Anti-Inflammatory Potentials of Anacardium Occidentale L. Nut Methanol Extract in Wistar Rats.

The Anacardium occidentale nut is increasingly gaining attention due to its economic, nutritional value and biological properties. This study is aimed at evaluating the anti-inflammatory potential of Anacardium occidentale nut Methanol extract (AOME) in carrageenan-induced paw oedema and the carrageenan-induced air pouch models of inflammation. AOME (200 mg/kg) significantly (p<0.05) inhibited carrageenan-induced increase in paw volume and increase in paw size, respectively, at 5 hours post-carrageenan injection. In the carrageenan induced air pouch inflammation model, 200 mg/kg AOME significantly (P<0.05) reduced exudate volume, Total leucocyte count, Neutrophil cell count, Monocyte count and Lymphocyte count.  200 mg/kg AOME also reduced significantly MDA, Nitrite, TNF-α, IL-6, and significantly increased GSH and catalase levels. Anacardium occidentale nuts showed anti-inflammatory effects through reduction in lipid peroxidation and TNF-α and IL-6 activity, alongside amelioration of oxidative stress.