IN Bureau

There is good news for all those who would love to eat mangoes but had killed their desire because of health issues, including diabetes.

The Lucknow-based Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture, (CISH) has come with some varieties of mangoes which are healthier. The reason being these have bio-active compounds that are awash with high medicinal benefits, including anti-cancerous properties.

Talking to News18, the CISH Director, Shailendra Rajan said: “Indeed, it is a major breakthrough for us. Mango is the most favoured fruit and of the many hybrid varieties of mango, the researchers found CISH-developed ‘Arunika’ was rich in the bio-active compounds including mangiferin and lupeol content.”

Sharing more details Rajan added: “The red-blushed Arunika has great medicinal properties. The bio-active compounds present in this variety lower blood glucose levels by preventing glucose absorption in the intestine, whereas the Mangiferin helps to protect against breast and colon cancer.”

Besides the “Arunika”, CISH has developed another variety of medicinal mango. This is called “Saheb Pasand”, which Rajan informed was the sweetest variety of mango which had a high content of lupeol. content. The compound has the properties that have a wide range of pharmacological activities against a variety of disease conditions. These disease conditions include inflammation, arthritis, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, renal disease, hepatic toxicity, microbial infections and cancer.

Rajan also disclosed that CISH was ready with the variety. The test of the pulp of this variety was still going on in order to compare these hybrid mangoes with other varieties of mangoes available, in terms of medicinal content.

These new varieties promise a better future for both people consuming it and those growing it. While the consumers will have health benefits from them, the farmers can raise these special varieties to increase their income.