Mango: Medicinal Uses and Health Benefits

Mango is called "The King of fruits" due to its sweetness and richness in phytochemicals and nutrients. It is praised as "heavenly fruit" in Vedas. It is also known as "Super fruit" due to its potential health values. Mango (Mangifera indica) is a member of Anacardiaceae family and cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions of the world.

Mango is used in various forms such as pickle, chutney, jelly, cooling summer drink, and as vegetable dishes. Unripe mango is also eaten as raw with salt, chilli or soy sauce. A popular drink 'Mango Shake' is prepared throughout South Asia mixing pulp of the ripe mangoes with sugar and milk. Dried and powdered unripe mango called 'amchur' is used as preservative in pickles. Sliced mango is served as a dessert with coconut flavored sweet glutinous rice.

Medicinal properties of Mango:

1.The insoluble fiber, present in mangoes, helps the elimination of waste from the colon and prevents constipation.

2. The tartaric acid, malic acid, and a trace of citric acid found in the fruit help to maintain the alkali reserve of the body.

3. A milk-mango shake used in the summers help people gain weight.

4. Extracts of leaves, bark, stem and unripe mangoes are believed to possess antibacterial properties against some micro-organisms

5. Dried mango flowers are used in the treatment of diarrohoea, chronic dysentery and some problems of the bladder.

6. The stone (kernal) of the mango fruit is used widely in Ayurvedic medicines for treatment of different ailments

7. Antioxidents present in the mango fruits are believed to play an important role in the prevention of cancer and heart disease.

8. Some of the flavonoids present in the fruit are believed to strenghthen the immune system of human body.

Nutritional properties of Mango fruit:

• Mangoes are rich in antioxidants such as beta-carotene (445µg/100 g fruit), and Vitamin C (27.7 g/100 g fruit),
• Mango contains Vitamin A (equivalent 38 µg/100 g fruit), Vitamin E
• Mangoes also contain Vitamin B6 (0.134 mg/100 g fruit), other vitamins B, K,
• Mangoes also supply nutrients such as potassium (156 mg/100g fruit), Calcium (10 mg/100 g), magnesium (10 g), iron(0.12 mg), and zinc (0.04 mg/100 g) and fibre and are low in calories.
• Mango peel and pulp also contain carotenoids, polyphenols, and antioxidents
• The edible peel of the mango is a good source of fibre
• Mango is considered as an energizer in Ayurveda as 100 g mago fruit provides about 17.0 g carbohydrates