The New Nation - Internet Edition

Jamayet Ali

The Mango fruit is one of the most highly prized dessert fruits of the tropics. It is called the king of all fruits because of its rich, luscious, aromatic flavour and a delicious taste in which sweetness and acidity are delightfully blended. It is the most popular and the choicest fruit and occupies a prominent place among the fruits of the world. It has been cultivated in the subcontinent for at least 4000 years and recent studies on the genous indicate that it probably originated in the Assam-Myanmer-Thailand region. The introduction of mango in other parts of the world is comparatively recent. It is now cultivated in southern China, Malaysia, Indonesia, warmer parts of Australia, Philippines, Hawaii, and West Indies, Madagascar and along the coast of tropical Africa. In North America, it is grown to a limited extent in Florida and California.

In Bangladesh Mango occupies about 60% area under fruits. It is easily propagated from seed, but this method is not satisfactory for commercial orchards of choice types, since seedlings tend to be variable and often bear fruits which are inferior in quality to those of the parent; further, seedling trees are slow to come into bearing. To ensure fruit quality and early productiveness, choice types are propagated by grafting. In fact, in arching or simple approach grafting is the method commonly practiced all over Bangladesh. Mango grows comparatively in all districts of our country. But most of the high qualities of mango such as Himsagar, Langra, Fazley, Gopalvog etc. grow in the regions of Rajshahi and Chapai-Nababganj.

Botanical name of mango is Mangifera indica Linn. Mango pickle (Achar), Chutney, Amsatta (Mango leather) etc. prepared by unripe and ripe mangoes are very popular. These are the traditional methods of preserving unripe and ripe mangoes. Ripe fruits are preserved by canning or used in the manufacture of juice, squash, jams, jellies etc. Analysis of the edible flesh (per 100gms.) of the green mango gave the following average values: moisture 87.5; minerals 0.4; fibre 1.2; energy, 44k calorie; protein 0.7, fat 0.1; carbohydrates 20.1grms. calcium 10; iron 5.4; vitamin B-1, 0.04; vitamin B-2, 0.01; vitamin-C 3 mgs. and carotene (as vitamin A) 90 ugm. Ripe mango: moisture 78.6; mineral matter 0.4; fibre 0.7; energy, 90 k calorie; protein 1.0; fat 0.7; and carbohydrates 20.0 grms.; calcium 16; iron 1.3; vitamin B-1, 0.10; vitamin B-2, 0.07; vitamin C 41mgs. and carotene 8,300 ~lgm/l00grms. The fruit is a rich source of potassium. Analysis of pulp ash (ash content, 0.53%) gave the following values; 47.37; calcium 6.38; magnesium 1.62; phosphoms 6.49; sulphur 3.67; chlorine 3.88/g. Analysis of mangoes gave the following ranges of vitamin (other than vitamin A) values: thiamine, 40.82130.50 ugm; riboflavin, 89.39-198.20 ugm; niacin, 1.38-6.27mg.; and ascorbic acid, 4.38-39.96 mg/l00g. (Food Processes And Analysis, Mohammad Yunus, BARC, 47,49; Wealth Of India, Raw Materials, 278, 280 )

Medicinal Properties: The mango is very rich in medicinal properties. The root and bark are acrid; cooling; astringent to the bowels. The leaves are acrid; astringent to the bowels~ cure "vata", "pitta", and "kapha". The flowers are cooling and astringent to the bowels; improve taste and appetite; cause "vita"; cure leucorrhoea, bad blood; good in dysentery, bronchitis, biliousness, urinary discharges. The unripe fruit is acrid, sour, tasty; cures "vata", "kapha", biliousness, "tridosha", blood impurities; astringent to the bowels; cures throught trubles, ulcers, dysentery, urinary discharges, vaginal troubles. The ripe fruit is sweet and oily; aphrodisiac, tonic; increases appetite; cooling; beautifies the complexion; astringent to the bowels; cures "vata"; heart troubles, urinary discharges, ulcers, blood impurities. If eaten in excess it causes loss of appetite, typhoid, blood impurities, eye sores. The seed is sweet, sour, acrid; cures vomiting, dysentery, burning in the region of the heart. The oil from the seeds is acrid, sweet, bitter; cures stomatitis and " vata" ( Ayurveda).

The bark is astringent and styptic; stops vomiting and diarrhoea. The leaves cure piles; their smoke stops hiccough. The flowers improve "kapha" and enrich the blood. The fruit has flavour and taste; sweet; tonic to the body, the liver, the spleen; laxative, diuretic, stomachic; improves the complexion; removes bad smell from the mouth; clears the brain; dispels langour and burning of the body; good in cough, piles, thirst, and pain in the liver. The seed is astringent to the bowels and used in chronic diarrhoea; cooling, aphrodisiac; a good collyrium (Yunani).

