Antihyperlipidemic and Antioxidant Benefits of Mangifera indica: The Role of Mangiferin

Mangifera indica, commonly known as the mango, is not only a popular tropical fruit but also a source of significant medicinal properties. One of its notable health benefits is its antihyperlipidemic activity, which refers to its ability to lower lipid levels in the blood. This activity is primarily attributed to mangiferin, a bioactive compound found abundantly in various parts of the mango tree, including the leaves, bark, and fruit.

Mangiferin has garnered attention for its potent antioxidant properties, which play a pivotal role in reducing oxidative stress and preventing lipid peroxidation. Oxidative stress results from an imbalance between free radicals and the body's ability to neutralize them with antioxidants. This imbalance can damage lipids, proteins, and DNA, contributing to a variety of diseases, including hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis. Lipid peroxidation, specifically, refers to the oxidative degradation of lipids, which leads to cell membrane damage and increased levels of lipids in the bloodstream. Mangiferin helps counteract this process by scavenging free radicals, thereby preserving the integrity of cell membranes and minimizing the harmful accumulation of lipids in the blood. This protective action is crucial in reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases, where elevated lipid levels are a significant factor.

Beyond its antioxidant properties, mangiferin has been shown to influence cholesterol metabolism directly. Scientific studies indicate that mangiferin can significantly reduce levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), commonly referred to as "bad" cholesterol. Elevated levels of LDL-C and triglycerides are risk factors for cardiovascular diseases as they contribute to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, which can block arteries. Conversely, mangiferin increases high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), often referred to as "good" cholesterol, which helps in transporting cholesterol from the arteries to the liver for excretion. This balancing effect on lipid levels is achieved through various mechanisms, including the inhibition of cholesterol synthesis in the liver, enhancement of lipid metabolism, and regulation of enzymes involved in lipid processing.

In conclusion, the antihyperlipidemic activity of Mangifera indica, particularly due to mangiferin, highlights its potential as a natural therapeutic agent for managing hyperlipidemia and promoting cardiovascular health. While these findings are promising, further research and clinical trials are needed to fully understand its efficacy and optimize its use in medical applications.
Antihyperlipidemic and Antioxidant Benefits of Mangifera indica: The Role of Mangiferin

Mango: A Nutrient Powerhouse

Mangoes, scientifically referred to as Mangifera indica, are celebrated not only for their delightful flavor and vivid hues but also for their rich nutritional content. Laden with a multitude of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, mangoes provide a wide array of health advantages, making them a valuable dietary inclusion.

A prominent constituent of mangoes is tryptophan, an essential amino acid vital for human well-being. Serving as a precursor to serotonin, commonly known as the "happiness hormone," tryptophan plays a crucial role in mood regulation and overall mental health. While primarily recognized for its involvement in protein synthesis, tryptophan also contributes to neurological functions and mood enhancement.

Furthermore, mangoes have been identified as an excellent complementary food for infants transitioning to solid diets, delivering essential nutrients and energy necessary for optimal growth and development. By incorporating mangoes into meals three times a day, the nutritional requirements of children aged 6-24 months can be met, aligning with recommendations from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) regarding breastfeeding practices.

In addition to their dietary significance, mangoes exhibit medicinal properties attributed to compounds like mangiferin, a potent antioxidant found in mango leaves. Studies suggest that mangiferin possesses anti-inflammatory, diuretic, and cardiotonic effects, along with antibacterial properties effective against gram-positive bacteria. Moreover, its antiviral activity against herpes simplex virus type I indicates potential utility in topical treatments for herpes infections.

Notably, various parts of the mango tree, including the bark, harbor bioactive compounds with therapeutic potential. The bark, abundant in tannins and mangiferin, showcases astringent qualities and is traditionally utilized to address conditions such as hemorrhage, diarrhea, and rheumatism. Furthermore, its antimicrobial and mucosal tonic properties render it valuable in addressing dental issues, respiratory ailments, and gastrointestinal disorders.

In conclusion, mangoes transcend their role as a mere tropical fruit, emerging as a nutritional powerhouse with diverse health-promoting attributes. Whether consumed fresh, dried, or incorporated into culinary creations, mangoes offer a flavorful and nourishing means to bolster overall health and well-being. From supporting infant nutrition to combating inflammation and infections, mangoes truly earn recognition as a superfood with exceptional health benefits.
Mango: A Nutrient Powerhouse

Properties of mangiferin

Mangiferin (2-β-D-glucopyranosyl-1,3,6,7-tetrahydroxy-9H-xanthen-9-one) is a bioactive ingredient predominantly isolated from the mango tree. However, it is also present in other herbs like Iris unguicularis and in honey bush which is a popular herbal tea from South Africa.

