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Evaluation of the Effect of Anacardium Occidentale Cashew Apple Juice on Kidney of Gentamicin Induced Injury in Albino Rats

Research Article | DOI: https://doi.org/10.31579/2768-0487/100

Evaluation of the Effect of Anacardium Occidentale Cashew Apple Juice on Kidney of Gentamicin Induced Injury in Albino Rats

  • Joseph Oyepata Simeon 1*
  • Joseph Opeyemi Tosin 2
  • Sabastine Aliyu Zubairu 3

1 Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University, Oye–Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria.

2 Department of Pharmacy, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.

3 Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Gombe State University, Gombe State, Nigeria.

*Corresponding Author: Joseph Oyepata Simeon, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University, Oye–Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria.

Citation: Joseph O. Simeon., Joseph O. Tosin., Sabastine A. Zubairu. (2023), Evaluation of the Effect of Anacardium Occidentale Cashew Apple Juice on Kidney of Gentamicin Induced Injury in Albino Rats, Journal of Clinical and Laboratory Research. 6(1); DOI:10.31579/2768-0487/100

Copyright: © 2023, Joseph Oyepata Simeon. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Received: 13 April 2023 | Accepted: 27 April 2023 | Published: 10 May 2023

Keywords: anacardium occidentale; cashew apple; kidney; paracetamol; rats; blood

Abstract

Background and Objective: With worldwide research in ethnopharmacology, some herbal medicines have been translated into modern remedies. There are many forms in which herbs can be administered. Anacardium occidentale is a plant with several benefits.  The aim of this work is to Evaluate the effect of Anacardium occidentale cashew apple juice on kidney of Gentamicin Induced Injury in Albino Rats.

Method: For this study, a total of thirty rats were employed. The positive control in Group 1 was given saline as usual. Groups 3, 4, and 5 each received 10, 20, and 40 ml/kg of the extract, whereas Group 2 received normal saline for eight days. Animals in groups 2 through 5 received gentamicin 100 mg/kg bw orally on the eighth (8th) day. On the ninth day, 20 hours after the previous dose, all animals were weighed once more and sacrificed using diethylether. 

Result: When compared to the paracetamol group, the extract significantly (P less than 0.05) raised RBC, PCV, Hb, platelet, and WBC values. When compared to the gentamicin group, there was no significant improvement in the weight to body size ratio of rats in the extracts group (P less than 0.05) when compared to the gentamicin group. The levels of urea were significantly improved (P less than 0.05) while creatinine level did not significantly reduce when compared to gentamicin group. Additionally, histological study supports biochemical parameters.

Conclusion: The findings imply that Anacardium occidentale cashew apple may be useful in managing some renal disorders as well as protecting the kidney against some hazardous pollutants.

