Acute Effects of a Polyphenol-Rich Leaf Extract of Mangifera indica L. (Zynamite) on Cognitive Function in Healthy Adults: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Study

Abstract

Extracts made from the leaves of the mango food plant (Mangifera indica L., Anacardiaceae) have a long history of medicinal usage, most likely due to particularly high levels of the polyphenol mangiferin. In rodent models, oral mangiferin protects cognitive function and brain tissue from a number of challenges and modulates cerebro-electrical activity. Recent evidence has confirmed the latter effect in healthy humans following a mangiferin-rich mango leaf extract using quantitative electroencephalography (EEG). The current study therefore investigated the effects of a single dose of mango leaf extract, standardised to contain >60% mangiferin (Zynamite®), on cognitive function and mood. This study adopted a double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over design in which 70 healthy young adults (18 to 45 years) received 300 mg mango leaf extract and a matched placebo, on separate occasions, separated by at least 7 days. On each occasion, cognitive/mood assessments were undertaken pre-dose and at 30 min, 3 h and 5 h post-dose using the Computerised Mental Performance Assessment System (COMPASS) assessment battery and the Profile of Mood States (POMS). The results showed that a single dose of 300 mg mango leaf extract significantly improved performance accuracy across the tasks in the battery, with domain-specific effects seen in terms of enhanced performance on an ‘Accuracy of Attention’ factor and an ‘Episodic Memory’ factor. Performance was also improved across all three tasks (Rapid Visual Information Processing, Serial 3s and Serial 7s subtraction tasks) that make up the Cognitive Demand Battery sub-section of the assessment. All of these cognitive benefits were seen across the post-dose assessments (30 min, 3 h, 5 h). There were no interpretable treatment related effects on mood. These results provide the first demonstration of cognition enhancement following consumption of mango leaf extract and add to previous research showing that polyphenols and polyphenol rich extracts can improve brain function.

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) Polyphenols: Anti-Inflammatory Intestinal Microbial Health Benefits, and Associated Mechanisms of Actions

“…Butyrate producers, such as Eubacterium , contribute to the SCFAs pool and the modification of various signaling pathways involving G-protein-coupled receptors and the inhibition of histone deacetylases [ 72 ]. Furthermore, many polyphenolic compounds of Mangifera indica and metabolites thereof have been described to improve the cognitive function of learning and memory function as well as areas of cognitive impairment [ 73 , 74 ]. Specifically, gallic acid—the product of gallotannin hydrolysis and mangiferin, a c-glucosyxanthone (C2-β- d -glucopyranosyl-1,3,6,7-tetrahydroxyxanthone) capable of crossing the blood–brain barrier—has been the main target of these studies.…”

Supercritical Impregnation of PLA Filaments with Mango Leaf Extract to Manufacture Functionalized Biomedical Devices by 3D Printing

“…An extensive range of compounds found in Mangifera indica L., leaves, seeds or even tree bark have been extensively used in traditional medicine for the treatment of different diseases [ 20 , 24 , 25 , 26 ]. One of the most relevant compounds in mango leaves is mangiferin, not only for its high proportion, but also for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacities [ 26 , 27 , 28 ], which have been endorsed by both in vitro and in vivo experiments [ 29 , 30 , 31 ].…”

“…An extensive range of compounds found in Mangifera indica L., leaves, seeds or even tree bark have been extensively used in traditional medicine for the treatment of different diseases [ 20 , 24 , 25 , 26 ]. One of the most relevant compounds in mango leaves is mangiferin, not only for its high proportion, but also for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacities [ 26 , 27 , 28 ], which have been endorsed by both in vitro and in vivo experiments [ 29 , 30 , 31 ]. For instance, mangiferin has exhibited anti-inflammatory responses against different inflammation mechanisms, such as the inhibition of nitrogen monoxide production, which cause blood vessels dilatation [ 30 ], or the inhibition of some pro-inflammatory factors such as interleukin-1 (IL-1 ) [ 32 , 33 , 34 ], or tumor necrosis factor (TNF- ) [ 31 , 35 ], both of which play an important role during the acute phase of inflammation processes.…”

Dietary Polyphenols and Human Health

“…In this Special Issue on "Dietary Polyphenols and Human Health", a series of 10 papers are presented, including three literature reviews [6][7][8] and seven original research papers [9][10][11][12][13][14][15]. The described research contributes to filling some of the gaps in our knowledge about the beneficial effects of dietary polyphenols on chronic health conditions, notably cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, neurological impairment, and also certain risk factors.…”

“…In a study on psychological well-being (the PPhIT study), Kontogianni et al concluded that participants with a high polyphenol intake had fewer depressive symptoms and better general mental and physical health compared to those on a low-phenolic diet [10]. The crossover study on mood and cognitive function performed by Wightman et al, where healthy participants received a single dose of a polyphenol-rich extract obtained from mango leaves (<60% mangiferin), revealed no significant results for mood, but cognitive function was enhanced [11].…”