Journal of Traditional Medicine & Clinical Naturopathy
Open Access

Anacardium occidentale; Cashew apple; Liver; Gentamicin; Rats; Blood

The cashew seed and the cashew apple accessory fruit are produced by the cashew tree (Anacardium occidentale), an evergreen tropical tree. The production of cashew milk, a plant milk substitute for dairy milk, has become more popular in the 21st century, and various African countries have boosted their cashew farming to accommodate this need [1-3]. In Mozambique, bolo polana is a cake made primarily from mashed potatoes and powdered cashews. South Africa is a popular market for this dessert [4-6].

The fleshy stem of the cashew fruit, which the cashew nut is attached to, is known as the cashew apple or cashew fruit [7]. The stem that emerges from the tree is joined to the top of the cashew apple. The cashew nut, which is protected by a shell, is connected to the bottom end of the cashew apple. According to Hugh, Pauline and Okokon, the cashew nut is the tree's real fruit and is classified as a drupe. The cashew tree's fruit is an accessory fruit (sometimes called a pseudocarp or false fruit). An oval or pear-shaped structure called a hypocarpium, which forms from the cashew's pedicel and receptacle, is what looks to be the fruit [8-10].

The kidney-or boxing-glove-shaped drupe that develops at the end of the cashew apple is the actual fruit of the cashew tree [11]. On the tree, the drupe forms initially, and as the pedicel grows, it transforms into the cashew apple. The actual fruit only has one seed, which is frequently referred to as a nut in the culinary sense [12-14]. The seed is encased in a double shell made of an allergic phenolic resin called anacardic acid. Anacardic acid is chemically related to the more well-known and poisonous allergenic oil urushiol, which is present in related poison ivy and lacquer tree species and is a potent skin irritant [15].

The leaves and/or the bark is also used in Brazil for eczema, Psoriasis, Scrofula, Dyspepsia, genital problems, and venereal diseases, as well as for impotence, bronchitis, cough, intestinal colic, leishmaniasis and syphilis-related skin disorders. A strong antioxidant capacity was also observed against hepatocarcinogenesis induced by aflatoxin B1 in Winstar rat. Preclinical studies reveals that metabolites isolated from the bark of cashew tree demonstrated antipyretic action for anacardic acid. Though, cashew apple has been used for several medicinal purposes, little is known about it potential on specific vital organs of the body. This research aims to examine the liver injury caused by gentamicin in albino rats and the hepatoprotective effects of Anacardium occidentale (cashew apple) fruit juice extract.

Plants collection

Fresh fruits of Anacardium occidentale were taken from Oye village in the Nigerian state of Ekiti. The plant and fruit were identify at the department of botany at federal university in Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria verified the authenticity of the plant.

Extraction

In a scientific setting, cashew apple fruits were cleaned, sliced into small pieces, and crushed. The resulting mash was then pressed using a press to extract the juice.

Animals

Adult albino rats of both sexes were gotten from the animal house at Federal university in Oye-Ekiti. They were kept on regular animal pellets and unlimited amounts of water. The college of health sciences animal ethics committee of Federal university in Oye Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria provided permission and approval for animal studies.

Animal treatment

For this study, 36 adult albino rats were employed. Gentamicin (100 mg/kg) was given to group 2, while groups 3, 4, and 5 were given 10, 20, and 40 ml/kg of cashew apple along with gentamicin (100 mg/kg for days). Animals in group 1 served as the control with normal saline. All animals were weighed again and slaughtered in the presence of a mild diethylether vapour twenty hours after the last dose of the last medication was administered.

Hematological study

Blood samples were collected from each rat by cardiac puncture immediately after the animals were sacrificed under diethylether anesthesia, using 21-Gauge (21 G) needles mounted on a 5 ml syringe into Ethylene Diamine Tetra-Acetic acid (EDTA)-coated sample bottles for analyzed. Hematological parameters such as Full Blood Count (FBC), Hemoglobin, (Hb), Packed Cell Volume (PCV), Platelet Concentration (PLC) and Total and differential White Blood Cell count (WBC). These parameters were analyzed using automatic hematological system.

Biochemical analysis

The effect of the extract on several biochemical parameters of rats, such as urea, creatinine, as well as certain ions including sodium, potassium, and chloride, was examined in the various serum samples collected following treatment of the animals using established procedures.

Histopathological examinations

After processing, the livers were stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin (H and E). Organ preparation slides were put on a highdefinition microscope. A pathologist from the chemical pathology department at Ekiti state university in Ekiti state explained the findings. The removed organs from the sacrificed animals understudied for morphological alterations, which were noted. Additionally, histologic micrographs were taken [16].

Effect of A. occidentale fruit juice on haematological parameters of gentamicin induced toxicity

Anacardium occidentale cashew apple significantly (P<0.05) caused an increase in PCV, Hb, RBC, WBC and platelet count when compared to group 2. There was a reduction in the level of PCV, Hb, RBC, WBC and platelets in the paracetamol group (Table 1).