Introduction

In general, plants with savory or fragrant traits that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, for medical purposes, or for fragrances are referred to as herbs. This excludes vegetables and other plants ingested for macronutrients (1). The cashew seed and the cashew apple accessory fruit are produced by the cashew tree (Anacardium occidentale), an evergreen tropical tree (1-2). The tree can reach a height of 14 m (46 ft), although dwarf varieties, which can only reach 6 m (20 ft), are more productive and yield more money. The cashew seed is frequently used as a snack nut (cashew nut) and can be consumed on its own, cooked with other ingredients, or made into cashew cheese or cashew butter. The nut is frequently referred to simply as cashew, like the tree (3-5). Tree nut proteins, which are frequently left behind or unaffected by cooking, are what cause cashew allergies. The kidney- or boxing-glove-shaped drupe that develops at the end of the cashew apple is the actual fruit of the cashew tree. The cashew apple forms after the pedicel expands from the developing drupe on the tree (6-9). The actual fruit only has one seed, which is frequently referred to as a nut in the sense of food. A double shell comprised of the allergenic phenolic resin anacardia acid surrounds the seed. Anacardia acid shares a chemical affinity with the more notorious and toxic allergic oil urushiol, which is found in related poison ivy and lacquer tree species and is a potent skin irritant (10-12). It is thought that medicinal plants are a significant source of novel chemicals with potential therapeutic benefits (13-16). The cashew tree (A. occidentale) belongs to the Anacardiaceous genus of flowering plants. There are 600 species in the family, divided among 73 genera. Eight species of Anacardium, all endemic to tropical America, are present, with the cashew being by far the most economically significant. It is an Amazonian tree with multiple uses that can reach heights of 15 meters (17). It has a thick, twisted trunk and tangled branches that frequently touch the ground. The cashew tree yields a variety of materials and goods. The leaves and bark have therapeutic uses. The cashew nut is popular worldwide and has a high market value as food. Due to its high phenol content, even the oil in the nut's shell is utilized medicinally and has industrial uses in the plastics and resin sectors (18). The pseudo-fruit, which is a sizable pulpy and juicy portion, is also known as the cashew fruit or the  cashew apple and has a great sweet flavor.  The Wayapi tribe of Guyana uses cashew leaf and bark tea as a douche for vaginal discharge and a typical diarrhea treatment, as do the Tikinia in northwest Amazona and the Peruvian herbal medicine (19–23). Skin conditions associated with syphilis, such as eczema, psoriasis, scrofula, dyspepsia, genital problems, bronchitis, coughing, intestinal colic, and leishmaniasis are some conditions it is used to treat in Brazil. Europeans used Brazil cashew fruit and juice to heal fever, freshen breath, and "conserve the stomach" in the sixteenth century. It is used as a diuretic, stimulant, and aphrodisiac in addition to treating syphilis (24). The cashew fruit is not only delicious but also a great source of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. It includes a significant number of mineral salts and up to five times as much vitamin C as oranges. Cashew fruit is used as a catalyst in the treatment of early aging of the skin because of its high level of vitamin C and mineral salts (25). Anacardiac acid is a component of cashews, with the highest concentration in the nutshells (27). Several clinical studies have shown that anacardiac acid is present in cashews, with the highest concentration in the nutshells (28-32). Tyrosinase activity inhibits the ageing process by darkening skin, and anacardiac acid is toxic to some cancer cells (33-35). However, dietary anacardic acid has the potential to reduce body fat deposition for dietary conditions. The interest in medicinal plants has grown over the past 20 years, and so has the number of studies into how they affect both humans and animals biologically. Even though hazardous plants are common, up to 80 percentage of people in impoverished nations use herbal therapy (36). Brazil also uses the leaves and/or bark to treat eczema, psoriasis, scrofula, dyspepsia, genital issues, and venereal diseases as well as impotence, bronchitis, cough, intestinal colic, leishmaniasis, and skin conditions linked to syphilis. Additionally, against the hepatocarcinogenesis brought on by aflatoxin B1 in Winstar rats, a considerable antioxidant capability was seen (37). According to preclinical research, cashew tree bark metabolites showed an antipyretic effect for anacardic acid (38).  Using vegetable oil derived from cashew nuts, scientists performed mutagenic studies on Salmonella thyphimurium, which demonstrated mutagenicity with or without the activation of the S9 portion (39).  It has been established that the tannic acid in cashews inhibits the Salmonella thyphimurium TA98 lineage's ability to mutate. The bark and leaves of the cashew tree are a rich source of tannins, a group of plant chemicals with documented biological effects (40). Numerous clinical investigations have demonstrated that tannins have the ability to treat some cancer cells as well as slow the darkening effects of age by decreasing tyrosinase activity (41-42). The aim of this work is to Evaluate the effect of Anacardium occidentale cashew apple juice on kidney of Gentamicin Induced Injury in Albino Rats.

Materials and Method:

Plants collection Fresh Anacardium occidentale fruit were harvested from the adjacent Oye village in Ekiti State, Nigeria, which is the plant's natural habitat. The Department of Botany at Federal University in Ekiti State, Nigeria, verified the authenticity of the plant. A voucher number of FUFP 3001 was assigned

Extraction

The orange-reddish cashew apple plant material was collected in Nigeria's Ekiti State's Oye Local Government. In a lab setting, cashew apple fruits were peeled, sliced, and crushed. The juice was then extracted from the resulting mash using a press.

