Volume 42, Issue 5 p. 475-491
Review Article

The potential role of mangiferin in cancer treatment through its immunomodulatory, anti-angiogenic, apoptopic, and gene regulatory effects

Alberto J. Núñez Selles

Alberto J. Núñez Selles

National Evangelic University, Research Division, Paseo De Los Periodistas 54, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

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Maria Daglia

Maria Daglia

Department of Drug Sciences, Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology Section, University of Pavia, Italy

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Luca Rastrelli

Corresponding Author

Luca Rastrelli

Dipartimento Di Farmacia, Università Degli Studi Di Salerno, via Giovanni Paolo II, Fisciano, Italy

Address for correspondence: Dr. Luca Rastrelli, Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 84084 – Fisciano, Italy. Tel.: +39 089969766, Fax: +39 098969602, E-mail: [email protected].Search for more papers by this author
First published: 24 May 2016
Citations: 77

Abstract

Mangiferin (1,3,6,7-tetrahydroxyxanthone-C2-β-D-glucoside) is a natural bioactive xanthonoid that can be found in many plant species, among which the mango tree (Mangifera indica L), a plant widely used in the traditional medicinal, is one of its primary sources. The use of mangiferin for cancer treatment has attracted the attention of research groups around the World. Single administration of mangiferin or in combination with known anticancer chemicals has shown the potential benefits of this molecule in lung, brain, breast, cervix, and prostate cancers, and leukemia. Mangiferin mechanisms of action against cancer cells through in vitro, ex vivo, or in vivo models are discussed besides its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Nevertheless, pharmaceutical development and, therefore, clinical trials on cancer targets are still lacking. © 2016 BioFactors, 42(5):475–491, 2016