Amazing as it is, there’s actually more to mango than just the luscious fruit. The mango leaves benefits and uses are worth knowing and go beyond mere solar catchers for photosynthesizing the magnificent mango fruit.

If you’re like most people, when you think of mango, you think of the rich and creamy orange colored tropical fruit. But as you come to discover just how many tree and plant leaves are also edible and beneficial, you’ll begin wondering about every leaf you meet… at least I do.

In fact, often the leaves of a plant or tree is actually more nutritious than the fruit itself in some ways (if not all), such as strawberry leaves benefits.

When it comes to mango, all parts of the mango tree, from fruit to seed, leaves to bark have been studied scientifically and used culturally in traditional remedies such as ayurvedic medicine.

For this article we’re focusing on the mango leaves benefits and uses.

Mango Leaves Are Edible and Medicinal

There are many uses of the numerous forms of mango leaves which we touch on next and elaborate on further below.

Fresh Mango Leaves Uses

Young mango leaves are eaten fresh or cooked, and fresh leaves are also made into mango leaf extract for healing applications and remedies. Tea is also made from fresh mango leaves which are simmered for a mango leaf decoction.

Dried Mango Leaves Uses

Dried mango leaves can be chopped or crushed for dried mango leaf tea, and are ground into powder for smoothies and for supplement capsules. See also, homemade greens powders for more on beneficial leaves.^[1]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7468873/

In this article we bring you the science on mango leaves as well as the mango leaves benefits and uses, so there’s something for everyone interested learning more about mango leaf uses.

You may also be interested in edible tree leaves.

Information not Advice

This article is for information only and not medical advice or prescription. For specific uses and methods of application, please research your specific malady and always consult with appropriate healthcare practitioners.

Nutrition in Mango Leaves and Extract

Here’s a short list of the nutrient content of mango leaves. If you enjoy geeking out on the scientific classification of mango nutrients, we have that longer list near the end of this article.

Mango Leaves Are Rich in Nutrients

We especially like that research has found the mangiferin polyphenol in mango leaves improves the brain and cognition!

• Protein
• Vitamins
• Amino acids
• Carotenoids
• Sterols
• Terpenes
• Polyphenols
  • Xanthones
    • mangiferin – a xanthone glucoside found to protect the brain and cognitive functions^[2]https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27658353/

Vitamins and Minerals in Mango Leaves

While we didn’t find vitamin and mineral values per serving, it’s good to know that there’s some nutrient benefit to sipping on mango leaf tea, or taking powdered mango leaf supplements.

Many herbs and plant medicine works by virtue of small amounts infused into the daily diet through cooking, tea and tinctures.

Minerals in Mango Leaves

• calcium
• iron
• magnesium
• nitrogen
• phosphorus
• potassium
• sodium

Vitamins in Mango Leaves

• A
• B
• C
• E

Protein in Mango Leaves

Mango leaves are a source of protein, vitamins and minerals. Protein and other nutrients vary by mango variety, and range from between 7-14% crude protein per 171.4 grams / 6 ounces. However, this is a generalization that is related to use for livestock feed and doesn’t translate directly to content for human consumption.(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7920260/))

Traditional Uses of Mango Leaves

Mango roots, leaves, fruit and bark have a long history of medicinal use in traditional cultures for a number of ailments.^[3]https://downloads.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2017/6949835.pdf 

Bangladesh – Mango Leaf Benefits and Uses

• Burns*
• Cough
• Diarrhoea
• Diabetes – as a decoction or powder
• Dysentery
• Gall bladder
• Hemorrhages
• Hiccups
• Kidney diseases
• Throat diseases
• Ulcers
• Wounds

*Burnt mango leaves are applied to burns and scalds

India – Mango Leaf Benefits and Uses

• Burns / scalds
• Cough
• Diabetes
• Diarrhoea
• Dysentery
• Gallbladder
• Hemorrhages
• Hiccups
• Kidney disease
• Throat diseases
• Ulcers
• Wounds

Nigeria – Mango Leaf Benefits and Uses

Leaf decoctions have been used to treat diabetes and malaria.

Pakistan – Mango Leaves and Seeds Uses

Mango leaves uses include for earache and vomiting.

Peru – Mango Leaves Benefits and Uses

Traditional Peruvian uses include for bronchitis, colds and inflammation.

Sri Lanka – Mango Leaves Benefits

Diseases of the lungs, coughs, and asthma.

