Hepatoprotective Activity of Aqueous Extract of Cashew Apple Cake (Anacardium occidentale L.) in Rats and Mice

Abstract

Aims: The aqueous extract of cashew apple cakes, rich in molecules of pharmacological interest, could be used against many diseases. Thus, the aim of the present work is to evaluate its hepatoprotective activity in rats and mice.  Methodology: Two batches of rats weighing between 200 and 300 grams, with five rats per batch, were pretreated for eleven days with the aqueous extract of cashew apple cakes at concentrations ranging from 150 to 300 mg.Kg-1 bw, then intoxicated with paracetamol at 2 g.Kg-1 bw, for three days. The blood of these rats was collected and submitted to biochemical analyses.  Two batches of mice weighing between 20 and 30 grams, with five mice per batch, were pretreated with the same test substance at concentrations also ranging from 150 to 300 mg.Kg-1 bw, then intoxicated with paracetamol before receiving phenobarbital. Afterwards, their sleep time was evaluated. Results: In rats, paracetamol intoxication materialized by the increase in serum ALT activity ranging from 109±5.19 to 571±20.28 IU.L-1 and that of AST ranging from 144±5.77 to 428±14.19 IU.L-1. Similarly, direct bilirubin increased from 0 to 1.08± 0.58 mg.dl-1. These increases in transaminase activity and bilirubin levels were significantly decreased in rats pretreated with the aqueous extract of cashew apple cake. In mice, the phenobarbital test showed a 29.82 to 38.59% decrease in sleep time in mice pretreated with the aqueous extract of cashew apple cakes. Conclusion: The aqueous extract of cashew apple cakes influencing biochemical parameters such as ALT, AST, bilirubin and sleep time, could therefore be used in the prevention of liver diseases, in traditional medicine.