Anti-inflammatory and wound healing potential of cashew apple juice (Anacardium occidentale L.) in mice

Abstract

Cashew apple is a tropical pseudofruit consumed as juice due to its excellent nutritional and sensory properties. In spite of being well known for its important antioxidant properties, the cashew apple has not been thoroughly investigated for its therapeutic potential. Thereby, this study evaluated the antioxidant capacity, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing activities of cashew apple juice. Juices from ripe and immature cashew apples were analyzed for antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing properties. Those were evaluated in murine models of xylene-induced ear edema and wound excision. Swiss mice were treated with cashew juice by gavage. Edema thickness was measured and skin lesions were analyzed by planimetry and histology. Both antioxidant content and total antioxidant activity were higher in ripe cashew apple juice (RCAJ) than in unripe cashew apple juice (UNCAJ). The UNCAJ presented the main anti-inflammatory activity by a significant inhibition of ear edema (66.5%) when compared to RCAJ (10%). Moreover, UNCAJ also showed the best result for wound contraction (86.31%) compared to RCAJ (67.54%). Despite of higher antioxidant capacity, RCAJ did not promote better anti-inflammatory, and healing responses, which may be explained by the fact that treatment increased antioxidants level leading to a redox ''imbalance'' turning down the inflammatory response modulation exerted by reactive oxygen species (ROS). The results suggest that UNCAJ presents a greater therapeutic activity due to a synergistic effect of its phytochemical components, which improve the immunological mechanisms as well as an optimal balance between ROS and antioxidants leading to a better wound healing process.

Wound healing activity of Streptocaulon juventas root ethanolic extract

“…In the wound healing process, a decrease in inflammation, both in inflammatory cell number and molecular levels (TNF‐α, NF‐κB1 gene expression) at the middle and late stages (usually 7 days after injury or later) has widely been considered an important signal of the healing progress. Many wound healing agents have been reported to have anti‐inflammatory effects . The results of this study strongly suggested that SjREE may contribute to the wound healing process by its anti‐inflammatory function.…”

The Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Anacardium occidentale L. Cashew Nuts in a Mouse Model of Colitis

“…Based on these findings, in this study we demonstrated that oral treatment with cashew nuts was able to significantly reduce lipid peroxidation by MDA levels, nitrotyrosine production, and PARP activation, INOS as well as increased antioxidant MnSOD expression. Previous studies also showed that anacardic acids from cashew nuts reduced oxidative stress by diminishing MDA concentration and increasing the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) and catalase (CAT) enzymatic activity [45] as well as the treatment with cashew apple juice (from Anacardium occidentale L.) augmented antioxidants level inhibiting the inflammatory response exerted by ROS production in mouse models of wound excision and xylene-induced ear edema [46].…”

Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) Nuts Modulate the Nrf2 and NLRP3 Pathways in Pancreas and Lung after Induction of Acute Pancreatitis by Cerulein

“…The most plausible hypothesis is that polyphenolic components of dietary plants modulate the cellular redox state by boosting the endogenous antioxidant defense [ 66 , 67 ]. Recently, cashew nuts were used for their antioxidant, anti-genotoxic, anti-mutagenic, anti-inflammatory, and other protective properties [ 31 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 , 75 ]. In previous studies, we demonstrated that cashew nuts treatment, was able to alleviate oxidative stress and inflammation in different in vivo models, such as dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (DNBS)-induced colitis, carrageenan-induced paw edema, and monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced osteoarthritis.…”