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African Mango*

Compilation by Armando Gonzalez Stuart, PhD

Scientific Name:

Irvingia gabonensis

Botanical Family:

Irvingiaceae

* Despite the similar common name, this species is not related to the tree that produces the mango fruit (Mangifera indica-Anacardiaceae)

Common names in English:

Bush mango, dika bread tree, dika nut, dika nut tree, rainy season bush mango, sweet bush mango, wild mango

Common names in Spanish:

Árbol chocolate, Mango salvaje

Other common names:

Abeje, Agbono, Andoc, Andog, Andoo, Biba, Bofalanga, Boborou, Borbor, Dika, Ditoke, Ebi, Iba, Lubigniati, Magongo, Meba, Musosomba, Muiba, Peke, Weke, Wipa

Where is it found?

This tall tree is native to various countries in tropical West-Central Africa, including the Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, and Cameroun. It is currently grown in various tropical and subtropical areas of the world.

African Mango Tree
Photo: Wikipedia
African Mango Tree

Parts of the plant used:

Leaves, bark, fruits, seed kernels, and root.

How is it used?

  • The kernel of the fruit is ingested as food, and also as an extract or powder mainly to treat Type 2 Diabetes and obesity.
  • Externally, the powdered bark is rubbed onto the body to decrease pain, applied to wounds or sores.
  • The bark is boiled in water and taken as a tea against diarrhea, and yellow fever.
  •  The bark is boiled in water and used as a mouthwash to treat toothaches.
  • As an antidote against poisons.
  • The active ingredients contained in the bark have antibiotic and analgesic properties
  • The bark is also used to treat skin aliments.
  • The leaves can be boiled in water to make a tea or taken as an extract to reduce fever.

What is it used for?

  • The seed and fruit are edible, “Dika nut”, mashed kernels are used to make “bread”, “butter” (similar to cocoa butter), and "Gaboon chocolate".
  • In Eastern Nigeria, the leaves are boiled in water and taken as a tea for the treatment of intestinal worm infestation in humans in rural areas.
  • The bark of the tree contains important antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ingredients which could be of use in treating various neurodegenerative diseases.
  • Some reports mention that the African mango seed kernel and certain products made from it could be a potential alternative herbal option for weight loss and Type 2 Diabetes.
  • To treat spleen infections, the leaves of the tree are combined with the stem bark of other plants and boiled in water and taken as a tea.
  • A clinical trial mentioned that African mango extract ( IGOB131) showed favorable effects on body weight and possessed low toxicity.
  • Only a few clinical trials exist to recommend this plant for weight loss.
  • Adulteration or improper processing techniques for certain commercially available dietary supplements may result in toxicity to various organs.

African Mango Seeds
Photo: Traders of Africa / Google images
African Mango Seeds

 

Safety / Precautions

Safety/Precautions:

  • More good quality clinical research is needed to adequately ascertain if herbal supplements containing African mango are safe and efficient for weight loss and Type 2 Diabetes
  • The safety of products made from the African mango have not been adequately evaluated during pregnancy
  • Avoid taking products made from this plant during pregnancy and lactation
  • Theoretically, an interaction could occur when taking this plant along with certain medications to treat Type 2 Diabetes; check with your healthcare provider first before taking supplements made from this plant
  • Adulteration of herbal products, including certain supplements purportedly containing African mango, may occur and could be responsible for varying types of hepatic and renal toxicities (Kilinçalp et al., 2014; Stikel, 2015).

Before you decide to take any medicinal herb or herbal supplement, be sure to consult with your health care professional first. Avoid self-diagnosis and self-medication: Always be on the safe side!

For further information about this plant, please go to the Scientific Monographs section of this website.

