April 18, 2020

Mango Medicinal Values

By Prashant Powle • 6 minute read

Mango medicinal values come mainly from ordinary nutrition, such as vitamin C and folate, plus plant compounds like mangiferin that are still under early research. African mango supplements come from a different tree, Irvingia gabonensis, and are not the same as eating mango fruit.

You can compare boxes and sizes in our Alphonso and other fresh mangoes.

What mango medicinal values really means

Mango is a fruit first. When people search for mango medicinal values, medicinal uses of mango leaves or medicinal uses of the mango seed, they are asking two different things: what does mango contribute to everyday health as food, and what has been claimed for the leaves, bark and kernel in traditional medicine. We answer both, and we keep the line between food and medicine clear. We do not claim that mango treats or cures any disease.

Mango medicinal values, ripe Alphonso mango slices from AlphonsoMango.in

This page is general information for readers in India and abroad. If you have a health condition or take regular medicines, ask your doctor or dietitian before you change what you eat or take any supplement.

What the fruit provides

These are widely documented values for raw mango, per 100 g, and they are for the generic fruit, not for one named variety.

Vitamin C: about 36 mg, roughly 40% of the Daily Value.
Folate: about 43 micrograms, around 11% of the Daily Value.
Potassium: about 168 mg, around 6% of the Daily Value.

Alphonso pulp is described as rich, creamy and non-fibrous, so it is easy to eat in the amounts people usually serve. A normal portion is a few slices, not a whole box. Mango also contains natural sugar, so people managing blood sugar should ask about portions. Our mango nutrition facts article goes through calories and vitamins in more detail.

Mangiferin: what it is and what is known

Mangiferin is a glucosylxanthone, a plant compound found in mango leaves and bark, and in the peel and kernel of the fruit. It also occurs in a handful of other plants. Many websites list long sets of health effects for mangiferin. The research summary on Wikipedia says that preliminary research is being carried out on its possible biological properties, and that no anti-disease effects were confirmed and no prescription drugs were approved as of 2019.

We read that as a fair summary of where the evidence stands: interesting laboratory and animal work, but not proven benefits for people. A mango on your plate delivers some mangiferin along with fibre, water and vitamins, but we cannot tell you a dose, a result or a benefit. If you see a supplement selling mangiferin, treat it as a separate product from the fruit.

Mango leaves, seed and bark in traditional use

In many Indian households mango leaves are used in festivals, and some families make a leaf tea. Mango kernel powder and bark also appear in traditional remedies. Traditional use tells us what people have tried, not what works. Studies on extracts from these parts are early, and we do not recommend leaf teas, seed powders or bark preparations as treatments.

If you are curious, our own pages on mango leaves tea, mango seed benefits and benefits of mango leaves explain what is commonly said, in plain terms. Please ask a doctor before using any plant part, especially if you are pregnant, diabetic or taking medicines.

African mango side effects on the liver: what we can say

African mango supplement compared with Indian mango fruit

African mango, also called bush mango or wild mango, is the tree Irvingia gabonensis. It is native to the humid forest zone from the northern tip of Angola through the Congo region to Nigeria, the Ivory Coast and Uganda. It is valued mainly for its fat- and protein-rich nuts. It is a different tree from the Indian mango, Mangifera indica, and its supplements are not the same thing as eating Alphonso, Kesar or any other mango fruit.

Supplements sold as African mango are marketed for weight management. The Wikipedia summary says clinical trials have not confirmed their efficacy, and that a meta-analysis found the product appears to be safe and well tolerated, with headache, flatulence and difficulty sleeping as the most common side effects, while concluding that data are limited and the supplement cannot be recommended at this time.

That is what people mean when they ask about African mango side effects. We have not seen a source we can cite for a liver claim, so we do not make one in either direction. If you take African mango, Irvingia or wild mango seed extract, or you have liver disease, tell your doctor or pharmacist. The sensible takeaway is simple: the supplement is not the fruit, and a mango from the market is a food.

Claims you will see online

Search results for mango medicinal values often show long lists with words such as anticancer, antiviral, antidiabetic or hepatoprotective. Most of these come from cell studies and animal experiments on extracts, not from trials in people eating the fruit. We choose not to repeat them as promises. A better rule is to treat mango as a pleasant source of vitamin C and folate, and to leave treatment decisions to your doctor.

Mango fruit with vitamin C, folate and mangiferin from Ratnagiri and Devgad

One practical safety note: the skin and sap of mango can irritate some people, and a few people with sensitive skin react to the peel. If you notice a rash after handling mango, peel with gloves or ask someone else to cut it, and see a doctor if it persists.

Buying mangoes

If you want mangoes for the table, fresh Alphonso is harvested about February to June, with the best supply from March to May. The 2027 season opens on 1 February 2027. Outside the season we do not sell fresh Alphonso, but Alphonso pulp tins are available all year. We do not use carbide. Our Alphonso mangoes are ripened naturally on hay beds. Our fruit is sourced across 48 villages of the Ratnagiri and Devgad belt, and we hold GI Authorised User certificate AU/5974/GI/139/260 (GI No. 139).

Dozens of Alphonso start from Rs 1,849 on the Ratnagiri Hapus by the dozen page, and the canned Alphonso pulp starts from Rs 590. Check the product page for the current price.