The unripe fruit is said to be useful in opthalmia and emptions, and the seeds in asthma. The rind of the fruit is astringent and also a stimulant tonic in debility of the stomach. The ripe fruit is considered laxative, and therefore much prized by persons labouring under habitual constipation. The bark and the kernel are known as astringent and used in haemorrhage, diarrhoea and other discharges. The decoction of the kernel, either alone or in combination with bel and ginger, is generally prescribed in diarrhoea. The juice of the kernel, if snuffed, can stop nasal bleeding. The kernel is also described as an anthelmintic and containing a large quantity of gallic acid, highly useful in bleeding piles and menorrhagia.

The fruit, whether green or ripe, is dried in the sun and recommended as an antiscorbutic. The bark and the fruit are considered very useful in cases of haemorrhage from the utems, lungs, or intestines. The smoke of the burning leaves is supposed to have, urative effect in some affections of the throat. The recinous juice from the bark is considered antisyphilitic; it is used in the Malabar Coast as a specific for diarrhoea and dysentery, and as a cure for scabies and cutaneous affections. The root, bark, stem, and leaf are prescribed in combination with other drugs for the treatment of snake-bite (Sushruta, Sharangdharsamhita). The leaves in combination with other drugs are prescribed for scorpion- sting (Sushruta). In some parts of West Africa The young bark forming over wounds on the mango tree, is used to cure piles, and its extract in wasting diseases.

In Madagascar the bark is used as an astringent; the fruit as a depurative, diaphoretic and antipyretic; the seed as an astringent and anthelmintic. Introduced into America in the form of fluid extract, either from the fruit or the rind. Astringent with a specific tonic action on mucous membranes. Its effects are great in diphtheria and other malignant throat diseases. The fluid extract applied locally is very useful in haemorrhages. In Brazil, the flowers of the mango are used either in the form of tea or powder for catarrh of the bladder. The powder is also used in the form of fumigation against mosquitoes. All parts of the plant are equally useless in the form of treatment of snake-bite (Mhaskar and Caius). The leaves are not an antidote to scorpion-venom. (Indian Medicinal Plants, Ki11. and B.D. Basu, 1,653-54)

Medicine: The fruit has long been considered a valuable medicine both by Hindu and Mohammadan Physicians, and has formed the subject of many articles by writers on the Materia Medica of the East. Thus in the Bhavaprakasa, a confection made of the juice of the ripe fruit, sugar and aromatics is recommended as a restorative tonic. It is, however, unnecessaty to enter into a detailed account of the opinions of older writers on what is after all unimportant drug.

The following extract from the recently published Phannacographia India, together with the somewhat numerous list of Special Opinions below, may, therefore, suffice to indicate the principal medical properties supposed to be possessed by the fruit:-

"Shortly we may say that the ripe fruit is considered to be invigorating and refreshing, fattening, and slightly laxative and diuretic; but the rind and fibre, as well as the unripe fruit, to be astringent and acid. The latter when pickled is much used on account of its stomachic and appetising qualities. Unripe mangoes peeled and cut from the stone and dried in the sun form the well-known Amchur or ambosi, so largely used as an article of diet; as its acidity is chiefly due to the presence of citric acid, it is a valuable antiscorbutic; it is also called Am-ki-chitta and Amkhushk. The blossom, kemel and bark are considered to be cold, dry, and astringent, and are used in diarrhoea. The smoke of the burning leaves is supposed to have a curative effect in some affections of the throat. According to the author of the Makhan, the Hindus make a confection of the baked pulp of the unripe fruit mixed with sugar, which in time of plague or cholera they take internally and rub all over the body; it is also stated in the same work that the midribs of the leaves calcined are used to remove warts on the eyelids. Mangoes appear to have been known to the Arabs from an early date as a pickle; they were doubtless carried to Arabian ports by Indian mariners. Ibn Batuta, who visited India AD. 1332, notices their use for this purpose. The powdered seed has been recommended by Dr. Kirkpatrick as an anthelmintic (for lumbrici) in doses of 20 to 30 grains, and also as an astringent in bleeding piles and menorrhagia." it may be here noted that this property of the seed is described by Paludanus in his Notes on Linschotan's Travels. He writes: "Being raw it is bitter of taste and is therefore good against worms, and looseness of the belly when it is roasted." "From the fruits before ripening, a gummy and resinous substance exudes, which has the odour and consistence of turpentine, and from the bark a gum is obtained which is partly soluble in cold water." Ainslie says that the gum-resin mixed with lime- juice or oil is used in scabies and cutaneous affections. The juice of the ripe fruit dried in the sun so as to form thin cakes called Amsaffa is used as a relish and antiscorbutic. Mango bark and fntit have been lately introduced by Dr. Linguist to the notice of European physicians; he recommends it for its extraordinary action in cases of haemorrhage from the uterus, lungs, or intestines. The fluid extract of the bark or rind may be given in the following manner:- Ext. Fl. Mangil. Ind., 10 grains; water, 120 grams. Dose- One teaspoonful every hour or two, or the juice of the fresh bark may be administered with white of egg or mucilage and a little opium." In addition, it may be stated that in the Panjab and Sind a gruel made of the kernels is administered in cases of obstinate diarrhoea and bleeding piles, and that the seeds are also considered useful in asthma.

