Researchers have discovered that mangiferin, a polyphenol found in the bark, fruits, and leaves of the Mangiferin indica L. (commonly known as the mango tree), was able to reduce inflammation caused by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria in cancer cells. The study, published in the African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, reviewed mangiferin’s possible use in chemotherapy, by testing its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative (suppression) properties in an AGS human gastric cancer cell model that has been induced with H. pylori bacteria.

• Researchers procured mangiferin (98 percent), H. pylori bacteria, and human gastric adenocarcinoma AGS cells for the study. Both the H. pylori strain and the AGS cells were cultured before they were used.
• The antibacterial property of mangiferin was tested through the disk agar diffusion method, while its ability to prevent inflammation was evaluated using an immunoblot containing inflamed ASG cells and mangiferin.
• All experiments were carried out three times and denoted in averages (with standard deviation).
• Results showed that H. pylori samples in the disk agar that were treated with mangiferin created an inhibitory zone. A higher concentration of mangiferin created a larger inhibitory area.
• It also exhibited bactericidal properties by preventing the growth of H. pylori infections and reducing the propagation of AGS cells upon treatment.
• Mangiferin also reduced inflammation in H. pylori-infected AGS cells. Researchers wrote that this might be attributed to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the polyphenol.

To conclude, researchers stated that mangiferin contains antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and suppressive properties against H. pylori-infected AGS cells.

Full text of study at this link.

Zhang Qiu-Jie, Yue Lu. INHIBITORY ACTIVITY OF MANGIFERIN ON HELICOBACTER PYLORI-INDUCED INFLAMMATION IN HUMAN GASTRIC CARCINOMA AGS CELLS. African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, 2017; 14: 3 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21010/ajtcam.v14i1.28