Isolation and Quantitative Analysis of Phenolic Antioxidants, Free Sugars, and Polyols from Mango (<i>Mangifera indica</i> L.) Stem Bark Aqueous Decoction Used in Cuba as a Nutritional Supplement

An aqueous decoction of mango (Mangifera indica L.) stem bark has been developed in Cuba on an industrial scale to be used as a nutritional supplement, cosmetic, and phytomedicine. Previously we reported its antioxidant activity, and we concluded that the product could be useful to prevent the production of reactive oxygen species and oxidative tissue damage in vivo. A phytochemical investigation of mango stem bark extract has led to the isolation of seven phenolic constituents: gallic acid, 3,4-dihydroxy benzoic acid, gallic acid methyl ester, gallic acid propyl ester, mangiferin, (+)-catechin, (-)-epicatechin, and benzoic acid and benzoic acid propyl ester. All structures were elucidated by ES-MS and NMR spectroscopic methods. Quantitative analysis of the compounds has been performed by HPLC, and mangiferin was found to be the predominant component. Total polyphenols were assayed also by the Folin-Ciocalteu method. The free sugars and polyols content was also determined by GC-MS.