Inorganic arsenic is an ubiquitous environmental contaminant able to cause severe pathologies in humans, including kidney disorders. The possible protective effects of Mangifera indica L., Anacardiaceae, stem bark extract (MSBE) and some mango phenols on the cytotoxicity of arsenite (AsIII) in the proximal tubule cell line HK-2 was investigated. In cells cultured for 24 h in presence of AsIII, a dose-dependent loss of cell viability occurred that was significantly alleviated by MSBE, followed by gallic acid, catechin and mangiferin. Mangiferin complexed with Fe+++ proved more efficacious than mangiferin alone. MSBE and pure phenols increased significantly the cell surviving fraction in clonogenic assays. In cells pretreated with MSBE or phenols for 72 h the protection afforded by MSBE resulted decreased in comparison with the shorter experiments. Cells pretreated with a subcytotoxic amount of AsIII or cultured in continuous presence of low concentration of mangiferin proved to be more resistant to AsIII, while cells cultured in presence of albumin resulted more sensitive. Because all the above conditions share changes in expression/activity of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), a transporter potentially involved in arsenic resistance, the capability of M. indica phenols in modulating AsIII-induced cytotoxicity would be at least in part dependent on their interactions with P-gp.

It has been accepted that neuroinflammation, oxidative stress and glial activation are involved in the central sensitization underlying neuropathic and inflammatory pain. Vimang® is the brand name of an aqueous extract of Mangifera indica L., Anacardiaceae, traditionally used in Cuba for its antioxidant, antiinflammatory, analgesic, and immunomodulatory properties. In the present study, we determined the possible effects of Vimang formulations in acute herpes zoster (n=12) patients, that received a daily dose of 1800 mg of extract (two coated Vimang tablets, 300 mg each, three times daily before meals) associated to low doses of amitriptyline (10-25 mg/d). In addition to the tablets, they utilized compresses containing Vimang dissolution at 2% on skin lesions for thirty days. The average daily pain score using a Likert scale and variations in concomitant drug daily dosage were determined. The analgesic effect was observed from week 1 (p<0.001) with respect to baseline data and none showed post-herpetic neuralgia. Significant reduction of antidepressant medication (p<0.01) and analgesic rescue dosages (p=0.0035) with respect to the initial daily dosage were showed. No adverse events were reported. The results obtained in this report of cases suggest that Vimang supplementation might be beneficial to prevent and treat neuropathic pain.

The objective of the present paper was to assess the effect of the aqueous extract from the bark of Mangifera indica L. recommended to more than 2 000 patients suffering from with different diseases that were seen at a phytotherapy department, in Havana City. The sample included 412 patients that had been under treatment from 6 to 18 months and fulfilled the requirements necessary to give an answer to the objectives established. The activity of this natural extract was evaluated by interviews to the patients, the phsysician's criterium and the results of the tests carried out at institutions of the National Health System. The entity most frequently treated was cancer, where a high percentage of patients improved their quality of life. Good results were observed in diabetes mellitus, prostatic hyperplasia, bronchial asthma, psoriasis, lupus erythematosus and dermatitis. This study is the first one published in Cuba about the ethnomedical use of this extract.

El objetivo del presente trabajo fue valorar el efecto del extracto acuoso de la corteza de Mangifera indica L., recomendado a más de 2 000 pacientes con diferentes enfermedades y atendidos en una consulta de fitoterapia de La Habana. Se escogió una muestra de 412 pacientes que tenían, entre 6 y 18 meses de tratamiento que cumplían los requisitos necesarios para dar respuesta al objetivo planteado. La actividad de este extracto natural fue evaluada por entrevistas al paciente, el criterio del médico de cabecera y los resultados de los exámenes realizados en instituciones del Sistema Nacional de Salud. La entidad tratada con mayor frecuencia fue el cáncer, donde un alto porcentaje de pacientes mostró una mejoría de la calidad de vida, se observaron buenos resultados en la diabetes mellitus, hiperplasia prostática, asma bronquial, psoriasis, lupus eritematoso y dermatitis. Este informe es la primera publicación acerca del uso etnomédico de este extracto en Cuba.

