Can you eat a mango seed? (3 health benefits)
By
Dr Andrei da Silva Alexandre (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Andrei da Silva Alexandre PhD is a Bachelor of Biotechnology with expertise in Bioprospecting and Chemistry of Natural Products, Isolation and Identification of Secondary Metabolites from Plants and Microorganisms, and Antimicrobials. He writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Andrei da Silva Alexandre’s Highlights:
- Research Collaborator at the Laboratory of Bioprospecting and Biotechnology of the National Institute of Amazonian Research/ Brazil
- PhD in Biotechnology with a focus on Phytochemistry at the Federal University of Amazonas/ Brazil
- Master’s degree in Biotechnology and Natural Resources at the University of Amazonas State/ Brazil
- Bachelor of Biotechnology at the Federal University of Amazonas/ Brazil
Professional Experience:
Dr Andrei da Silva Alexandre has been working for more than 10 years in the area of Biotechnology and Chemistry of Natural Products.
During his master’s degree he developed research that studied the production of secondary metabolites from endophytic fungi, aiming to isolate and identify substances against pathogenic microorganisms, using analytical techniques such as Chromatography, NMR and Mass Spectrometry.
In his PhD thesis Dr Andrei da Silva Alexandre isolated and identified bioactive substances from plant extracts using analytical techniques, against pathogenic bacteria.
Finally, Dr Andrei da Alexandre has already co-directed undergraduate students in scientific initiation projects. He also participates as a reviewer of scientific articles in international journals.
- 2016, Bachelor in Biotechnology at the Federal University of Amazonas, Brazil
- 2018, Master in Biotechnology and Natural Resources at the University of Amazonas State, Brazil
- 2023, PhD in Biotechnology at the Federal University of Amazonas, Brazil
The main publications of Dr. Anny Manrich are:
Articles
Alexandre, A. S.; Fachin-Espinar, M. T.; Nunez, C. V. Triterpenos, esteroides e fenólico isolados de Minquartia guianensis Aubl (Coulaceae) e atividade antibacteriana. (2023). Concilium, 23, 3, 883-895.
Alexandre, A. S., Rocha, W. C. Perfil cromatográfico por TLC do óleo e dos extratos das folhas e caule de andiroba, Carapa guianensis Aubl. (2017). Scientia Amazonia, 6, 2, 117-125.
Book
Alexandre, A. S. Perfil cromatográfico da Andiroba: análise por CCD do óleo e dos extratos orgânicos de folhas e caule. 1. ed. Riga: Novas Edições Acadêmicas, 2018. 52p .
Conference Papers
Alexandre, A. S., Nunez, C. V. Triterpenos do extrato metanólico dos galhos de Minquartia Guianensis Aubl. (Coulaceae). In Livro de Resumos: 3º SIMPÓSIO REGIONAL NORTE DE FARMACOGNOSIA, INPA, 2021.
Albuquerque, F. H. S. ; Meliciano, N. V.; Alexandre, A. S. Frequência relativa dos grupos sanguíneos ABO e Rh da população do município de Coari-Am.. In: 11º Congresso Brasileiro de Saúde Coletiva, 2015, Goiânia. Anais do 11º Congresso Brasileiro de Saúde Coletiva, 2015.
You can view some of Dr Andrei’s work below and links to her professional profile.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrei-alexandre/
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Andrei-Alexandre
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=YT4sTmsAAAAJ&hl=pt-BR
Orcid: https://orcid.org/my-orcid?orcid=0000-0001-7789-3714
In this brief study, we will answer the question, “Can you eat a mango seed?” and will also address its health benefits and risks as well as how to safely use it.
Can you eat a mango seed?
Yes, you can eat mango seeds. Indeed, according to studies, mango seeds can potentially offer health benefits. It is not recommended to eat raw mango seeds, since it may offer side effects due to the presence of some anti-nutrients. However, you can eat mango seeds after using techniques to detoxify these feed sources (1,2).
What are the benefits of eating mango seeds?
Mango seeds contain many bioactive compounds, such as phenolics, carotenoids, vitamin C, and dietary fiber, which offer benefits to human health (1,2).
Additionally, mango seeds are a good source of carbohydrates and protein and have essential amino acids and lipids. Oleic and stearic acids are rich components in mango seeds (2,3).
According to studies, mango seeds have shown antimicrobial and antidiarrhoeal activity and anticancer activity against breast and colon cancer (2).
What are the risks of eating mango seeds?
Mango seeds contain cyanogenic glycosides, which can produce cyanide when metabolized, posing potential toxic risks if ingested (4). When cyanogenic glycosides break down into hydrogen cyanide, which can cause acute cyanide poison and other chronic disorders, especially when ingested in high amounts (5).
Besides cyanogenic glycosides, mango seeds also contain other anti-nutrients, like tannins, saponins, lectins and trypsin inhibitors (4).
You should also keep in mind the possibility of bacteria or fungi contamination. Make sure to prepare them properly, washing, boiling or using other methods (6).
How can you safely use mango seeds?
Mango seeds can be safely used after getting through some processes to detoxify them, like boiling, drying, soaking, and fermentation. These techniques have been reported to reduce the presence of anti-nutrients and toxic components (4).
For example, boiling is described to be a good method to reduce the tannin content of mango seed kernel. Soaking also has the potential to reduce anti-nutritional factors to some extent (4).
About the use of mango seeds, they can be used as food powders, supplementing staple foods through processed into flour. Since mango seeds contain beneficial nutrients, they can be incorporated with wheat flour to make nutri-rich food, like biscuits and bread (1,2).
Also, mango seed fat can be potentially used to substitute cocoa butter, especially because they have a very similar physicochemical characteristics (1,2).
Conclusion
In this brief study, we answered the question, “Can you eat a mango seed?” and also addressed its health benefits and risks as well as how to safely use it.
References
References
1.-
Rai, AK, et al. Mango Seed: A potential source of nutrition from waste. Indian Farmer, 2020, 7(03): 244-248.
2.-
Torres-León C, et al. Mango seed: Functional and nutritional properties. Trends in Food Sci & Tech, 2016, 55, 109-117.
3.-
Fuentes JAS, et al. Mango Seed: Mango (Mangifera indica L.) Seed and Its Fats. In book: Nuts and Seeds in Health and Disease Prevention, 2020.
4.-
Beyene G, Araya A. Review of Mango (Mangifera indica) Seed-Kernel Waste as a Diet for Poultry. J Biology, Agric and Healthc, 2015, 5.
5.-
Cressey P, Saunders D, Goodman J. Cyanogenic glycosides in plant-based foods available in New Zealand. Food Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess, 2013, 30(11):1946-53.
6.-
Kumar G, Suman A, Lal S, et al. Bacterial structure and dynamics in mango (Mangifera indica) orchards after long term organic and conventional treatments under subtropical ecosystem. Sci Rep, 2021, 11, 20554.
