About
Mango ginger (Curcuma amada Roxb.) is a rhizomatous spice in the Zingiberaceae family that resembles ginger morphologically but imparts a characteristic raw mango aroma and flavour. It is primarily used in pickles, culinary preparations, preserves, candy, and sauces, and also serves as a source of essential oils and oleoresins in the food and aromatics industry.
Safety summary
Mango ginger has a long history of safe traditional and culinary use in South and Southeast Asia with no major regulatory safety bans reported by any major jurisdiction. Certain isolated bioactive compounds (e.g., amadaldehyde, difurocumenonol) exhibit cytotoxicity and platelet aggregation inhibitory activity in vitro, warranting caution in individuals on anticoagulant therapy. No formal ADI has been established by EFSA, FDA, or WHO, reflecting its status as a whole food/spice ingredient rather than an isolated food additive.
Regulatory landscape
| Jurisdiction | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union) | Approved | Curcuma amada is not assigned an E-number and is not regulated as a food additive in the EU. It may be used as a food/botanical ingredient under general food law (Regulation EC 178/2002). EFSA has not issued a specific safety opinion on C. amada; no restriction or ban is recorded.source |
| FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India) | Approved | Curcuma amada Roxb. is listed as a permitted botanical plant ingredient under the Food Safety and Standards (Health Supplements, Nutraceuticals, Food for Special Dietary Use, Food for Special Medical Purpose, Functional Food and Novel Food) Regulations, 2016/2017. Also used as a spice/condiment under FSSAI Chapter 2.9.source |
| FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States) | Approved | Mango ginger (Curcuma amada) is used as a spice and flavouring with a long history of safe consumption. No specific GRAS notice for C. amada has been filed; it is consumed as a whole food/spice. The related species C. longa (turmeric/curcumin) holds GRAS status (GRN 686). No FDA ban or restriction on C. amada as a food ingredient.source |
Who should approach with care
Research citations
- 1PubMed. Mango ginger (Curcuma amada Roxb.) may alleviate the effect of high-fat diet/streptozotocin-induced diabetes by activation of the GSK-3β/Fyn/Nrf2 pathway, 2023. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 2PubMed. Mango ginger (Curcuma amada Roxb.) rhizome essential oils as source of environmental friendly biocides: Comparison of the chemical composition, antibacterial, insecticidal and larvicidal properties, 2021. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 3FSSAI. Food Safety and Standards (Health Supplements, Nutraceuticals...) Regulations, 2017 – Permitted Botanical Plant Ingredients, 2017. fssai.gov.in
- 4PubMed. Mango ginger (Curcuma amada Roxb.)--a promising spice for phytochemicals and biological activities, 2011. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 5PubMed. Antimicrobial, antioxidant, cytotoxicity and platelet aggregation inhibitory activity of a novel molecule isolated and characterized from mango ginger (Curcuma amada Roxb.) rhizome, 2010. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
