Mango
Mangifera indica
Other names: mango
Edible plantPhoto credit: Billjones94 / Wikimedia Commons
Safety information
Safety information
Toxicity: Ripe fruit pulp: none known as food. Urushiol-type resorcinols ('mangol') in the peel, sap, bark, leaves and outer ~5 mm of pulp cause allergic contact dermatitis in sensitized individuals; cross-reacts with poison ivy/oak urushiol. Latex/sap can irritate.
Contraindications: Urushiol/poison-ivy-sensitized or Anacardiaceae-allergic individuals: avoid skin contact with peel/sap; peel fruit to eat flesh. Diabetics: ripe mango is sugar-rich (glycemic load).
Interactions: Mangiferin/leaf extracts: theoretical additive effect with antidiabetic drugs (hypoglycemia) at medicinal doses. Ripe-fruit intake: no significant established interactions.
Evidence level
Supported by clinical trials in humans.
Preparations
edible-raw · fruit
Part used: fruit
Traditional use: edible tropical fruit
Proposed mechanism: carotenoid + polyphenol
Dosage note (descriptive only): peel removed
decoction · leaf
Part used: leaf
Traditional use: diarrhea / diabetes / oral health (Ayurveda/folk)(Folk and historical sources have not been validated by clinical research.)
Proposed mechanism: mangiferin (xanthone) — antioxidant/antidiabetic, mostly preclinical
Associated conditions
Edibility
Edible parts: ripe fruit pulp (peel removed); leaf/bark are folk-medicinal, not food
Toxic lookalike warning
Mango is in the poison-ivy/cashew family (Anacardiaceae) — peel and sap can cause urushiol-type dermatitis; sensitized individuals should handle carefully
Nutritional notes
Rich in vitamin C, provitamin A (beta-carotene), vitamin E, folate, fiber, potassium, and polyphenols (mangiferin, gallotannins, carotenoids)
Healing traditions
Sources (3)
- Contact Allergy Induced by Mango (Mangifera indica): A Relevant Topic? (Medicina/MDPI, 2021)
- Mangifera indica — overview incl. mangiferin distribution (tertiary, used only for mangiferin distribution figures)
- Mango Dermatitis After Urushiol Sensitization (case report, 2019)