It was proved that VIMANG® (aqueous extract of the cortex of Mangifera indica L.) has antioxidant, immunologic adjuvants and antiinflammatory actions. In the present paper it was demonstrated that VIMANG® and the mangiferin isolated from it inhibited the expression of the ICAM-1 adhesion molecule. Studies of adhesion in endothelial cells with a leucocytic cellular line (HL-60) allowed to show the inhibition on the expression of the ICAM-1 receptor, on proving that the pretreatment of the endothelial cells with the extract of M. indica and mangiferin had values similar to the controls without stimulus. Both products inhibited the chemotactic activity (mediated by ICAM-1) of polymorphonuclear leucocytes stimulated with N-formyl-methyonil-leucyl-phenylalanine. These studies allowed to know new aspects connected with the mechanisms of the antiinflammatory action of the aqueous extract of Mangifera inidca L., which shows the therapeutic potential of this extract for treating a variety of inflammatory diseases including cellular adhesion and the leucocytes traffic.

Se demostró que VIMANG®(extracto acuoso de la corteza de Mangifera indica L.) posee acciones antioxidante, inmunomoduladora y antiinflamatoria; también que VIMANG® y la mangiferina aislada de este inhibieron la expresión de la molécula de adhesión ICAM-1. Estudios de adhesión en células endoteliales con una línea celular leucocitaria (HL-60) permitieron demostrar la inhibición sobre la expresión del receptor de ICAM-1, al comprobar que el pretratamiento de las células endoteliales con el extracto de M. indica y la mangiferina mantuvieron valores similares a los controles sin estímulo. Ambos productos inhibieron la actividad quimiotáctica (mediada por ICAM-1) de leucocitos polimorfonucleares estimulados con N-formil-metionil-leucil-fenilalanina. Estos estudios permitieron incursionar en nuevos aspectos relacionados con los mecanismos de acción antiinflamatoria del extracto acuoso de Mangifera indica L., lo que demuestra el potencial terapéutico de este extracto para el tratamiento de una variedad de enfermedades inflamatorias que incluyen la adhesión celular y el tráfico de leucocitos.

The antimutagenic effect of polyphenols present in plants has been demonstrated. This has been associated with their anti-oxidant activity and capacity to inhibit carcinogen-activating enzymes and to induce other enzymes such as glutathion peroxidase, catalase, glutathion-S-transferase and NAD(P)H quinone reductase. The possible effect of VIMANG on the frequency of DNA chain breaks in murine leukocytes treated with bleomycin was evaluated. The result was that the Mangifera indica L extract, VIMANG, provided protection against the bleomycin-induced genotoxic damage. Its action may be linked to the capture of reactive oxygen species because it does not modulate glutathion peroxidase activity. However, VIMANG neither protects DNA from the clastogenic effect of cyclophosphamide nor modulates the activity of glutathion-S-transferase, an enzyme involved in detoxification of this genotoxic substance. The presence of polyphenols as main components of the extract can explain the antioxidant effects of VIMANG

Se ha demostrado el efecto antimutagénico de los polifenoles presentes en las plantas, lo que se ha relacionado con la actividad antioxidante y su capacidad de inhibir enzimas activadoras de carcinógenos y de inducir enzimas como la glutatión peroxidasa, la catalasa, la glutatión-S-transferasa y la NAD(P)H quinona reductasa. Se evaluó el posible efecto del VIMANG sobre la frecuencia de roturas de la cadena del ADN en leucocitos murinos tratados con bleomicina. Esto dio como resultado que el extracto de Mangifera indica L, VIMANG, protegía del daño genotóxico inducido por la bleomicina. Su acción podría estar relacionada con la captación de especies reactivas del oxígeno porque no modula la actividad de la glutatión peroxidasa. Sin embargo, el VIMANG no protege al ADN del efecto clastogénico de la ciclofosfamida, como tampoco modula la actividad de la glutatión-S-transferasa, enzima que participa en la destoxificación de este genotóxico. La presencia de polifenoles como componentes mayoritarios del extracto pueden explicar los efectos antioxidantes del VIMANG