Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) Nuts Counteract Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in an Acute Experimental Model of Carrageenan-Induced Paw Edema

Abstract

Background: Anacardium occidentale L. is a medicinal plant with powerful anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. Acute inflammatory events cause tissue alterations, decrease of anti-oxidative endogenous enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione, neutrophils infiltration, increase in the activities of myeloperoxidase, malondialdehyde, and pro-inflammatory release. Methods: Paw edema was induced by subplantar injection of carrageenan into the right hind paw in rats, but 30 min before a group of animals were orally treated with 100 mg/kg of cashew nuts to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative response. Results: In the present work, we found that (1) cashew nuts reduced the development of carrageenan-induced paw edema limiting the formation of edema and pain; (2) cashew nuts ameliorated the diminutions of the anti-oxidative enzymes caused by carrageenan injection; (3) cashew nuts decreased myeloperoxidase malondialdehyde activity induced by carrageenan; and (4) cashew nuts acted by blocking pro-inflammatory cytokines response and nitrate/nitrite formation stimulated by carrageenan injection. Conclusions: The mechanisms of anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects exerted by cashew nuts were relevant to oxygen free radical scavenging, anti-lipid peroxidation, and inhibition of the formation of inflammatory cytokines.

Antioxidant and Anti‐Inflammatory Effects of Anacardium occidentale L. and Anacardium microcarpum D. Extracts on the Liver of IL‐10 Knockout Mice

“…In this context, various countries have sought to introduce medicinal plants as an integrated and supplementary practice in primary health care. However, although different plants are used in popular medicine, it is estimated that <10% of plants have been investigated in sufficient depth to evaluate their therapeutic properties [ 16 ]. Therefore, A. occidentale and A. microcarpum extracts used in our study already are used in Brazilian traditional medicine for the treatment of infections, throat inflammation, bronchitis, arthritis, intestinal colic, jaundice, diabetes, and asthma [ 50 ].…”

“…Currently, it is known that effective tissue repair occurs by the balance of anti- and proinflammatory mediators and proper vascularization. Prolonged inflammation can result in detrimental tissue injury, and a reduced number of blood vessels can slow down the regeneration process [ 16 ]. So, how our objective was to study the effect of the A. occidentale and A. microcarpum on the hepatic tissue after lesion promoted by paracetamol, and we believed that this animal model is very valid because it allows us to study this pathology condition in extreme conditions, with low vascularization and high profile inflammatory.…”

Hidrox® Counteracts Cyclophosphamide-Induced Male Infertility through NRF2 Pathways in a Mouse Model

“…In recent years, the concept that food can act as medicine is getting more and more support from the scientific community; many illnesses can be prevented or limited with diets abundant in plant foods and low in processed products [ 24 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 ]. For this reason, it is mandatory to continue research to find a possibly natural compound that can protect against CYP-induced oxidative stress while still reducing chemotherapy-related toxicity.…”

Health Benefits Related to Tree Nut Consumption and Their Bioactive Compounds

“…It is believed that the nutrients contained in tree nuts are responsible for their potentially beneficial influence on human health. Numerous in vitro, in vivo, clinical, and epidemiologic studies have associated nut intake with a wide range of health benefits, including the modulation of glucose level [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ] and serum lipids [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ], positive influence on body weight [ 17 , 20 , 21 , 22 ] as well as the intestinal microbiota [ 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ], antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities [ 12 , 13 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 ], and, consequently, protective effect against certain chronic conditions, such as diabetes [ 8 ], obesity [ 20 , 21 ], and cardiovascular diseases [ 19 , 41 ].…”