Table 1: Effect of A. occidentale fruit juice on haematological parameters of gentamicin induced toxicity.

Effect of Anacardium occidentale on body weight ratio of liver of rats in gentamicin induced injury

Rats receiving gentamicin and Anacardium occidentale show a significant (P<0.05) improvement in their livers compared to the group receiving only paracetamol (Table 2 and Figure 1).

Table 2: Effect of A. occidentale on liver of gentamicin induced toxicity.

Figure 1: Effect of drug and extract on biochemical parameters in rat.

Effect of Anacardium occidentale on biochemical parameters of rats in gentamicin induced injury

Gentamicin resulted in increased bilurubin and ALT value which were significantly (P<0.05) reduced in the groups that received cashew apple alongside gentamicin. Protein and AST values were not significantly (P<0.05) affected (Table 3).

Table 3: Effect of sub-acute oral administration of A. occidentale fruit on biochemical parameters

Effect of Anacardium occidentale of histopathology of gentamicin induced rat liver

In the paracetamol group, the spleen displayed lymphocyte deterioration. Fruit juice administration at large doses led to mild deterioration (Figure 2).

Figure 2: Histopathological changes of rat liver in all groups (200 ×)1, control group 2, paracetamol group 3, PCM and A.O 10 ml/kg; group 4, PCM and AO 20 ml/kg and group 5, PCM and AO 40 ml/kg.

A variety of plant parts are used in herbal therapy. Plant species produce useful foods, vegetables, and medicines that support human health and well-being in general. Gentamicin's harmful effects on RBC, WBC, PCV and platelet cells were helped to reverse by the cashew apple of Anacardium occidentale. Microcalorimetry was used to investigate how gentamicin affected human blood cells' overall metabolism [17]. The medicine increased the rate at which red cells produced heat above therapeutic levels, but at doses below that there was no effect. Because a small but significant percentage of the dose supplied is retained in the epithelial cells of the proximal tubules following glomerular filtration, gentamicin is hazardous [18]. As a result, proximal tubular cells undergo obvious and distinctive alterations in their lysosomes that are associated with the buildup of polar lipids (myeloid bodies). All hematological variables had an improved and close to normal value in the pretreated groups. This shows that neither the rate of RBC (erythropoiesis) creation nor the breakdown of red blood cells occurred.

By measuring the activities and concentrations of serum ALT, AST, ALP, bilirubin (total and direct), total protein, and albumin, which are initially found in the cytoplasm, liver function was evaluated. These enzymes and chemicals leak into the bloodstream during hepatopathy, serving as a sign of the liver injury [19]. The increased serum levels of ALT, AST, ALP, and total bilirubin found in the gentamicin group in this study are a sign of gentamicin-induced liver dysfunction and point to hepatic cell destruction. In the current study, lower levels of blood total protein and albumin were found in the cashew apple-pretreated rats, which may be related to a reduction in the number of hepatocytes, which may then lead to a loss in the ability of the liver to produce protein and albumin. The near-normal amounts of total protein seen in rats treated with gentamicin showed less severe hepatopathy. The pretreated groups with the extract showed a significantly and dosedependent improvement in the negative effects on bilirubin and ALT, showing that the extract had improved the liver cells' functional status. Hepatocytes conjugate bilirubin, a metabolic byproduct of hemoglobin, with glucuronic acid to make it more water soluble. A measure of hepatic function is the measurement of serum bilirubin levels, and any abnormal rise in these levels is a sign of hepatobiliary illness and a serious impairment of hepatocellular function. When gentamicin was supplied to rats, the level of bilirubin in their blood increased, but it was dramatically reduced in the pretreatment group. Significantly reduced serum bilirubin and ALT levels after extract treatment demonstrated the extract's efficacy in reestablishing the liver's hepatobiliary system's normal functioning status [20].

Haematological and biochemical markers are consistent with histological characteristics. Chemical substances that are naturally present in plants give them their therapeutic capabilities. The apparent hepato-and blood-protective properties of this plant may be related to certain of its constituents' antioxidant activities. Phenolic, tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, glycosides, saponins, steroids, and volatile oils were all present in the previous phytochemical screening. As they have been observed to demonstrate this activity, flavonoids, saponins and alkaloids may be to blame for the antioxidant, liver hepatoprotective and/or liver cell leakage effects. All plants include phenolic chemicals as secondary metabolites.

Simple phenols, hydroxybenzoic acid, cinnamic acid derivatives, flavonoids, tannins and coumarins are a few examples of this group.

The study's findings support the traditional usage of Anacardium occidentale's cashew apple, also known as pseudo-fruit, for treating liver and hematological problems that may be brought on by gentamicin or other related poisons. Because of their ability to reduce lipid peroxidation and lipoxygenase in vitro, natural phenolic compounds have attracted a lot of attention recently. Therefore, it's probable that the hepatoprotective properties identified in this research are linked to the phenolic chemicals found in the three extracts that were evaluated.

Authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

The authors wish to thank everyone who has contributed to the success of this research work.

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