Perspectives on medicinal properties of mangiferin

Mango tree, Mangifera indica, has been cultivated in India and several other tropical countries for centuries, and it is a good source of compound 'mangiferin'. Mangiferin's xanthonoid structure with C-glucosyl linkage and polyhydroxy component is believed to be crucial for its free radical-scavenging ability leading to a potent antioxidant effect. A number of biological activities of mangiferin have been suggested, including antidiabetic and antiinflammatory abilities. These might be explained by its antioxidant ability as well as its ability to modulate several key inflammatory pathways. Mangiferin has also been shown to be an effective inhibitor of NF-κB signaling pathway. This partially explains its antiinflammatory ability and, additionally, points towards its anticancer potential. The anticancer effects of this compound are just beginning to emerge, and in this comprehensive review, we provide information on what we know about the chemistry and biological effects of mangiferin, which would likely create interest among researchers to design further mechanistic studies in order to better understand and exploit the biological activities of this compound.