References:

  • Eggeling WJ, Dale I. Indigenous Trees of the Uganda Protectorate.
    Entebbe, Uganda: Government Printer; 1951; pp. 409-411.
  • Figuereido E, Smith GF. Common Names of Angolan Plants.
    Pretoria: Protea Book House: 2017; p. 90.
  • Irvine FR. Woody Plants of Ghana.
    London: Oxford University Press; 1961; pp. 506-57.
  • Iwu M. Handbook of African Medicinal Plants 2nd ed. Boca Raton: FL.
    CRC Press; 2014; pp. 239-242.
  • Keay RWJ. Trees of Nigeria.
    London: Oxford University Press; 2000; p. 332.
  • Kilinçalp S, Başar O, Coban S, Yüksel I. Irvingia gabonensis (African mango): innocent magic formula? Acta Gastroenterol Belg. 2014; 77(1):75-6.
  • Kothari SC, Shivarudraiah P, Venkataramaiah SB, Gavara S, Soni MG. Subchronic toxicity and mutagenicity/genotoxicity studies of Irvingia gabonensis extract (IGOB131). Food Chem Toxicol. 2012; 50(5):1468-79. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2012.02.023.
  • Mabberley DJ. Mabberley’s Plant Book 4th ed.
    London: Cambridge University Press; 2017; p. 470.
  • Mann A, Gbate M, Umar AN. Medicinal and Economic Plants of Nupeland.
    Bida, Niger State: Jube-Evans Books; 2003; p. 136.
  • Méndez-Del Villar M, González-Ortiz M, Martínez-Abundis E, Pérez-Rubio KG, Cortez-Navarrete M. Effect of Irvingia gabonensis on Metabolic Syndrome, Insulin Sensitivity, and Insulin Secretion. J Med Food. 2018; 21(6):568-574. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2017.0092.
  • Ngondi JL, Etoundi BC, Nyangono CB, Mbofung CM, Oben JE.IGOB131, a novel seed extract of the West African plant Irvingia gabonensis, significantly reduces body weight and improves metabolic parameters in overweight humans in a randomized double-blind placebo controlled investigation. Lipids Health Dis. 2009; 8:7. doi: 10.1186/1476-511X-8-7.
  • Oben JE, Ngondi JL, Momo CN, Agbor GA, Sobgui CS.The use of a Cissus quadrangularis/Irvingia gabonensis combination in the management of weight loss: a double-blind placebo-controlled study. Lipids Health Dis. 2008;7:12. doi: 10.1186/1476-511X-7-12.
  • Ojo OA, Ojo AB, Ajiboye BO, Oyinloye BE, Akinyemi AJ, Okesola MA, Boligon AA, de Campos MMA. Chromatographic fingerprint analysis, antioxidant properties, and inhibition of cholinergic enzymes (acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase) of phenolic extracts from Irvingia gabonensis (Aubry-Lecomte ex O'Rorke) Baill bark. J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol. 2018;29(2):217-224. doi: 10.1515/jbcpp-2017-0063.
  • Okolo C, Johnson PB, Abdurahman EM, Abdu-Aguye I, Hussaini IM. Analgesic effect of Irvingia gabonensis stem bark extract. J Ethnopharm. 1995; 45(2):125-129.
    Onakpoya I, Davies L, Posadzki P, Ernst E. The efficacy of Irvingia gabonensis supplementation in the management of overweight and obesity: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. J Diet Suppl. 2013;10(1):29-38. doi: 10.3109/19390211.2012.760508.
  • Quattrocchi, U. World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants (Vol.3).
    Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press; 2012; p.603.
  • Ross SM. African mango (IGOB131): a proprietary seed extract of Irvingia gabonensis is found to be effective in reducing body weight and improving metabolic parameters in overweight humans. Holist Nurs Pract. 2011;25(4):215-7. doi: 10.1097/HNP.0b013e318222735a.
  • Sánchez-Monge E. Diccionario de Plantas de Interés Agrícola Vol. 1.
    Madrid: Ministerio de Agricultura; 2001; p. 579.
  • Stickel F. Liver injury from herbal and dietary supplements. [Article in German].
    Dtsch Med Wochenschr. 2015; 140(12):908-11. doi: 10.1055/s-0041-102437.