Mango fruit nutrition and health benefits Mangifera indica tree

The mango is a tropical fruit of the mango tree. The mango tree is native to Southern and Southeast Asia, but now also grows in Central and South America, Africa, and the Arabian Peninsula. Most of the mangos sold in the United States are imported from Mexico, Haiti, the Caribbean and South America. Today there are over 1,000 different varieties of mangos throughout the world.
   The fruit flesh of a ripe mango is very sweet. The texture of the flesh varies between different cultivars; some have quite a soft and pulpy texture similar to an over-ripe plum, while others have a firmer flesh much like that of a cantaloupe or avocado, and in some cultivars the flesh can contain fibrous material. Mangos are very juicy.

Mango nutrition
Mango fruits are an excellent source of vitamins A and C, as well as a good source of potassium and the carotenoid beta carotene. Mangiferin is a glucosylxanthone present in large amounts in the leaves and edible mango fruits of mango Mangifera indica.

Mango and sleep
Eating a mango fruit or two in the evening can you induce sleep.

Mango extract studies
Mangifera indica extract (Vimang) impairs aversive memory without affecting open field behaviour or habituation in rats.
Phytother Res. 2008 Dec 23. Preissler T, Martins MR, Pardo-Andreu GL, Henriques JA, Quevedo J, Delgado R, Roesler R. Departamento de Farmacologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, 90046-900 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Vimang is an aqueous extract of mango Mangifera indica L, used in Cuba for the treatment of immunopathological disorders. Increasing evidence from preclinical studies indicates that Vimang displays antioxidant, antiallergic, analgesic and antiinflammatory actions. The present study investigated the effects of systemic administration of Vimang on behavioral outcomes of neurological function in rats. A single oral administration of Vimang produced an impairment of short- and long-term retention of memory for aversive training when given either 1 h pretraining or immediately posttraining, but not 8 h posttraining. Vimang did not affect open field behaviour or habituation. The results indicate that Vimang might induce deficits of emotionally motivated memory without affecting nonassociative memory, locomotion, exploratory behavior or anxiety.

Carotenoids in papaya and mango fruit
Systemic levels of carotenoids from mangoe fruit and papaya fruit consumed in three forms (juice, fresh and dry slice).
Eur J Clin Nutr. 2007 Oct;61(10):1180-8. Gouado I, Schweigert FJ, Ejoh RA, Tchouanguep MF, Camp JV. Faculty of Science, Department of Biochemistry, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon.
To assess the systemic levels of carotenoids from mango fruit and papaya fruit consumed as juice, fresh or dried slices. Two groups of seven healthy volunteers (24 and 25 years of age; body mass index: 21 and 22 kg/m(2) respectively for subjects fed mango and papaya), were submitted to three types of meal treatments (juice, fresh and dried fruit). All the treatments lasted only one day during which blood samples were collected. From the major Carotenoids present in papaya and mangoes, Lutein, alpha-carotene and beta-carotene were found in considerable amounts. Lycopene and cryptoxanthin that were the major carotenoids in papaya samples appeared in low amounts in the chylomicrons. The three forms of consumption contributed to the rise of serum retinol levels. A comparison between the three forms revealed that papaya and mango fruits consumed in form of juice or fresh fruit are the best forms because they had higher bioavailability values.

Mango fruit questions
Q. I got this burning sensation on tip of my tongue and is not going away. I had similar but not as severe feeling after I had some kiwis or pine apple in the past. But it went away after couple of days. This time is not getting better. The only new item I had prior this event was some mongo. Please let me know if there is any natural remedy I can use. I am vegetarian and eat a large variety of fruits such melons, oranges, honey dews, mangos, papaya, pears, blue berries, strawberries, grapes and apples everyday.
   A. The skin of the mango does have substances that can act as irritants and cause an allergic reaction in some people.

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