its melting point 271 ° C with ferric chloride it gives a positive test.
Mangiferin was found to have cardio-protective activity. Recent studies showed that mangiferin and mango extracts rich in mangiferin increased endothelial cell migration.
In one study dietary administration of mangiferin inhibited benzene (a) pyrene- induce lung carcinogenesis in Swiss albino mice.
The result suggested that mangiferin present in mango extracts may have health promoting effects in diseases related to the impaired formation of new blood vessels.
The formation of new blood vessels is an important therapeutic target for diseases such as limb ischemia, coronary infarction or stroke.
It also reported that mangiferin inhibits tumor growth in early and late stages of cancer.
The easiest source of mangiferin is the mango plant – Mangifera indica, especially the leaves of the plant. Stem bark, heartwood and roots of Mangifera indica also yield mangiferin. It is synthesized in leaves and remains stored at bark. During flushing, mangiferin is mobilized into the growing region and is utilized in forming new shoots and leaves.
Mangiferin being phenolic in nature also acts as a defensive chemical compound of the plant. Besides it serves as the carrier molecule of micronutrients.
Mangiferin protected against gastric injury by ethanol and indomethacin most possibly through the anti-secretory and antioxidant mechanisms.
Mangiferin also together with epigallocatechin gallate has been found to be able to have protective effect on lipid peroxidation in red blood cells, possibly due to its antioxidant activity.
It has also shown anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects. This xanthone was to possess anti-gro0wth effects in ascitic fibro sarcoma by both in vitro and in vivo studies.
Mangiferin of mango fruit