Scientifically Proven Benefits of Mango Leaves

Mango leaves have been studied for their health benefits, which are high in antioxidants important for wellness. The extracts from mango leaves have been found to contain numerous compounds to aid in protection from and healing cancer, diabetes, obesity, liver disease, and inflammation amongst others.^[4]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7920260/

• Anticancerous^[5]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7920260/^[6]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5288965/
• Antidiabetic^[7]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5288965/
• Antidiarrheal^[8]https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25575467/
• Anti-inflammatory^[9]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3249901/
• Antimicrobial^[10]https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/11/7/1313/htm
• Antiobesity^[11]https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0753332217312179?via%3Dihub
• Antioxidant^[12]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3249901/
• Antiproliferative
• Brain health / cognition^[13]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7468873/
• DNA protective
• Digestive health
• Eye disease / Macular degeneration
• Hypoglycemic
• Immunomodulatory
• Kidney
• Lipid-reduction
• Lungs
• Neuroprotective

REFERENCES:

• Acute Effects of a Mango Leaf Extract on Cognitive Function in Healthy Adults: Nutrients vol. 12,8 2194. 23 Jul. 2020^[14]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7468873/
• Mango (Mangifera indica L.) Leaves: Nutritional Composition, Phytochemical Profile, and Health-Promoting Bioactivities, 2021 Feb 16. doi: 10.3390/antiox10020299.^[15]https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/10/2/299^[16]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7920260/

Researchers found that mango leaf extract significantly improved memory and cognitive performance.

REFERENCE: PMCID: PMC7468873 July 2020 study on mango leaf extract and cognitive function.

IMPORTANT PRECAUTION

CAUTION: Mango leaf tea is sold commercially, in addition to having a long history of cultural use. However, it’s good to be aware that the mango skin, stems, roots — and to a lesser extent — mango leaves, contain urushiol, the same chemical toxin in poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac. ^[17]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8621529/

I do react strongly to poison ivy, however, I’ve never had reactions to mangoes or mango leaf tea. So chances are that the urushiol oil content is low enough in the leaves to be of no concern. But certainly, important to be aware of, and to avoid or verify with your health practitioner and through your own research and careful testing, if you have any concerns.

Mango toxicity study conclusion: Mango fruit is frequently consumed, but mango induced contact dermatitis, the main hypersensitivity reaction induced by mango, is rare.

REFERENCE: Study on Contact Allergy Induced by Mango^[18]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8621529/

Mango Leaves Uses

We have a small mango plant and so don’t yet have a plethora of extra leaves to harvest yet, but you can buy mango leaves fresh or dried. Meanwhile, we also regularly enjoy other tree leaf teas such as avocado leaf tea, fig leaves tea and strawberry leaves tea.

Fresh Mango Leaves Uses

• Young leaves are edible raw or cooked
• Extract
• Dried

Dried Mango Leaves Uses

• Powder
• Supplements
• Tea

You may also enjoy this article on edible tree leaves

Mango Leaves Tea

Mango leaf tea is a gentle way enjoy daily infusions of some of the mango leaves benefits.

Scientific Research on Mango Leaves Beneficial Properties

Mango leaves and mango leaf extracts have been found to be nutrient rich in:

• monoterpenes
• sesquiterpenes
• bacteriostatic properties
• antimicrobial constituents such as:
  • α-gurjunene
  • trans-caryophyllene
  • α-humulene
  • α-selinene
  • camphor
  • benzophenone derivatives that contain:
    • α-glucosidase inhibitory and immunosuppressive activities
    • MLs, and mango bark [8,9].

Amino Acids in Mango Leaves Include:

• alanine
• 𝛾-aminobutyric acid
• glycine
• leucine
• tyrosine
• valine

Polyphenols and Phenolic Acids in Mango Leaves Include: 

• catechin
• digallate
• ellagic acid
• ethyl
• gallic acid
• hyperin
• kainic acid
• mangiferin
• protocatechuic acid
• quercetin
• shikimic acid

Alcohols in mango leaves include methylic, ethyl, and isobutyl alcohols. 

Terpenes in Mango Leaves Include:

• 𝛼-pinene
• 𝛽-pinene
• 𝛿-elemene
• 𝛽-elemene
• taraxerol
• 𝛼–cubebene
• camphene
• 𝛾–cadinene
• lupeol
• friedelin
• linalool
• 𝛽-bulnesene
• 𝛼-guaiene
• humulene
• 𝛼-farnesene
• myrcene
• car3-ene
• limonene
• 𝛽-ocimene
• 𝛾–terpinene
• 𝛼-terpinolene

Phenylpropenes in mango leaves include estragole, methyleugenol and elemicin. Sterols in mango leaves Include 𝛼, 𝛽, and 𝛾-sitosterol.

Mango Leaves Uses for Livestock Food

Mature evergreen mango trees in tropical climates are full of healthy green leaves that need periodic pruning. Given that abundance plus the nutrient rich leaves that include measurable protein content, mango leaves are being studied for use as a supplementary source of livestock food, especially in developing nations.