African mango is a tree native to West Africa. It is widely touted for its weight loss and fat burning effects, but extracts of various parts of this tree also have antioxidant properties, lower cholesterol, and reduce blood sugar. Read more to learn about all the potential health benefits of African mango.
CONTENTS [HIDE]
- Introduction
- Components
- Mechanism
- Health Benefits
- 1) African Mango May Promote Weight Loss and Fat Burning
- 2) African Mango May Lower Bad Cholesterol and Raise Good Cholesterol
- 3) African Mango May Lower Blood Sugar Levels
- 4) African Mango May Reduce Blood Pressure
- 5) African Mango Has Antioxidant Properties
- 6) African Mango Has Antibiotic and Anti-Parasitic Properties
- 7) African Mango May Relieve Pain
- 8) African Mango May Improve Gut Health
- Safety and Side Effects
- Limitations and Caveats
- Drug Interactions
- Dosage
- User Experiences
- Buy
Introduction
African mango (Irvingia gabonensis) is a tree found in the rainforests of West Africa. Fruits of this tree are protein-rich and resemble mangoes, hence the name [R].
It is also known as wild mango, bush mango, dika, and ogbono.
- The fleshy part and pulp of the fruit is consumed as food or used to make jams, juice, and wine.
- The seeds are eaten raw or used to prepare different foods and supplements.
- The roots, bark, leaves, and seeds are used to make traditional medicines.
Components
Seeds of the fruit are also a good source of nutrients. They contain a variety of vitamins and minerals including calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, phosphorus, and iron.
Mechanism
African mango seeds have high amounts of soluble fiber. Soluble fibers are “bulk-forming,” meaning that they delay the rate by which food exits the stomach, leading to a gradual absorption of sugars. This decreases the elevated blood glucose level after a meal [R].
Fibers in African mango seeds can also bind to bile salts and carry them out of the body in the stool. This increases the conversion of cholesterol into bile salts to replenish the deficiency, thereby decreasing blood cholesterol levels [R].
- Reducing the activity of the protein PPARĪ³, which promotes weight gain
- Increasing adiponectin, a protein hormone involved in fat breakdown and glucose control
- Reversing leptin resistance, a factor that can lead to obesity
Fruit extracts of African mango contain many compounds with antioxidant activities (free-radical scavenging) such as flavonoids, phlobatannins, alkaloids, and anthocyanins [R].
Leaf, bark, and root extracts of African mango contain antifungal and antibacterial compounds (terpenoids and ellagic acid-like compounds). These molecules exert their effects by disrupting bacterial and fungal cell membranes, preventing microbial adhesion, and inactivating microbial enzymes [R].
Health Benefits
1) African Mango May Promote Weight Lossand Fat Burning
In a 10-week study (DB-RCT) of 120 overweight volunteers, African mango supplements significantly reduced weight, body fat (6.3% avg.) and waistline circumference (16.2% avg.) [R].
Similar effects were seen in a 4-week study (DB-RCT) of 40 obese subjects. In this study, the African mango treated group showed an average decrease in body weight and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels as well as an increase in HDL(“good”) cholesterol levels [R].
Another study (DB-RCT) of 72 patients found that a combination of African mango and Cissus quadrangularis (a plant used for joint and bone health)significantly decreased body weight, body fat (20.1%) and waistline circumference compared to placebo after 10 weeks [R].
However, although some studies on African mango have shown weight loss effects, they are small and poorly designed. Also, African mango cannot act as a sole source of weight loss. Managing your diet and lifestyle is needed to fully capitalize on its weight loss properties [R].
2) African Mango May Lower Bad Cholesterol and Raise Good Cholesterol
In a 4-week study (DB-RCT) of 40 obese individuals, African mango supplementation decreased total blood cholesterol (46%) and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels and increased HDL (“good”) cholesterol (47%) levels compared to placebo [R].
3) African Mango May Lower Blood Sugar Levels
Diets rich in soluble fiber can help stabilize blood sugar levels in people with insulin resistance. Since African mango seeds are high in soluble fiber, they may aid in diabetes management [R].
In a study of 102 overweight volunteers, treatment with African mango seed extract decreased fasting blood glucose levels by 25% after 8 weeks [R].
4) African Mango May Reduce Blood Pressure
African mango supplements reduced systolic blood pressure in a study of 28 overweight individuals after 2 weeks (DB-RCT) [R].
5) African Mango Has AntioxidantProperties
In a cell-based study, fruit extracts of African mango exhibited impressive antioxidant activity (78% free radical inhibition) [R].
Because of this, African mango can protect against heavy metal toxicity. In rats, cadmium-induced kidney toxicity was significantly reduced with the stem bark extracts of the African mango [R].
In another study, African mango leaf extracts significantly improved liver function in rats with heavy metal-induced liver toxicity [R].
6) African Mango Has Antibiotic and Anti-Parasitic Properties
Extracts of leaves, bark, and roots of the African mango significantly inhibited bacterial and fungal growth in a lab study. Leaf and root extracts exhibited the highest antimicrobial activity [R].
Leaf extracts of African mango also have antiparasitic effects. In the laboratory, leaf extracts (500mg/ml) of African mango killed up to 71% of roundworm larvae [R].
7) African Mango May Relieve Pain
Stem bark extracts of African mango stem relieved heat and pressure-induced pain in mice. Although the mechanisms are unclear, it is thought to work by activating opioid receptors, which are involved in reducing pain [R].
8) African Mango May Improve Gut Health
African mango leaf extracts protected mice and rats from castor oil-induced diarrhea and fluid buildup in the intestines. They also decreased chemically- induced contractions in isolated rabbit and guinea pig intestines [R].
African mango extracts also inhibited ulcer formation in rats by increasing mucus production in the stomach [R].
Safety and Side Effects
African mango supplements are generally safe. In the lab, doses as high as 2500 mg/kg bw/day did not show any genotoxic (DNA damaging) effects [R].
Limitations and Caveats
Although some studies have shown that African mango can help with weight loss, they are small and poorly designed. Current clinical research has yet to confirm its safety and effectiveness as a weight loss supplement [R].
Some benefits were only studied in animals or cells. They may or may not apply to humans.
Drug Interactions
Since African mango lowers blood sugar levels, it should be used with caution when taken with anti-diabetic medications [R].
It may also affect the rate of absorption of prescription drugs since it delays stomach emptying [R].
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