What is it?
An extract of the fruit of the mango tree, Mangifera indica, a member of the cashew family. Ripe mango pulp is rich in natural sugars, mainly sucrose, fructose and glucose, and contains vitamin C, beta-carotene and polyphenols, which are more concentrated in the peel. The EU ingredient database lists mango fruit extract as a skin-conditioning ingredient, and it is used in moisturizers and other skin care.
Key information
- The EU's ingredient database lists mango fruit extract as a skin-conditioning agent.
- Mango is related to poison ivy and cashew, and its peel, bark and leaves contain resorcinol compounds that can cause allergic skin reactions.
- A 2021 review counted 37 published cases of mango contact dermatitis and called it rare, given how widely the fruit is eaten.
- We found no ingredient-specific safety review of mango fruit extract by the CIR or the EU's SCCS.
More information
What a mango extract contains depends on which parts of the fruit go into it, and the ingredient name does not say. A 2021 review comparing pulp, peel and kernel reported that mango peel has more polyphenols than the pulp at every stage of growth, and that ripe pulp averages about 36 mg of vitamin C per 100 grams.
Mango belongs to the Anacardiaceae, the plant family that includes poison ivy, poison oak and cashew. Its skin, bark and leaves, and the outer 5 millimeters of the pulp, contain alkyl resorcinols that can cause delayed allergic skin reactions, typically around the mouth and lips after eating the fruit. These compounds cross-react with urushiol, the allergen in poison ivy and poison oak, and many reported cases came from places where those plants are common. A 2021 review counted 37 published cases and concluded that mango contact dermatitis remains rare despite how widely the fruit is eaten. Mango can also, rarely, cause immediate allergic reactions such as hives, swelling and anaphylaxis. The review did not describe any cases caused by cosmetics.
We found no ingredient-specific safety review of mango fruit extract by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review or the EU’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety. People who have reacted to mango peel, poison ivy or cashew shells may want to be cautious with mango ingredients and look for Mangifera Indica on labels.
Sources: European Commission CosIng: Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract; International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2021): Nutritional composition and bioactive compounds in three different parts of mango fruit; Medicina (2021): Contact allergy induced by mango (Mangifera indica), a relevant topic?
