Some evidence shows that African mango extracts may reduce cell growth and change the expression of leptin in fat cells (adipocytes). Leptin is a hormone involved in appetite and energy balance.[1] This might explain the potential role of African mango supplements in weight loss.[2] Other evidence shows that a specific extract from African mango seeds, called terminalin, may increase glucose uptake into muscle cells,[3] possibly explaining how African mango supplements reduced blood glucose in some studies.[2][4] However, these potential mechanisms are derived from cell culture experiments (i.e., in vitro) and require verification in humans. Furthermore, it is currently unclear whether African mango supplements indeed cause weight loss or improve blood glucose.[5][6]
It bears repeating that due to the low quality of evidence,[5][6] high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed to fully understand the potential benefits and risks of African mango.