Background
Cashew leaves are leaves of the cashew tree. They are oval with fine pronounced veins and midribs. Each leaf is 10 to 20cm long, by 7 to 12cm in width. Cashew leaves are botanically classified as Anacardium Occidentale. Cashew leaves are best eaten when they are young and are a purplish green at the tips and a brighter green on the bottom. When young, the leaves have a texture like hard spinach. They have a tangy and astringent taste. Cashew leave is consumed in Nigeria and other parts of the world as a refreshing drink and used for culinary purposes. Cashew leaves are used medicinally in several cultures. In Africa, it is used to treat diabetes and malaria. In Java, it is used as a paste to treat skin conditions.
Methods
Twenty (20) male wistar rats of average weight of 172.6g ± 4.8 (Means ± S.E.M) were assigned to a control group (A) and test group (B, C and D, E). They were administrated with varying ethanolic concentrations (200 to 800mg/kg) of the extract for 28days daily. On day 29, all rats were sacrificed by cranial-spinal dislocation. The kidney, liver and small intestine were excised, grossed, and fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin solution for 48hrs prior to histological processing. Sections were obtained at 3–5 microns and stained with hematoxylin and Eosin and Periodic Acid Schiff solution for light microscopy.
Results
The acute toxicity of Anacardium Occidentale dose (L.D50) tolerable by the rat is 4,525mg/kg body weight. No changes were observed grossly and histologically. However, the empirical measurement showed significant reduction in weight in low dose treated animals (group B and C) and negligible weight loss in high dose (Group D and E) treated animals. The histopathology of the Kidney, Liver and Small intestine after the administration of Anacardium Occidentale leaves extract, showed no toxic effects exerted on the wistar rat.
Conclusion
This study suggests that since there is no toxic effect exerted on the Kidney, Liver and Small intestine, Anacardium Occidentale leave remains suitable for consumption (as a pleasure drink, for culinary purposes, in delicacies or for therapeutic use).