Animals

Adult albino rats, both male and female, were bought from the Bingham University animal sanctuary. They were fed typical animal pellets and had unrestricted access to water. Animal research were permitted and approved by the College of Health Sciences Animal Ethics committee at Federal University in Oye Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria.

Animal treatment

For this study, a total of thirty rats were employed. The positive control in Group 1 was given saline as usual. While groups 3, 4, and 5 received 10, 20, and 40 ml/kg of the extract, respectively, groups 2 received normal saline. Groups 2-6 received gentamicin 100mg/kg bw daily for 8 days while also receiving the aforementioned medication. All animals were weighed again and sacrificed under low diethyl ether vapor 24 hours following the previous dose. 

Hematological study:

After the rats were slain under diethylether anesthesia, blood samples from each one was drawn and placed into EDTA-coated sample bottles for analysis. The blood samples were drawn using 21-gauge (21 G) needles mounted on a 5 ml syringe. Full blood count (FBC), hemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), platelet concentration (PLC), total and differential white blood cell count are hematological measures (WBC). The automated hematology system was used to examine these parameters.

Chempathology analysis

The remaining blood was drawn into a clear bottle, allowed to coagulate, and then centrifuged at 300 rpm for 10 minutes. The collected serum was used to estimate several biochemical parameters.

Histological study

A portion of each kidney was surgically removed, weighed, and fixed in 10% formaldehyde for histology processing.

Statistical analysis

The mean and standard error of the mean were used to express the data (SEM). One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to statistically assess the data before Dunnett's post hoc test.

Result:

Effect of A. occidentale fruit juice on gentamicin-induced toxicity's haematological parameters

Compared to the, organotoxic group, the fruit juice extract from Anacardium occidentale significantly increased (P less than 0.05) the levels of RBC, WBC, PCV, platelets, and eosinophils. Additionally, gentamicin did not significantly change the level of hemoglobin. (Table 1).

Effect of A. occidentale fruit juice on body weight ratio of gentamicin induced toxicity

When compared to the paracetamol group, there was no significant improvement in the weight to body size ratio of rats in the extracts group (P less than 0.05) (Table 2).

Effect of A. occidentale fruit juice on kidney parameters of gentamicin induced toxicity

The levels of urea were significantly improved (P less than 0.05) while creatinine level did not significantly reduce when compared to paracetamol group (Table 2).

Table 1: Effect of A. occidentale fruit juice on haematological parameters of paracetamol induced toxicity.

*Significantly different from the distilled water (DW) control at p<0 xss=removed xss=removed xss=removed xss=removed xss=removed xss=removed xss=removed xss=removed xss=removed xss=removed xss=removed xss=removed xss=removed xss=removed>

Table 2: Effect of A. occidentale fruit juice on body weight ratio of gentamicin induced toxicity

Table 3: Effect of A. occidentale fruit juice on kidney parameters of gentamicin induced toxicity

Figure 1: Histological sections of Kidneys of rats treated with Normal saline 10 ml/kg (1), Gent 100 mg/kg (2), Gent 100mg/kg and AO 10ml bw (3) and Gent100 mg/kg and AO 20 (4), Gent 100 mg/kg and AO 40 (5), at magnification A (x100) and B(x400)) stained with H&E Technique.

