| Indian Mango | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Angiospermae |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Sapindales |
| Family: | Anacardiaceae |
| Genus: | Mangifera |
| Species: | M. indica |
| Binomial name | |
| Mangifera indica L. |
|
Mangifera indica is a species of mango in the Anacardiaceae family. It is found in the wild in India and cultivated varieties have been introduced to other warm regions of the world. It is the largest fruit-tree in the world, capable of a height of one-hundred feet and an average circumference of twelve to fourteen feet, sometimes reaching twenty.[1]
The species appears to have been domesticated about 4,000 years ago. The species was brought to East Asia around 400-500 BCE from India; next, in the 15th century to the Philippines; and then, in the 16th century to Africa and Brazil by the Portuguese.[2] The species was described for science by Linnaeus in 1753.[3]
Mango is the national fruit of India, Philippines and Pakistan. It finds mention in the songs of 4th century CE Sanskrit poet, Kalidasa, prior to it is believed to have been tasted by Alexander (3rd century BCE) and Chinese pilgrim, Hieun Tsang (7th century CE). Later in 16th century Mughal Emperor, Akbar planted 100,000 mango trees in Darbhanga, Bihar at a place now known as Lakhi Bagh [4]
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In the latter half of the 18th century, Bowen in North Queensland, was the centre of a thriving horse trading business between North Queensland and India. The crews of the ships coming in from India bought many items back with them, including seeds of the Mangifera Indica.
The Bowen Harbourmaster and Customs Officer at the time, Mr G.E. Sandrock, collected a quantity of mango seeds from the sailors and planted them on his property “Woodlands” just outside Bowen. As this initial stock came into fruit, seeds from the better quality and better producing trees were separately collected and Mr Sandrock gave these to a friend of his, Mr McDonald, who planted them on his property at Adelaide Point near Bowen.
A local farmer, Mr Harry Lott, selected a good stringless type of fruit from McDonald’s harvests and used the seeds to start a small orchard on his property, “Kensington”, in the late 1880s.
Mr Lott found that his mango variety sold well at the local markets due its smooth stringless flesh, and attempted to monopolise the variety. Other local growers unfortunately got hold of seeds by fair and foul means, though, and within a few years this style of mango was widely distributed through the Bowen and Burdekin regions.
The name “Kensington” has remained although this variety is also called “Bowen Special”.[5]
Mangiferin (a pharmacologically active flavonoid, a natural xanthone C-glycoside) is extracted from Mango at high concentrations from the young leaves (172 g/kg), bark (107 g/kg), and from old leaves (94 g/kg).[6] Mangiferin shows an exceptionally strong antioxidant[7] capacity. It has a number of pharmacological actions and possible health benefits. These include antidiabetic[8], antioxidant, antifungal,[9] antimicrobal, antiinflamatory, antiviral, hepatoprotective[10], hypoglycemic, anti-allergic[11] and anticancer activity.[12],[13]. Along with Salacia it is being investigated for its possible anti-obesity action.[14]
In ayurveda, one of its uses is clearing digestion and acidity due to pitta (heat), sometimes with other mild sours and shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) and guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia).