Protective activity of mango (Mangifera indica L.) fruit against a zinc-induced neuronal cell death is independent of its antioxidant activity

Abstract

Mango, Mangifera indica L., is widely used in traditional medicine. We now report the novel activity of mango fruits protecting the zinc-induced neuronal cell death. Among five kinds of fruits including mango, apple, cherry, kumquat, and loquat, the aqueous extract of the mango fruit alone prevented the zinc-induced apoptosis of GT1-7 cells, which originated from hypothalamic neuron cells. This activity was observed both in the sarcocarp and the peel of the mango fruits. Because the effect of reactive oxygen species is implicated in neuronal cell death following transient ischemia, the antioxidant activities of the mango fruits were also examined. A protective activity against H₂O₂-induced GT1-7 cell death was observed in the peel extract, but not in the sarcocarp one. The scavenging activity assays of the superoxide anion and 1-1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical showed that both activities in the peels were higher than those in the sarcocarps. The features of the antioxidant activity in the mango fruits did not correspond to those of the protective activity against zinc-induced cell death. This indicates that the protective activity of the mango fruit against a zinc-induced neuronal cell death is independent of its antioxidant activity.