Discussion

In general, plants with savory or fragrant traits that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, for medical purposes, or for fragrances are referred to as herbs. This excludes vegetables and other plants ingested for macronutrients. Vitamin C, antioxidants (41), and sugars (42) are all abundant in cashew apple juice. Brazil, India, Nigeria, and other countries eat a lot of it. In processed meals, cashew apple juice has the potential to serve as a natural supply of sugar and vitamin C. Although cashew apple juice has been used for many years for therapeutic and recreational purposes, little research has been done on its capacity to preserve the body's systems. For both humans and animals, hematological characteristics are significant indicators of the physiological and pathological status [43-46]. While there were no changes in the value of WBC, anacardium occidentale significantly increased the values of RBC, PCV, Hb, and monocytes. Red blood cells and the elements that affect them are important indicators for assessing circulatory erythrocytes, important in the diagnosis of anemia, and also helpful indicators of the ability of mammalian bone marrow to manufacture RBC (47–48). The considerable increase in RBC and PCV after administration of A. occidentalis may be a clue that the juice extract of the plant stimulates erythropoiesis. The rate of erythropoietin release in the kidney, the humoral regulator of RBC production, may have increased or been stopped from decreasing by the extract A platelet count can be used to diagnose a number of illnesses and conditions that may interfere with blood clot formation (49–50). It could be applied as a component of the examination for a bone marrow condition, excessive clotting disorder, or bleeding disorder (51). When anything prompts the bone marrow to produce an excessive number of platelets, a high platelet count might result (52–54). It is referred to as primary or essential thrombocytosis when there is no recognized cause. Secondary thrombocytosis is the term used to describe extra platelets brought on by an illness or another condition (55–56). A person is at risk of experiencing heavy bleeding if they have a low platelet count, which can make it difficult for the blood to clot. The cause might be a genetic propensity to create insufficient platelets, but it could also be undetermined. Other times, an underlying medical problem is at blame (57). In this study, gentamicin-induced thrombocytopenia was reduced in all groups by cashew fruit juice.

An aminoglycoside antibiotic called gentamicin is frequently used to treat bacterial infections, particularly those brought on by aerobic Gram-negative bacilli (58). Clinically, its nephrotoxicity is a serious problem (59-60). According to estimates, more than one-third of patients receiving gentamicin for a prolonged period of time (at least 7 days) exhibit symptoms of renal impairment (61). Gentamicin's renal toxicity plays a role in its capacity to trigger apoptosis in renal tissue. Mesangial cells and renal proximal tubule cells are the principal sites of gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity (62-63). When gentamicin interacts with mitochondria, oxidative stress results, which triggers necrosis and apoptosis (64). Gentamicin causes tubular damage with the loss of the epithelial cells' brush-like edge. Without treatment, acute tubular necrosis results from tubular damage (65). Serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels, as well as histopathologic and morphometric assays, can be used to assess the renal damage caused by gentamicin. In the current study, paracetamol toxic group (group 2) rats who received a nephrotoxic dose of the drug had significantly higher serum levels of urea and creatinine than the control group. These findings concur with those made by Simeon et al (60) who observed that rats given 1 g/kg b.w. of paracetamol had higher blood urea and creatinine levels. The increase in urea and creatinine levels was explained by the presence of a substantial association between nephrotoxicity and oxidative stress by Oyepata et al. (66) and Opeyemi et al. (67). The increased synthesis of H2O2 and O2 changes the filtration surface area and filtration coefficient, which both have the potential to reduce glomerular filtration and cause an accumulation of urea and creatinine in the blood (63). When compared to the normal group, the paracetamol control group (group 1) had significantly higher potassium and salt concentrations than the normal group (group 2). In the groups who got A. occidentale, this effect was markedly reduced. This outcome is consistent with the findings of Sebastine et al. (67), who noted elevated potassium (K+) and sodium (Na+) levels in rats given gentamicin. A useful predictor of renal function is the serum creatinine levels. In this investigation, the extract of A. occidentale was employed as a potential repair agent against toxicity brought on by gentamicin, a drug known to be toxic to the kidneys. The dried fruit of A. occidentale has been reported to contained alkaloids, tannins, anthraquinones, glycosides, and phenols in both the ethanol and the aqueous extracts (65-69). The abundance of secondary metabolites in medicinal plants has been linked to their pharmacological activities (70-73). Generally speaking, plants create a large number of secondary metabolites, which are a significant source of microbicides, antioxidants, insecticides, and many pharmaceutical medications (74-76). Histological analysis is congruent with hematological and biochemical indicators.

Conclusion

The findings imply that Anacardium occidentale cashew apple may be useful in managing some renal disorders as well as protecting the kidney against some hazardous pollutants.

Author’s contributions: JOS, JOT conceptualized and designed the study; JOS, JOT and SAZ carried out the experiments. JOS, JOT and SAZ- Writing of the article. The entire study was supervised by JOS. All authors read the manuscript and approved its submission.

Conflict of Interest:

Authors declare that there is no conflict of interest

Acknowledgement

The authors of this work wish to thank everyone who has contributed to the success of this work.

References

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