HIGH dose of cashew stem bark extract has been shown to produce a 100 protection against death from sepsis. Sepsis is a systemic response to infection, which causes organ failure and death in severe cases.
Researchers have also demonstrated how a combination of the nutshell oil of cashew has shown potent anti-fungal activities.
Cashew is scientifically known as Anacardium occidentale and belongs to the plant family Anacardiaceae. The French calls it acajou and the Portugues cajueiro. In Nigeria
However, probably because the colonial masters introduced cashew into the country, it's known in other Nigerian languages as pronounced- the Igbo's call it kachu.
Nigerian researchers in a study titled "Effects of Anacardium occidentale stem bark extract on in vivo inflammatory models" evaluated the methanol extract of Anacardium occidentale stem bark for activities against the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced septic shock, as well as LPS-induced microvascular permeability in mice.
The researchers include Olumayokun A. Olajide, Mutallib A. Aderogba, Aduragbenro D.A. Adedapo and Janet M. Makinde, from the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine , University of Ibadan , Oyo State and the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Obafemi Awolowo University , Ile-Ife, Osun State
Septic shock is an often fatal condition that results from severe infections, most often caused by Gram-negative bacteria including Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella and Bacteroides species. Gram-positive bacterial infections can also lead to septic shock particularly those caused by Staphylococcus aureus and the Pneumococci.
The bacterial infections can be acquired via the usual routes-ingestion of contaminated food or water-but can also result as a consequence of surgical procedures including catherisation and implantation of prosthetic devices. In addition, patients with depressed immune function-for example, cancer chemotherapy patients-are also susceptible to overwhelming bacterial infections, which a patient with a normal immune system could handle easily.
The sequence of events that evolves into septic shock is initiated by the release of large quantities of a bacterial endotoxin into the blood stream in the case of Gram-negative organisms or of the release of a comparable product-cell wall substances-in the case of Gram-positive bacteria, yeast and fungal infections. The bacterial endotoxin is a component of the bacterial cell wall. The active part of the endotoxin is an LPS.
The study indicates that pre-treatment with Anacardium occidentale extract (25-200 mg/kg) caused a dose-dependent and significant reduction in the elevated levels of alanine and aspartate aminotransferases in the sera of d-galactosamine-primed mice injected with LPS. Alanine is a non-essential amino acid and is used by the body to build protein. D-Galactosamine is an amino sugar with unique hepatotoxic (liver toxic) properties in animals.
The highest dose of the extract studied (200 mg/kg) produced a 100 per cent protection against death from sepsis. Pentoxifylline (100 mg/kg) - A drug used to prevent blood clotting and as an investigational treatment that may help reduce weight loss in cancer patients- and L-NAME (5 mg/kg)-patients randomised to supportive care alone- offered 100 per cent protection against LPS-induced septic shock and produced marked reduction in elevated levels of transferases- are enzymes that transfer a group (example a methyl or glycosyl group) from one compound (which is generally regarded as the donor) to another compound (generally regarded as the acceptor).
Pentoxifylline, L-NAME and the extract also produced a dose-related inhibition of LPS-induced microvascular permability in mice.
In another study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, "Antifungal Compounds from Anarcadium occidentale", by Consolacion Y. Ragasaa, Dodee Borjaa, Raquelle Bassiga and John A. Rideoutb of the Chemistry Department, De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines and School of Chemical and Biomedical Sciences Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia the nutshell oil of Anacardium occidentale, commonly known as kasoy afforded mixtures of anacardic acids and cardols in varying degrees of unsaturation.
Their structures were elucidated by extensive 1D and 2D NMR- Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy most commonly known as NMR spectroscopy is the name given to the technique which exploits the magnetic properties of certain nuclei- and high resolution mass spectrometry. The anacardic acids were identified as 1a (50 per cent), 1b (17 per cent) and 1c (33 per cent), while the cardols were identified as 2a (80 per cent) and 2b (20 per cent).
Small amounts of mono-, di- and triunsaturated seventeen-carbon side-chain analogues of sample 1, and bilobol, the monounsaturated analogue of sample 2, were also observed by mass spectrometry.
