The Role of Mangiferin in the Prevention of Experimentally Induced Iron Overload in an Animal Model

Background The leaves, fruit peels, and bark of mango trees (Mangifera indica L) contain mangiferin as an active compound with known anti-oxidative and iron chelating properties. This study aims to evaluate the benefits of mangiferin in the management of iron overload. Methods Thirty rats were divided into five groups: normal control, rats with iron overload, and rats with iron overload treated with oral mangiferin doses of 50, 100, or 200 mg/kg BW, respectively. The iron overload in this rat model was induced by means of 15 mg intraperitoneal iron dextran, twice a week for 4 weeks. Plasma mangiferin was measured using high performance liquid chromatography, plasma ferritin by using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, and iron contents of plasma, urine, and tissues by using atomic absorbance spectrophotometry. Results Plasma mangiferin concentration at doses of 50, 100, or 200 mg/kg BW were 416.10±112.04, 310.55±134.18, and 450.11±165.99 ng/mL, respectively. At 50 mg/kg BW, mangiferin significantly decreased plasma ferritin levels (from 7051.14±1368.24 to 5543.80±1225.53 ng/mL, (p=0.037). Mangiferin also showed tendency to increase urinary iron excretion and to decrease cardiac and hepatic iron accumulation. Conclusion In our model, oral administration of mangiferin showed non-linear pharmacokinetics and low bioavailability. At a dose of 50 mg/kg BW, mangiferin decreased plasma ferritin levels significantly. Mangiferin did not prevent the increase of plasma iron, although it exerted tendency to increase urinary iron excretion and to decrease iron accumulation in liver and heart.