A research article published in Journal of Toxicology has evaluated the toxicity of a mango leaf extract containing 60% mangiferin, a bioactive compound.
The mango tree is native to tropical Asia and its fruit has been consumed as food for hundreds of years both within and outside of Asia, while other parts of the tree have been used for medicinal purposes in India for over 4000 years. Mangiferin, which is found in the leaves, bark, fruit, and roots of mango trees and other plants, has been characterized as a highly potent antioxidant with potential health benefits, yet toxicity studies are lacking.
To determine the safety profile of mango leaf extract containing 60% mangiferin, and to establish the ‘no observed adverse effect level’ of the extract, Robin A. Reddeman and colleagues at AIBMR Life Sciences performed various in vitro and in vivo toxicological assessments following the OECD Principles of Good Laboratory Practices.
The first test, a bacterial reverse mutation test, found no DNA or chromosomal damage, and while evidence of disruption or breakages appeared in a chromosomal aberration test in cultured cells, a mammalian micronucleus test performed in mice also showed no adverse findings up to the limit dose.
The final test, a 90-day repeated-dose oral toxicity study conducted in rats, showed no mortality or toxic effects and established the ‘no observed adverse effect level’ of mango leaf extract containing 60% mangiferin to be 2000 mg/kg bodyweight per day in rats, which was the highest dose tested.
The results of this toxicity study may help further evaluation of mango leaf extract for the potential use in food and supplements.
Read the full article here >>
This blog post is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC-BY). Illustration by David Jury.