Comparison of major and trace element concentrations in 16 varieties of Cuban mango stem bark (Mangifera indica L.).

An aqueous decoction of mango (Mangifera indica L.) stem bark (MSB) has been developed in Cuba on an industrial scale to be used as a nutritional supplement, cosmetic, and phytomedicine, with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and immunomodulatory properties. The concentration of major and trace elements was determined for 16 varieties of MSB belonging to two cultivars and grown in Cuba in the same soil (red ferralytic). Plants were classified into two groups, according to the tree age (12 and 26 year olds) and were analyzed for As, Ca, Cd, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Pb, Se, and Zn content by means of ICP-AES technique. Experimental data were processed by ANOVA and principal component analysis in terms of elements, variety, and plant age, to choose the most adequate varieties for industrial purposes.

Mango polyphenols and its protective effects on diseases associated to oxidative stress.

Biological effects of natural polyphenols from mango and their potential impact on human health have become of increasing interest. The occurrence of glycosilated molecules, such as mangiferin (C2-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-1,3,6,7-tetrahydroxyxanthone), main component of the mango polyphenolic fraction, and benzophenones, flavonoids (catechin and epicatechin), phenolic acids (benzoic and gallic), and a wide range of derivatives, provide a high chemical complexity. In this review, the potential impact of mango polyphenols and its protective effects on diseases associated to oxidative stress is discussed.