AbstractVimang® is an aqueous extract of selected species of Mangifera indica L, used in Cuba as a nutritional antioxidant supplement. Many in vitro and in vivo models of oxidative stress have been used to elucidate the antioxidant mechanisms of this extract. To further characterize the mechanism of Vimang® action, its effect on the degradation of 2‐deoxyribose induced by Fe (III)‐EDTA plus ascorbate or plus hypoxanthine/xanthine oxidase was studied. Vimang® was shown to be a potent inhibitor of 2‐deoxyribose degradation mediated by Fe (III)‐EDTA plus ascorbate or superoxide (O2−). The results revealed that Vimang®, at concentrations higher than 50 µm mangiferin equivalent, was equally effective in preventing degradation of both 15 mm and 1.5 mm 2‐deoxyribose. At a xed Fe (III) concentration, increasing the concentration of ligands (either EDTA or citrate) caused a signicant reduction in the protective effects of Vimang®. When ascorbate was replaced by O2− (formed by hypoxanthine and xanthine oxidase) the protective efciency of Vimang® was also inversely related to EDTA concentration. The results strongly indicate that Vimang® does not block 2‐deoxyribose degradation by simply trapping •OH radicals. Rather, Vimang® seems to act as an antioxidant by complexing iron ions, rendering them inactive or poorly active in the Fenton reaction. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.