Mangiferin Rich Products from (Vahl) Benn Leaves: Extraction, Fractionation, Phytochemical Characterization, and Antioxidant Properties.

is traditionally used in Mauritius, Madagascar, and Reunion Island for treating several diseases. In this study, various extraction solvents and schemes were applied for the recovery of antioxidant rich fractions from the leaves of . The products were evaluated for their antioxidant capacity using well known in vitro assays. Major compounds were characterized by UPLC-QTOF-MS. Hydrophilic extracts of demonstrated strong antioxidant properties, which are comparable with the synthetic antioxidant Trolox. UPLC analysis confirmed mangiferin as the main secondary metabolite of . Tormentic and hydroxytormentic acids as well as their isomers were also abundant in extracts and fractions, while their amounts were determined for the first time. The most potential extract was further separated into the fractions by liquid-liquid extraction and by precipitation at low temperature. Antioxidant capacity and composition of secondary metabolites of derived fractions were determined. Some of the fractions possessed remarkable antioxidant capacity, comparable to pure mangiferin. The results obtained reveal high potential of for recovery of natural antioxidants and other bioactive phytochemicals, particularly mangiferin.