Genotoxicity evaluation of a traditional herbal formulation with Anacardium occidentale bark

The medicinal plant Anacardium occidentale L. stem bark, commonly known as cashew bark, is traditionally used in the Community of Portuguese Language Speaking Countries (CPLP) due to its anti-inflammatory, antidiarrheal and antidiabetic activities. The genotoxicity of (hydro)ethanolic or methanolic extracts of different parts of this medicinal plant has been evaluated. Yet, no study has evaluated the genotoxicity of a traditional recipe obtained from the cashew stem bark.

In this study the genotoxic potential of a cashew stem bark decoction was evaluated in vivo by the Comet assay. Mice were orally administered with three doses (40.2, 127, 402mg/kg/day) of the traditional recipe of two types of A. occidentale (red and white) and with water as control. At the end of the study period, 14 days, the animals were sacrificed and collected blood/PBS samples were used in the assay. The nucleoids were immediately evaluated after staining.

The analysis of the results obtained with the in vivo Comet assay revealed that tested concentrations were genotoxic (P<0.001). The anacardic acids, the compounds claimed to be responsible for the antidiabetic traditional therapeutic use, have been shown to not produce any mutagenic effects. Yet, in our traditional recipe of both types of A. occidentale (red and white) these compounds are scarce.