Mangifera species are widely cultivated in Asia and elsewhere. More than 27 species in the genus bear edible, fleshyfruits, especially the common mango (M. indica). Others, such asM. foetida, yield astringent fruits that can be eatenpickled.[5]
Mango wastes, such as the seed kernel and peel, have high functional and nutritional potential. Mango seed contains important bioactive compounds that have highantioxidant activity, lipids that have acceptable physical and chemical characteristics (free oftrans fatty acids), and a somewhat high (about 6%)protein content.[6] The mango peel contains considerable amounts ofantioxidants anddietary fiber.[7]
The earliestfossil species thought to be related toMangifera isEomangiferophyllum damalgiriense from the upperPaleocene in northeasternIndia. Leaves have also been reported from the Paleocene ofJapan and theEocene ofGermany, though these have been considered questionable. Leaf fossils confidently assignable toMangifera have been collected fromOligocene or earlyMiocene sediments in northernThailand.[8][9]
^Serna, Liliana; García-Gonzales, Estefanía; Torres-León, Cristian (2016). "Agro-industrial potential of the mango peel based on its nutritional and functional properties".Food Reviews International.32 (4):364–376.doi:10.1080/87559129.2015.1094815.S2CID87396909.
^Prakart Sawangchote; Paul J. Grote; David L. Dilcher (2009). "Tertiary leaf fossils of Mangifera (Anacardiaceae) from Li Basin, Thailand as examples of the utility of leaf marginal venation characters".American Journal of Botany.96 (11):2048–2061.doi:10.3732/ajb.0900086.PMID21622324.
