A NATURAL NUTRIENT ANTIOXIDANT IN ANTIAGING REHABILITATION

Abstract

Mango leaves (Mangifera indica L.) have been used in the traditional South American and Indian medicine. The main biological substance in Mango is a polyphenol isolated from the bark of Mango tree, called mangiferin. It is believed that it is healthy for a number of organs, including liver and brain tissues. Since mangiferin is used in both traditional and formal medicine to treat a number of conditions, possibly its effectiveness is partly due to its capacity to neutralize free radicals - superoxides and hydroxyl radicals. It has been proved that mangiferin has antiviral, antitumor, antidiabetic and immunostimulating properties as well analgetic and antiphlogistic effects. Mangiferin could significantly prevent progression of diabetic nephropathy and improve renal function. Moreover our study of its antioxidant properties would expand the scope of its application to the food industry as an inhibitor of lipid autooxidation. All that indicates that mangiferin's broad bioactivity should also have to do with its antioxidant properties. An aqueous extract of Mangifera indica used in clinical medicine - Vimang improves the quality of life of patients suffering from inflammatory diseases. Mangiferin also lowers resting and, most notably, hypoxic metabolic rate, whereby it may enhance endurance to hypoxia; a factor which should not be underestimated in preventing the deleterious organ effects of the old age-associated development of stagnant hypoxia. These results suggest that Mangifera indica extracts, used as nutrient supplements, may be of benefit not only in clinical syndromes underlain by enhanced oxidative and inflammatory processes, like diabetes or atherosclerosis, but also in nutritional rehabilitation and disease prevention, particularly in old age. The free radical scavenging and ant-lipid peroxidative properties of mangiferin make it a useful nutritional supplement. These properties are worth exploring by both food and pharmaceutical industries.