The researchers at the Nare-suan University in Phitsanulok, northern Thailand have unveiled a mango that can reduce the risk of contracting some cancers. The Thailand Research Fund financed the breakthrough under the Royal Golden Jubilee PhD Programme.
Dr Peerasak Chaiprasart, Asst Prof Natural Resources and Environment, Faculty of Agriculture, explained that the improved Mahachanok mango is enhanced with anti-oxidants anthocyanin and carotenoid.
The researchers claim that the carotenoid, which is found in yellow, orange and red fruits and vegetables, actually strengthens the immune system and reduces the risk of various cancers. It also helps to reduce heart disease, cataracts and age-related macular degeneration in the retina of the eye.
While, Anthocyanin that yields red, purple and blue pigments slows cell degeneration and reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke. It also kills pathogenic micro-organisms in the gastrointestinal system.
According to Dr Peerasak, the Mahachanok mango (Mangifera indica) is a hybrid of Thai Nang Klang Wan mangoes and Australian Sunset mangoes. When ripe, it has red-purple or yellow-red skin.
The team of researchers have also discovered that if methyl jasmonate is introduced to pre-harvest mangoes, it boosts their levels of Vitamin C, glucose, fructose, sucrose and carotenoid. The experts say that methyl jasmonate plus ethephon increased the carotenoid level by 50 per cent. Both of it are safe and it doesn't leave any residue.
Dr Peerasak told Asia News Network that the university would continue to work on the project and expects that the farmers would be able to cultivate Mahachanok mangoes even beyond the usual April-June growing season. This would help in producing beautiful red and healthy fruits that are in high demand.
Meanwhile, the researchers have also developed a roll-on application for women, which is a deodorant cum armpit hair removal. The hair-reducing roll-on that uses Waan-Ma-Haa-Mek (Curcuma aeruginosa Roxb) was developed in the Herb Tech research centre of the university.
Asst Prof Kornkanok Ingkaninant said that her team had initially discovered that Waan-Ma-Haa-Mek extract could be used to reduce hair loss in males. However, she added that they have made this new Waan-Ma-Haa-Mek product is a hair-reducing roll-on for women. During four weks of clinical testing, the producted was tested on 30 volunteers and it produced significant results among them.
Last year, they have secured a patent and passed the technology on to Siam Nawat Co.
