Mangiferin and mangiferincontaining leaf extract from Mangifera foetida L for therapeutic attenuation of experimentally induced iron overload in a rat model

Introduction: Thalassemia is a hereditary anemia usually treated with regular blood transfusions, which can result in elevated levels of total iron in the body. As soon as the capacity of ironregulating proteins (e.g., ferritin, transferrin) are used up, free plasma iron increases generating reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to oxidative stress. Hence, blood transfusions should be accompanied by ironchelating therapy, e.g., deferiprone (DFP). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of mangiferin (M) and an aqueous leaf extract of Mangifera foetida L (EMF) as alternative ironchelating antioxidants in an animal model.Methods: Thirty male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into 5 equal groups: normal control, iron overload (IO), IO+DFP, IO+M, and IO+EMF. Iron overload was induced by intraperitoneal iron dextran injection with a total dose of 90 mg/mouse (15 mg Fe/mouse every 34 days for 3 weeks) followed by oral administration of DFP 462.5 mg/kg, mangiferin 75 mg/kg, or EMF 2.930 g/kg for 7 days.Results: Body weight (BW) increased in all groups during the 4 weeks of experiment, except for the IO group. As expected, DFP decreased significantly the total plasma iron and increased iron excretion via urine in ironoverloaded rats (positive control), mangiferin and EMF had similar – although slightly smaller – effects than DFP. The antioxidant activity of M and EMF were stronger compared to DFP as determined by plasma superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity.Conclusion: Mangiferin and EMF have ironchelating and antioxidant effects and might be used for the treatment of iron overload in the body.