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For Irvingia F.Muell., see its synonym Polyscias.

Irvingia is a genus of African and Southeast Asian trees in the family Irvingiaceae, sometimes known by the common names wild mango, African mango, or bush mango. They bear edible mango-like fruits, and are especially valued for their fat- and protein-rich nuts, known as ogbono, etima, odika, or dika nuts.

The subtly aromatic nuts are typically dried in the sun for preservation, and are sold whole or in powder form. They may be ground to a paste known variously as dika bread or Gabon chocolate. Their high content of mucilage enables them to be used as thickening agents for dishes such as ogbono soup. The nuts may also be pressed for vegetable oil.

The fruit is a large drupe, with fibrous flesh.

The trees yield a hard wood, useful in construction.

As a Weight-Loss Supplement

Dietary fibers are frequently used for the treatment of obesity. Researchers found the obese patients under Irvingia gabonensis treatment also had a significant decrease of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and an increase of HDL-cholesterol. Irvingia gabonensis seed may find application in weight lose.

In Dr. Oz's episode where he challenged viewers to lose "Just 10" pounds, he suggests three supplements to help: a multi-vitamin, a vitamin-B complex, and African Mango (150mg twice daily before meals).

Species

• Irvingia gabonensis (Aubry-Lecomte ex O'Rorke) Baill.
• Irvingia malayana Oliv. ex A. W. Benn.

References

External links

• " Multilingual taxonomic information". University of Melbourne.
• Wood technical fact sheet from the US Forest Service's Forest Products Laboratory , an agency of the USDA.
• Ogbono Soup from "The Congo Cookbook (African Recipes)".
• Weight loss "Study"
• Integra-Lean Irvingia: Patented Irvingia Extract
• IrvingiaRX: "Irvingia Gabonensis"
• Dr. Oz's Just Ten Challenge

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