The mixture of 1a, 1b, and 1c indicated slight activity against Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and moderate activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Candida albicans, T. mentagrophytes and Aspergillus niger niger
Previous studies indicate that eating cashew fruit, nuts and extract of the leaves and bark may be the key to beating high blood pressure, thrush, tooth and gum disease, diabetes, diarrhoea, dysentery and haemorrhoids.
A study published last year indicates that eating a diet rich in cashew nuts improves the sensitivity of a key reflex for maintaining healthy blood pressure known as the baroreflex. It has also been shown that gram positive bacteria, which cause tooth decay, acne, tuberculosis, and leprosy are killed by chemicals in cashew nuts, cashew apples, and cashew shell oil.
Indeed, cashew's antimicrobial properties were first documented in a 1982 in vitro study. In 1999, another study was published indicating it has good in vitro antibacterial activity against E. coli and Pseudomonas.
Until now, cashew leaf tea is employed in Nigeria
He said that the fruit was taken for syphilis and as a diuretic, stimulant, and aphrodisiac. "A leaf tea is prepared as a mouthwash and gargle for mouth ulcers, tonsillitis, and throat problems and is used for washing wounds," Onyeka added.
The homeopath further stated that an infusion and/or maceration of the bark is used to treat diabetes, weakness, muscular debility, urinary disorders and asthma. He continued: "The leaves and/or the bark is also used for eczema, psoriasis, scrofula, dyspepsia, genital problems and venereal diseases, as well as for impotence, bronchitis, cough, intestinal colic, leishmaniasis and syphilis-related skin disorders. Cashew is also used for diabetes, coughs, bronchitis, tonsillitis, intestinal colic, and diarrhoea, and as a general tonic."
The bark according to an encyclopaedia, Useful Plants of Tropical West Africa by H. M Burkil has astringent properties. "It contains nine to 21 per cent tannin and is used in tanning. Bark and leave infusions are used to relieve toothache and sore gums and are taken internally for dysenteric conditions. The bark is used in Lagos
According to Burkhil, the bark-infusion is taken for urethral discharge and with Manilkara obovata (Sapotaceae) a decoction is used to treat women's stomach pains. Oral administration of a tincture or extract of bark, according to Burkhil lowers blood-sugar level within 15 minutes of ingestion and continues for some hours.
Extracts have been shown ineffective in antibiotic tests and insecticidally. "The young leaves can be eaten. Mature leaves are rich in tannin (23 per cent) and are used for their astringent properties as in the bark. The young leaves are used for dysentry, diarrhoea and haemorrhoids among other diseases. The sap may be expressed and taken for diarrhoea. A trace of alkaloid has been reported present in the leaves."
The Encyclopaedia suggests that before becoming ripe the fruit is highly astringent. It reads: "When ripe, a slight astringent remains, but it is edible, and the juice is pleasantly thirst quenching. It is rich in sugars and vitamins, especially Vitamin C. The fruit can be made into jam and preserves. It is sold in markets for food and medicine, sun-dried or reduced to a syrup endowed with the attributes of a general panacea, an aphrodisiac, stimulant, strengthener and elixir of longevity."
Phytochemical analysis indicates that in addition to being delicious, cashew fruit is a rich source of vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients. It has been shown to have up to five times more Vitamin C than oranges and contains a high amount of mineral salts. Volatile compounds present in the fruit include esters, terpenes and carboxylic acids.
The bark and leaves of cashew are a rich source of tannins, a group of plant chemicals with documented biological activity. These tannins, in a 1985 rat study, demonstrated anti-inflammatory and astringent effects, which may be why cashew is effective in treating diarrhoea. Anacardic acids are found in cashew with their highest concentration in the nutshells. Several clinical studies have shown that these chemicals curb the darkening effect of ageing by inhibiting tyrosinase activity and that they are toxic to certain cancer cells.
A 2001 study reported that a bark extract exhibited in vitro antimicrobial activity against 13 of 15 micro-organisms tested. In 1999, researchers reported that cashew fruit exhibited antibacterial activity against the Gram-negative bacterium Helicobacter pylori, which is now considered to cause acute gastritis and stomach ulcers. Its effectiveness against leishmanial ulcers also was documented in two clinical studies.
Finally, two studies (one in mice and the other in rats) in 1989 and 1998 document the protective quality of a leaf extract against lab-induced diabetes, although the extract did not act as hypoglycaemic as some others, it did stabilise blood glucose levels near pre-test levels.
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