Antidiabetic Effect of Anacardium occidentale. Stem-Bark in Fructose-Diabetic Rats

Abstract

The antidiabetic activity of the cashew plant (Anacardium occidentale. Linn. [Anacardiaceae]) stem-bark methanol extract was investigated in fructose-fed (diabetic) and normal rats. Animals were randomly divided into group A (control), group B (treated with 200.0 mg/kg body weight of the extract; orally), group C (fed with enriched fructose diet only, 25%; w/w) and group D (fed with enriched fructose diet along with 200.0 mg/kg body weight of the extract; orally). Animals were treated with extract and/or enriched fructose diet for 21 days. The enriched fructose diet resulted in significant increases in plasma glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratio, malonyldialdehyde, total protein, urea, and creatinine. Administration of the extract significantly prevented changes in plasma glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratio, malonyldialdehyde, urea, and creatinine induced by enriched fructose diet. On the other hand, treatment with enriched fructose diet and/or extract did not have any significant effect on plasma alkaline phosphatase level. These results show that chronic oral administration of methanol extract of Anacardium occidental. stem-bark at a dose of 200.0 mg/kg body weight may be a safe alternative antihyperglycemic agent that has beneficial effect by improving plasma glucose and lipids in fructose-induced diabetic rats, which is associated with a reduced lipid peroxidation.

Keywords:

• Anacardium occidentale
• antihyperglycemic
• antioxidant
• diabetes mellitus
• fructose
• plasma lipids