Special Opinions: "The smoke of the burning leaves is supposed to have a preventive effect in hiccough" (Civil Surgeon j. Anderson, M.B., Bijnor, North-Westem Provinces). "The unripe fruit roasted, dissolved in water and made into sherbet with sugar is freely taken by the natives to prevent sunstroke, the pulp is also rubbed over the body for the same purpose" (Assistant Surgeon N.R.Banerjee, Etawall). "The kernel of the seed is used as dysentery" (Surgeon- Major P.N Mookerjee, 32nd Regiment Madras Native Infantry, Cuttack, Orissa) "The powder of the dried kemel is useful in diarrhoea and chronic dysentery, as an astringent" (Assistant Surgeon Nehal, Saharanpur) "Unripe mangoes toasted and made into sherbet form a reputed remedy for heat apoplexy" (Assistant Surgeon T.N.Ghose, Meerut).

"I was lately told by a very intelligent patient that he had found the mango decidedly anthelmintic" Surgeon Major Farquhar, M.D., Otacamtmd). "Amchur is the very best

antiscorbutic that I know. I have found it stamps out scurvy when lime juice and all other available remedies had been tried in vain" (brigade Surgeon C. Joynt, M.D., Poona). "The dried kemel of the ripe fmit is used as an astringent in diarrhoea" (Civil Surgeon R Gray, Lahore). "The liquid extract is as efficacious as bel in dysentery" (Civil Surgeon G.C. Ross, Delhi, Panjab). Flour made from the kemel of ripe mango seeds when dried, is made into chapattis, and eaten by men of low caste, in the North Westem Provinces" Surgeon AC. Mukerji, Noakhally). "the kernel is a constant and unfailing remedy for diarrhoea and dysentery amongst the hill tribes of the Sourah Mahlias. In my travels as Deputy Superintendent of vaccine, I had frequent opportunities of noting the effects of the drug. When the Sourahs came down to the plains and remained for a week or more , they were very subject to diarrhoea or dysentery, they then eagerly sought for the seeds and used half a kernel in the moming and half in the evening. this treatment they continued for two or three days with marked effect and perfect cure resulted in five days atleast" (Honorary Surgeon E. A Morris, Tranquibar).

"I have never observed any laxative effects from eating the ripe fruit or heard of its being eaten with this object; if true it would not be safe to eat the fruit in large quantities when cholera is prevalent, as it often is in India during the mango season. the kemels of the seeds are sometimes roasted and eaten as food by the poorer classes in times of scarcity (Brigade Surgeon G. A Watson, Allahabad). "the dried flowers, either in the form of decoction or powder, are used as a useful astringent in looseness of the bowels, chronic dysentery, and gleet" (Assistant Surgeon S. Arjun Rovat, L.M., Girgaum, Bombay). " The gum of the mango tree is used for cracked feet with good effect" Surgeon-Major J. North, Bangalore). " The green fruit is softened by roasting, mixed with water and used by the natives of upper India in sunstroke and burning of the body. Amchur and pickles prepared from green fruit are issued to prisoners in jails as antiscorbutics. The kernel are dried and stored for medicinal use. In times of scarcity the flower of dried kemels is used by the poor as an article of diet" (Assistant Surgeon S. C. Bhattercharji, Chanda, Central Provinces).

"The kernel (powdered) with resin and kurchi is given in dysentery. I have seen several cases cured by this. Dose: Equal quantities of each ingredient mixed and about 15 grains given twice or thrice a day to adults" (Assistant Surgeon N.N. Bhattacharjee, Tirhoot State Railway, Somastipore). "The kemels powdered when thoroughly dry are used as food in the North-West, being made into chapattis" (Narain Msser, Kothe Bazar Dyspensary, Hosangabad, Central Provinces). "The unripe fruit cut and dried is a valuable antiscorbutic. It is now in use in Bengal jails" (Surgeon RL. Dutt., M.D.Pubna). "The ripe fmit is laxative. The kernel of the seed is used as an astringent in diarrhoea. This is one of the ingredients of Pogson's Bael powder. The baked green fruit is made into a sherbet, and the pulp applied also extemally in sunstrokes" (Bolly Chand Sen, Teacher of Medicine). "If the small white kemel of the mango stone be steeped in a little water and reduced to the consistence of paste, it may be applied to any part of the skin which burns, and it will soon have a cooling effect" (Surgeon W. Wilson, Bogra). "The unripe fruit is used by the natives in the form of sherbet as a refrigerant and diaphoretic. The juice is used in fissures of the feet and between the toes and fingers" (Civil Surgeon J.H.Thornton, B.A, M.B., Monghyr). "The kemel of the stone has been frequently used in diarrhoea of children with success, in 1 to 3 grain doses alone or with dried bael" (Assistant Surgeon N.L. Ghose, Bankipore) (Dictionary of the Economic Products of India).