by Paul Schattenberg

COLLEGE STATION – In addition to being one of the most important tropical fruits consumed worldwide, recent studies by researchers at the Institute for Obesity Research and Program Evaluation at Texas A&M University in College Station have shown that mangoes also may help prevent breast cancer.

“We wanted to investigate the anti-inflammatory and cell-toxicity properties of mango polyphenols on breast cancer and non-cancer cells,” said Dr. Susanne Talcott, director for research at the institute and assistant professor at the Nutrition and Food Science Department, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Talcott and others recently completed one in vitro study and one using ice to see if the polyphenols found in mango did, in fact, exhibit inflammation – and cancer-fighting properties.

“There was already some research done showing that polyphenolic compounds, such as those found in the mango, have cancer-fighting properties,” Talcott said. “Those compounds appear to have antioxidant properties that may contribute to decrease oxidative stress, which can lead to the onset of chronic diseases such as cancer. In addition to that, polyphenolics have been shown to be anti-inflammatory.”

Talcott said she and her team received additional support through Texas A&M AgriLife Research and the university Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center.

“Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death among women, and diet has been shown to have a preventive or protective role against several types of cancer,” she said. “It has been estimated that around 30 percent of cancers may be prevented with a healthy lifestyle and diet.”

Talcott said interest in mango has been increasing in recent years and experimental data has already shown bioactive compoounds present in mangoes exert anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, antiviral and antibacterial properties.

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Paul Schattenberg, 210-467-6575 : paschattenberg@ag.tamu.edu
Dr. Susanne Talcott, 979-458-1819 : smtalcott@tamu.edu