It has been demonstrated to possess numerous pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antiallergic, anticancer, hypocholesterolemic, and immunomodulatory. Mangiferin's xanthonoid structure with C-glucosyl linkage and polyhydroxy component is believed to be crucial for its free radical-scavenging ability leading to a potent antioxidant effect.

It has the potential to attenuate inflammation in different organs through the mechanisms of inhibiting pattern recognition receptors, regulating cell signaling pathways, activating autophagy, inhibiting the secretion of inflammatory mediators, and protecting intestinal barrier integrity, which in turn prevents cancer.

Mangiferin dissolves well in water, so it can be easily extracted into infusions and decoctions. In the mangiferin molecule, four aromatic hydroxyl groups determine its strong antiradical and antioxidant properties. Owing to the xanthone chemical structure, mangiferin has a redox active aromatic system and has antioxidant properties. Mangiferin exerts varied and impressive metabolic effects in animals, improving metabolic disorders.

Mangiferin is also an efficient iron chelator, therefore preventing the generation of hydroxyl radical in Fenton-type reactions.

Isomangiferin and homomangiferin, which constitute 10% of the total phenolics, are also present in different parts of the mango tree, such as leaves, mango peel, and twigs.
Properties of mangiferin

Mango can help fighting against high cholesterol

Among the fruits, mango provides numerous bioactive compounds such as carotenoids, vitamin C and phenolic compounds. These compounds which have been shown to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

In addition, mangos contain virtually no total fat, saturated fatty acids (SFA), or sodium, and no cholesterol.

There are two types of cholesterol: high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). High levels of LDL cholesterol can build up inside the walls of blood vessels and increase the risk of cardiovascular complications.

Research on mice fed with aqueous extract of mango leaves significant decrease in elevated total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-C and VLDL, with significant increase in HDL-C as compared to high cholesterol diet control.

Mangiferin in mango, a natural xanthonoid polyphenol antioxidant is known to play role in lowering cholesterol synthesis. Mangiferin also modulated lipid profiles (reduced triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL levels, as well as increased HDL levels), comparable to insulin treatment, and significantly reduced the atherogenic index.
Mango can help fighting against high cholesterol

Mango can fight against diabetic

The mango is a fruit of the Mangifera tree. Mangoes (Mangifera indica) consist of about 30 species of tropical fruiting trees. It can be eaten raw or ripe. Mango is the national tree of Bangladesh, as well as the national fruit of India, Pakistan, and the Philippines.

Many of the pharmacological properties present in mango and those might be due to the presence of phenolic acids. These phenolic compounds possess potent antioxidant activity helpful for protecting the body tissues against oxidative stress with their anti-diabetic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antilithiatic and anticarcinogenic properties.

Mangos were demonstrated to have glucose lowering effects possibly due to fiber, vitamins, minerals and other bioactive compounds.

Among all chemical components in mango, mangiferin was found as a major chemical which is responsible for anti-diabetic activity.

Mangiferin, a bioactive substance found in mango seeds (0.42 mg/kg), peel (1690.4 mg/kg), and pulp (4.4 mg/kg), is thought to have hypoglycemic properties.

Mangiferin is a xanthone with high antioxidative activity. It inhibits sucrase, isomaltase, and maltase, and thus decreases in glucose intestinal absorption. Mango also contains dietary fiber, which can reduce digestion of carbohydrate and lower glucose absorption.

Apart from the fruit, mango flesh, leaf, stem-bark also has been reported to have anti-diabetic, antilithiatic and free radical scavenging properties.

Mango leaves have the capability to improve insulin production and distribution of glucose. They can help in stabilizing blood sugar levels. Mango leaves are also loaded with pectin, vitamin C and fiber. Together they are beneficial for both diabetes and cholesterol.
Mango can fight against diabetic

Norathyriol

Mangos too have other chemical compound such as norathyriol, a metabolite of mangiferin, and also quercetin. Mangiferin has been reported to inhibit 𝛼-glucosidase.

𝛼-Glucosidases are one kind of the most important carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzymes. These enzymes play a crucial role in a broad range of metabolic pathways, which are closely related to some modern diseases, such as lysosomal storage diseases, HIV, and metastatic cancer.

