EFFECT OF METHANOL EXTRACT OF ANARCARDIUM OCCIDENTALE (CASHEW) STEM BARK ON SOME BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF CARBON TETRACHLORIDE-INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY IN RATS

Purpose: Anacardium occidentale (Cashew) has been used by Folk medicines as a remedy for many diseases. In this study, we investigated the ameliorative activity of methanolic stem bark extract of Anacardium occidentale. Methods: Blood samples of the rats from each group were collected by tail bleeding for baseline biochemical test to know the state of the animals’ liver before the inducement of the injury. Thirty (30) Wistar rats were induced with CCl₄ (1.5 ml/kg, b.wt, 20 % CCl₄ / olive oil) for five days before treatment with the extract. After induction, elevated levels of the serum aminotransferases (ALT, AST), ALP and the decreased levels of ALB as compared to the enzyme markers levels before the induction of liver injury with CCl₄ indicated hepatocellular injury. Results: Administration of the methanolic extract of Anacardium occidentale of different concentration (250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg b.wt oral) for five days reversed the impact of CCl₄ toxicity significantly (P<0.05) on the serum markers ALT, AST and ALP of the damaged liver as compared to the negative control groups (groups administered with Normal saline). Treatment with the methanolic extract resulted in decreased levels of ALB in the blood of the rats. Discussion: The results of the study indicated that methanolic extract of Anacardium occidentale bark may possess a liver damaged curative property, which may be attributed to the presence of the phenolic compounds in the extract as shown in the phytochemical screening.