Abstract
Spondias mangifera Willd. (Anacardiaceae), a plant used in Ayurvedic medicine, commonly known as Amora is a perennial, deciduous, glabrous, large tree with turpentines odor of aerial parts, predominant in the Northeast region of India. Its mango type healthy fruits are acidic, astringent, highly nutritious, full of macro and micronutrients and vitamins, a favorite of the feminine to eat and prepared a variety of items. Root and stem bark of the plant is the rich source of phenolic glycosides which have been pharmacologically investigated for antioxidant, antiwrinkle, antibacterial, antidiarrheal, anticancer, antiulcer, antidiabetic, and hypolipidemic activities by many researchers. The unripe fruits are acidic, carminative, improve digestion, relieves anorexia, and useful in the treatment of diarrhea and constipation whereas ripe fruits are aromatic, sweet, coolant, nourishing, nutritious, and improve strength and immunity. The flavor of fruits are due to the presence of volatile oils (5-Methyl-2-furaldehyde, isopropyl myristate, alpha-pinene, camphene, alpha and gamma-terpineol, ethyl cinnamate, caryophyllene, isoborneol, gamma-eudesmole) which has immense antibacterial, antibiotic and antiviral properties. The lipophilic nature and small molecular weight of volatile oils are probably helpful to inhibit the infective growth of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) virus molecules. This article presents current data on the various phytochemicals of S. mangifera accommodating to restrain the virulent growth of SAD and its nutritional importance.