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Background: Previous findings have supported to the ethnopharmacological use of Anacardium occidentale Linn. in folk medicine. In this study, the toxicity properties and the hypocholesterolemic effect of aqueous extract of Anacardium occidentale Linn. were evaluated in hypercholesterolemic induced rabbits. Methods: Thirty Five male New Zealand White Rabbits were randomly assigned into five groups and fed with normal diet (NC), 0.5% high cholesterol diet (PC), 0.5% high cholesterol diet+10 mg/kg simvastatin (SC), 0.5% high cholesterol diet+100 mg/kg AOE (AOE100) and 0.5% high cholesterol diet+200 mg/kg AOE (AOE200). The study duration was set for 12 weeks. In vitro toxicity study has been performed using brine shrimp lethality test and MTT assay to determine the LC50 and IC50 values respectively while in vivo toxicity study has been evaluated in hypercholesterolemic induced rabbits. Blood samples were withdrawn at week 0 and 12. Results: Supplementation of 0.5% high cholesterol diet caused the elevation of TC, LDL and TG and also significantly rise (p<0.05) the level of liver enzymes compared to the normal control group. For in vitro toxicity screening, extracts demonstrated very low LC50 values and no IC50 value detected. For in vivo hypercholesterolemic induced rabbits, extracts were able to prevent the increment of liver enzymes: gamma-glutamyl transferase, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase compared to positive control group. Conclusion: Aqueous extract of AO found to be not toxic and posses hypocholesterolemic and hepatoprotective effects in hypercholesteromic induced rabbits.

Previous findings have supported to the ethnopharmacological use of Anacardium occidentale Linn. in folk medicine. In this study, the toxicity properties and the hypocholesterolemic effect of aqueous extract of Anacardium occidentale Linn. were evaluated in hypercholesterolemic induced rabbits. Thirty Five male New Zealand White Rabbits were randomly assigned into five groups and fed with normal diet (NC), 0.5% high cholesterol diet (PC), 0.5% high cholesterol diet+10 mg/kg simvastatin (SC), 0.5% high cholesterol diet+100 mg/kg AOE (AOE100) and 0.5% high cholesterol diet+200 mg/kg AOE (AOE200). The study duration was set for 12 weeks. In vitro toxicity study has been performed using brine shrimp lethality test and MTT assay to determine the LC50 and IC50 values respectively while in vivo toxicity study has been evaluated in hypercholesterolemic induced rabbits. Blood samples were withdrawn at week 0 and 12. Supplementation of 0.5% high cholesterol diet caused the elevation of TC, LDL and TG and also significantly rise (p<0.05) the level of liver enzymes compared to the normal control group. For in vitro toxicity screening, extracts demonstrated very low LC 50 values and no IC 50 value detected. For in vivo hypercholesterolemic induced rabbits, extracts were able to prevent the increment of liver enzymes: gammaglutamyl transferase, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase compared to positive control group. Aqueous extract of AO found to be not toxic and posses hypocholesterolemic and hepatoprotective effects in hypercholesteromic induced rabbits.

Oxidative stress has been shown to play important role in the development of various diseases. In this study, researchers investigated the existence of phytochemical constituents of Anacardium occidentale Linn. (AO) leaf and evaluate its in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activities in aqueous extract form. Phytochemical screening of AO was performed according to the standard method while in vitro antioxidant activities were performed via DDPH free radical scavenging and Ferric reducing antioxidant power assay. In vivo antioxidant activities were evaluated in hypercholesterolemic induced adult male New Zealand white rabbits. Phenolic, flavonoids, steroids and triterpenes were found in the leaf of AO. The freeze dried aqueous extract showed no significant different compared to BHT in in vitro antioxidant analysis when assessed using the FRAP assay. Supplementation of aqueous extract of AO (100, 200 mg/kg/day) to the hypercholesterolemic induced rabbits caused a significant decreased (p<0.05) of malondialdehyde and significant increased (p<0.05) of superoxide dismutase and catalase levels at the end of the study period compared to the groups received high cholesterol diet alone. Aqueous extract of AO possess the ability to act as an antioxidant in vitro and in vivo and also was able to increase the level of superoxide dismutase and catalase in experimental hypercholesterolemia. The presence of flavonoids in the extract could be attributed to the antioxidative effect of the plant.