Isolation and Characterization of the Compound Mangiferin from the Bark of Mangifera indica L. and Evaluation of Its Antioxidant Activity and Preliminary Toxicity Study Using Brine Shrimp

Oxidative stress resulting from excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) plays a critical role in the onset and progression of several chronic diseases, including cancer, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disorders, and neurodegenerative conditions. Natural antioxidants derived from medicinal plants are increasingly being explored as safer alternatives to synthetic antioxidants. The present study aimed to isolate, purify, structurally characterize mangiferin from the bark of Mangifera indica L., and to evaluate its antioxidant potential and preliminary toxicity. Mangiferin, a bioactive C-glucosyl xanthone, was isolated and purified using Soxhlet extraction followed by silica gel column chromatography. The purity and structural identity of the isolated compound were confirmed by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and comprehensive spectroscopic and chromatographic analyses, including UV–Visible spectroscopy, FT-IR, HPLC, ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR, and GC–MS. The antioxidant potential of purified mangiferin was evaluated using multiple in vitro assays, including DPPH, ABTS●⁺, hydroxyl radical, superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide, nitric oxide scavenging, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Mangiferin exhibited significant concentration-dependent antioxidant activity in all assays, with IC₅₀ values comparable to ascorbic acid, attributed to its polyphenolic structure and efficient electron- and hydrogen-donating properties. In addition, the preliminary toxicity profile of mangiferin was assessed using the brine shrimp lethality assay (Artemia salina). The results demonstrated very low toxicity, with an LD₅₀ value of 1218.60 ± 0.87 µg/mL, supporting the potential application of mangiferin as a safe natural antioxidant and a promising therapeutic lead for oxidative stress-related disorders.