Evaluation of the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of the acetone extract from Anacardium occidentale L

Abstract

The stem bark of Anacardium occidentale L. (Anacardiaceae), commonly called cashew, is used in Brazilian traditional medicine for the treatment of gastric and inflammatory disorders. The present study was carried out to investigate the in vivo anti-inflammatory activities of the acetone extract (AE) of the stem bark of A. occidentale. We evaluated the pharmacological activities of this plant material through the analgesic, antiedematogenic and chemotaxic inhibitory effects produced by the AE. The oral administration (p.o.) of mice with the AE (0.1, 0.3 and 1.0 g/kg) or positive control indomethacin (10 mg/kg) inhibited acetic acid-induced writhing by 18.9, 35.9, 62.9 and 68.9%, respectively (ID 50% = 530 mg/kg). The highest dose of the AE was able to inhibit croton oil-induced ear edema formation by 56.8% (indomethacin at 10 mg/kg, p.o. -57.6% inhibition). When submitted to the carrageenan-induced peritonitis test, the AE (0.1, 0.3 and 1.0 g/kg, p.o.) impaired leukocyte migration into the peritoneal cavity by 24.8, 40.5 and 49.6%, respectively. The positive control, dexamethasone (2 mg/kg, s.c.), inhibited leukocyte migration by 66.9%. These results indicate the presence of anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive principles in the acetone extract of Anacardium occidentale, and reinforce the plant's potential therapeutic use against pain and inflammatory diseases.Uniterms: Anacardium occidentale L./analgesic activity. Anacardium occidentale L./anti-inflammatory activity. Anacardium occidentale L./antiedematogenic activity. Anacardiaceae. Cashew.As cascas do caule do Anacardium occidentale L. (Anacardiaceae), conhecido como cajueiro, são popularmente utilizadas no Brasil para o tratamento de doenças gástricas e inflamatórias. Este estudo teve como objetivo a avaliação farmacológica in vivo da atividade antiinflamatória do extrato acetônico (AE) obtido das cascas do A. occidentale, investigando os efeitos analgésico, antiedematogênico e inibitório sobre a quimiotaxia deste material botânico. A administração oral (p.o.) em camundongos com o AE (0,1; 0,3 e 1 g/kg) ou o controle positivo indometacina (10 mg/kg) inibiu as contorções abdominais induzidas pelo ácido acético em 18,9; 35,9; 62,9 e 68,9% respectivamente (ID 50% = 530 mg/kg). Esta maior dose do AE também inibiu o edema de orelha produzido pelo óleo de cróton em 56,8% (indometacina, 10 mg/kg, p.o. -57,6% de inibição). No teste da peritonite induzido pela carragenina, o AE (0,1; 0,3; e 1,0 mg/kg, p.o.) reduziu a migração de leucócitos para a cavidade peritoneal em 24,8; 40,5; e 49,6% respectivamente, enquanto que o controle positivo dexametasona (2 mg/kg, s.c.) inibiu a migração de leucócitos em 66,9%. Estes resultados indicam a presença de princípios ativos antiinflamatórios e antinociceptivos no extrato acetônico de Anacardium occidentale e reforçam o potencial terapêutico da planta em doenças que envolvem dor e inflamação.

Pharmacological properties of cashew (Anacardium occidentale)

“…A similar activity was observed with the hydroethanolic extract of cashew leaves, where tannins were suggested as being responsible for moieties (Konan and Bacchi, 2007). Vanderlinde et al (2009) reported that the acetone extract of cashew stem bark in rodents contains antibodies, and has anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects. The dichloromethane extract of cashew leaves is also suggested to have an analgesic effect on rats (Onasanwo et al, 2012).…”

Withania frutescens: Chemical characterization, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and healing activities

“…The pain caused by the injection of the latter is due to the release of serotonin, histamine, bradykinin, and prostaglandins (PGEβα, PGFβα). These mediators induce stimulation of peripheral neurons and then induce an increase in vascular permeability [19,26]. The foliar extract of the studied plant significantly inhibited abdominal torsion in a dosedependent manner.…”

Bioactivity and potential therapeutic benefits of some medicinal plants from the Caatinga (semi-arid) vegetation of Northeast Brazil: a review of the literature

“…More specifically, the anti-inflammatory and cicatrizing effects from the aqueous extract of A. occidentale were shown by the clinical evaluation of patients with skin injury or mucosa lesions such as oral or vulva erosion, uterus inflammation and body ulceration (Lopes et al, 2003). Several further investigations were carried out to determine possible mechanisms involved in antiinflammatory properties from A. occidentale (Olajide et al, 2004;Vanderlinde et al, 2009).…”