Mango Effective in Preventing Certain Colon, Breast Cancer Cells
Mango contains what are seen to be the 'anti-oxidant' vitamins A, C and E, as well as vitamins B6, and K, plus other B vitamins.
It also contains various phytonutrients, prebiotic fibres, carotenoids (such as beta-carotene, lutein, alpha-carotene), omegas 3 and 6, polyphenols (such as quercetin, kaempferol, gallic acid, caffeic acid, catechins) and dietary minerals such as potassium and copper - as well as 17 amino acids.
Whilst it was already known that the triterpene, lupeol from mangoes[1] is an effective inhibitor in laboratory models of prostate and skin cancers,[2][3][4] and that Vimang - an extract of mango branch bark (isolated by Cuban scientists) - contains numerous polyphenols with antioxidant properties in vitro[5] and on blood parameters of older people [6], the National Mango Board in the US, started to fund further research in 2009.
In one study scientists from Texas AgriLife Research found that Mango extracts prevent or stop certain colon and breast cancer cells in the lab.
Lead by a husband and wife team, Drs Suzanne and Steve Talcott, the researchers reported that:
"What we found is that not all cell lines are sensitive to the same extent to an anticancer agent," she said. "But the breast and colon cancer lines underwent apotosis, or programmed cell death.
"Additionally, we found that when we tested normal colon cells side by side with the colon cancer cells, that the mango polyphenolics did not harm the normal cells."
The Talcotts have evaluated polyphenolics from a number of fruits, and say that it is the gallotannins, which are the key class of bioactive compounds that are responsible for preventing or stopping cancer cells.
1. Chaturvedi PK, Bhui K, Shukla Y (2008). "Lupeol: connotations for chemoprevention". Cancer Lett 263 (1): 1-13. doi:10.1016/j.canlet.2008.01.047. PMID18359153.
2. Prasad S, Kalra N, Singh M, Shukla Y (2008). "Protective effects of lupeol and mango extract against androgen induced oxidative stress in Swiss albino mice" (PDF). Asian J Androl 10 (2): 313-8. doi:10.1111/j.1745-7262.2008.00313.x. PMID18097535. http://www.nature.com/aja/journal/v10/n2/pdf/aja2008241a.pdf.
3. Nigam N, Prasad S, Shukla Y (2007). "Preventive effects of lupeol on DMBA induced DNA alkylation damage in mouse skin". Food Chem Toxicol 45 (11): 2331-5. doi:10.1016/j.fct.2007.06.002. PMID17637493.
4. Saleem M, Afaq F, Adhami VM, Mukhtar H (2004). "Lupeol modulates NF-kappaB and PI3K/Akt pathways and inhibits skin cancer in CD-1 mice". Oncogene 23 (30): 5203-14. doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1207641. PMID15122342.
5. Rodeiro I, Cancino L, González JE, et al. (2006). "Evaluation of the genotoxic potential of Mangifera indica L. extract (Vimang), a new natural product with antioxidant activity". Food Chem Toxicol 44 (10): 1707-13. doi:10.1016/j.fct.2006.05.009. PMID16857303.
6. Pardo-Andreu GL, Philip SJ, Riaño A, et al. (2006). "Mangifera indica L. (Vimang) protection against serum oxidative stress in elderly humans". Arch Med Res 37 (1): 158-64. doi:10.1016/j.arcmed.2005.04.017. PMID16314203.
For more information click here