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Anti-arthritic and Safety Pharmacological Effects of Gum Extract from Anacardium occidentale in Rats

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Abstract

The antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of a polysaccharide-free extract of the cashew gum obtained from Anacardium occidentale L., Anacardiaceae, in a chronic model of complete Freund’s adjuvant-induced arthritis were investigated, as well as the possible adverse effects caused by continued administration of this extract. The cashew gum extract was obtained after the precipitation and removal of polysaccharides using acetone. The chemical characterization of this extract was performed with liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry analyses. In the complete Freund’s adjuvant-induced arthritis model, the experimental groups (number = 8) were orally treated once daily for 15 days with vehicle (5 ml/kg) or extract (75 mg/kg). Pain, edema joint, and cell migration to synovial fluid were assessed. Alterations in the body weight and organ weight of the animals were evaluated and histopathological analyses of the stomach, liver, and kidney were performed. Liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry basically identified and quantified seven anacardic acids as the predominant constituents of the extract. The polysaccharide-free cashew gum reduced the prostration, joint edema, and migration of polymorphonuclear cells; in addition, this extract did not alter body or organ weight. The histopathological analysis showed promoted gastroprotective and hepatoprotective effects against damage caused by adjuvant injection. These findings support the use of cashew gum in popular medicine and demonstrate that part of its effects is independent of the presence of polysaccharides, evidencing its therapeutic potential for the future development of new analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs.

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Funding

Financial support was provided by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (MCTI/CTBIOTEC/CNPq No. 29/2013) and Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (2019OB814241).

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Contributions

DPBS designed and carried the pharmacological assays and drafted the manuscript. IFF, LKSM, CSC, JOF, and PCG designed and carried the pharmacological assays. KAB and MAPJ carried the identification, collection of plant material, and preparation of extracts. KFF conceived the study and carried the identification, collection of plant material, and preparation of the extracts. BGV conceived the study and carried out the chemical analysis. MRF performed the chemical analysis. MMG carried out the histopathological analyzes. FCAS conceived the study and carried out the histopathological analyses. EAC conceived the study and drafted the manuscript. All the authors critically reviewed the manuscript for important intellectual content and approved its final version.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Daiany Priscilla Bueno da Silva or Elson Alves Costa.

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Animal Ethical Approval

All experiments were performed in compliance with the International Guiding Principles for Biomedical Research Involving Animals. All experimental protocols were developed and approved according to the principles of ethics and animal welfare designated by the Ethics Committee on Animal Use (CEUA) of the Universidade Federal de Goiás (Authorization number: 057/15).

Conflict of Interest

The authors have no competing interests.

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da Silva, D.P.B., Florentino, I.F., da Silva Moreira, L.K. et al. Anti-arthritic and Safety Pharmacological Effects of Gum Extract from Anacardium occidentale in Rats. Rev. Bras. Farmacogn. 31, 75–84 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43450-021-00135-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43450-021-00135-8

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