Among them, 𝛼-glucosidase is in the brush-border surface membrane of small intestinal cells capable of catalyzing carbohydrate into glucose which is absorbed into the blood.

Mangiferin has been reported to possess antidiabetic activities. Norathyriol, a xanthone aglycone, has the same structure as mangiferin, except for a C-glucosyl bond. Both of norathyriol and mangiferin caused significant reduction in fasting blood glucose and the blood glucose levels at two hours after carbohydrate loading and it was interesting that mangiferin and norathyriol can make the decline of the blood glucose earlier than other groups ever including normal group in the starch tolerance test.

Research suggest that norathyriol and mangiferin could improve the glucose utilization and insulin sensitivity by up-regulation of the phosphorylation of AMPK. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) plays a major role in regulating metabolism and has attracted significant attention as a therapeutic target for treating metabolic disorders.
Norathyriol

Mango fruit for diabetics

Fruits can be excellent components of the diet in diabetic patients. This is for their high nutritional values and for their palatability which increases patient compliance.

Mango fruits are an important source of micronutrients, vitamins and other phytochemicals micronutrients, vitamins and other phytochemicals along with it provides energy, dietary fiber, carbohydrates, proteins, fats and phenolic compounds. Mango is one of the effective plants which is used for treatment of diabetes in different communities.

A study conducted at the Oklahoma University revealed that mango consumption helps lower insulin resistance and improves glucose tolerance in diabetics.

The American Diabetes Association also recommends mango in its list of fruits that can be eaten by diabetics.

Over 90% of the calories in mango come from sugar, which is why it may contribute to increased blood sugar in people with diabetes. Yet, this fruit also contains fiber and various antioxidants, both of which play a role in minimizing its overall blood sugar impact.

While the fiber slows the rate at which your body absorbs the sugar into the blood stream, its antioxidant content helps reduce any stress response associated with rising blood sugar levels.

One of the components of mangoes is a substance known as mangiferin—which, in addition to anti-inflammatory and anti-viral activities, also can help lower blood sugar levels. This substance also has been shown to stabilize and support blood vessels.
Mango fruit for diabetics

Cardiotonic activities of mango

Studies indicate mango possesses antidiabetic, anti-oxidant, anti-viral, cardiotonic, hypotensive, anti-inflammatory properties.

Cardiotonic is a substance used to increase the efficiency and improve the contraction of the heart muscle, which leads to improved blood flow to all tissues of the body.

Mangiferin, being a polyphenolic antioxidant and a glucosyl xanthone, it has strong cardiotonic activities.

Mangiferin was found to ameliorate the effect of isoproterenol-induced pathological changes, reduced the lipid peroxide formation and retained the myocardial marker enzyme activities at near normal level.
Cardiotonic activities of mango

Mangiferin as a diuretic

Mangiferin is the major constituent obtained from Mangifera indica (Anacardiaceae). Both truly wild mango trees belong to M. indica and M. sylvatica genera.

Mangiferin and its derived lead molecule have never qualified for use in a clinical trial despite a number of pharmacological studies that have proven its effectiveness as an antioxidant, analgesic, antidiabetic, antiproliferative, chemopreventive, radioprotective, cardiotonic, immunomodulatory, and diuretic.

Diuretics increase urinary excretion of water and electrolytes and are used to relieve oedema associated with heart failure, nephrotic syndrome or hepatic cirrhosis. Most diuretics increase urine volume by inhibiting the reabsorption of sodium and chloride ions in the renal tubule; they also modify renal handling of potassium, calcium, magnesium and urate.
Mangiferin as a diuretic

Mangiferin

Pharmacological properties of mangiferin

Mangiferin (1,3,6,7-tetrahydroxy-2-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]xanthen-9-one) is a naturally occurring polyphenol in several fruits, one being Mangifera indica L., one of the most popular tropical fruit bearing trees in the world.

Mango leaves have been used by traditional medicine of a number of peoples for centuries. The key biological substance in them is a polyphenol called mangiferin. Mangiferin commonly used as antioxidant for medical purposes.

Mangiferin inhibited the hydroxyl radicals by 84.3 % at 37 °С and 79.8 % at 80°С, as it showed a higher antioxidant activity than quercetine.

Mango leaves

Mangiferin is a heat stable molecule and it possesses antioxidant, antidiarrhea, dyslipidemic, anti-diabetic, antibacterial and anticancer activities.

Studies have suggested that Mangiferin also has an in vitro anticancer effect in cellular lines of acute myeloid leukemia. It was also reported Mangiferin as a promising natural product with benefits as analgesic, anti-sclerotic, antiviral, cardio and hepatoprotective, anti-allergic, monoamine oxygenase (MAO) inhibitor, and protector against UV radiation.

These polyphenols of mangiferin exhibit antioxidant properties and tend to decrease the oxygen-free radicals, thereby reducing the DNA damage. Indeed, its capability to modulate several key inflammatory pathways undoubtedly helps installing the progression of carcinogenesis.
Pharmacological properties of mangiferin

What is mangiferin?

It is xanthonoid found in mangoes. Mangiferin (1,3,6,7 – tetrahydroxyxanthone –C2- β- D-glucoside) is synthesized in leaves and remains stored at bark. During flushing, mangiferin is mobilized into the growing region and is utilized forming new shoots and leaves.

Mangiferin commonly used as antioxidant for medical purposes. Mangiferin from the leaves has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory, diuretic, chloretic and cardiotonic activities and displays a high antibacterial activity against gram positive bacteria.

It has been recommended as a drug in preventing dental plaques. Mangiferin shows antiviral effect against type I herpes simplex virus which could be useful in anti-herpes ointments. Mangiferin also has shown anti-hyperlipidemic and anti-atherogenic properties.

In addition, the chemical structure of mangiferin strongly favors iron chelation - a property that enhances its antioxidant properties.
What is mangiferin?

Mangiferin

Mangiferin was found to have cardioprotective activity. Recent studies showed that mangiferin and mango extracts rich in mangiferin increased endothelial cell migration.

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.

Mangiferin is a natural C-glucoside xanthone.

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.

Mangiferin protected against gastric injury by ethanol and indomethacin most possibly through the antisecretory 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.

Mangiferin

Mango and diabetic

Mango and diabetic
Recent studies by Australian researchers showed that eating mango can help to fight against diabetic.

Mango have also role to help treatment of metabolic disorder. Actually there are a lot of researches done looking at nutritional value of temperate fruit but not at tropical fruit.

What is diabetes? Diabetes is occurred when the amount of glucose in blood is too high, and the body didn’t use it in as per requirement.

Glucose normally comes from food eaten. Glucose then is converted to the energy as required by the body by chemical name insulin. Insulin produced by pancreas. If not enough insulin produced then diabetes will occur.

Eating mango everyday can help people fighting against high cholesterol as well as diabetes. Research shows that components in mango have a similar function of diabetes and cholesterol drugs.

Research suggests some compounds in mangoes work by activating or inhibiting groups of receptors known as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors.

Mangos too have other chemical compound such as norathyriol, a by-product of mangiferin, and also quercetin. Still under research if the compounds can kill cancerous cell.
Mango and diabetic

Mango and health benefits

Mango and health benefits
Mangoes are full packed with vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants and contain like all fruits very few proteins, fats and calories.

Mangos contain also a lot of tryptophan, the precursor of the "happiness-hormone" serotonin. What is tryptophan. Tryptophan is one of the 20 standard amino acids, as well as an essential amino acid in the human diet. It is encoded in genetic code as the codon UGG.

Only the L-stereoisomer of tryptophan is used in structural or enzyme proteins, but the D-stereoisomer is occasionally found in naturally produced peptides (for example, the marine venom peptide contryphan). The distinguishing structural characteristic of tryptophan is that it contains an indole functional group.

Mango (Mangifera indica) has been proven to be a good complementary food for children of weaning age. It meets the vitamin and energy requirements of children of 6-24 months of age at three servings a day and at the FAO average breast-feeding frequency.

Mangiferin commonly used as antioxidant for medical purposes. Mangiferin from the leaves has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory, diuretic, chloretic and cardiotonic activities and displays a high antibacterial activity against gram positive bacteria.

It has been recommended as a drug in preventing dental plaques. Mangiferin shows antiviral effect against type I herpes simplex virus which could be useful in anti-herpes ointments.

The bark of the mango tree contains 16 - 20% tannin and also mangiferine. It acts ad stringent and is believed to possess a tonic action on the mucous membrane. It is anathematic, useful in hemoptysis, hemorrhage, nasal catarrh, diarrhea, ulcers, diphtheria, rheumatism and for lumbrici. It is also used in diphtheria and rheumatism.
Mango and health benefits