Authors
Fusco, R., Siracusa, R., Peritore, A. F., Gugliandolo, E., Genovese, T., D'Amico, R., Cordaro, M., Crupi, R., Mandalari, G., Impellizzeri, D., Cuzzocrea, S., & Di Paola, R.
Journal
Antioxidants (Special Issue Antioxidants in Chronic Pain)
Abstract
Osteoarthritis is a progressive joint disease characterized by the activation of different molecular mediators, including proinflammatory cytokines, reactive oxygen species, metalloproteinases and nociceptive mediators. Anacardium occidentale L. is a medicinal plant with anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study we evaluate the effects of cashew nuts (from Anacardium occidentale L.) oral administration on an experimental model of painful degenerative joint disease. Monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) was intraarticularly injected, and cashew nuts were orally administered three times per week for 21 days, starting the third day after MIA injection. Nociception was evaluated by a Von Frey filament test, and motor function by walking track analysis at 3, 7, 14 and 21 days after osteoarthritis. Histological and biochemical alteration were examined at the end of the experiment. Cashew nuts administration reduced pain-like behavior and showed antioxidant activities, restoring biochemical serum parameters: glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT) levels, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity and lipid peroxidation. Moreover, cashew nuts ameliorated radiographic and histological alteration, resulting in decreased cartilage degradation, pro-inflammatory cytokines and metalloproteinases levels and mast cells recruitment. Our results demonstrated that the oral assumption of cashew nuts counteracts the inflammatory and oxidative process involved in osteoarthritis.
Please click here for the full research article.
More health research articles
Anacardic acid (AA), a compound extracted from cashew nut liquid, exhibits numerous pharmacological activities. The aim of the current investigation was to assess the anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, and antioxidant activities of AA in mouse models.
Anacardium plants have received increasing recognition due to its nutritional and biological properties. A number of secondary metabolites are present in its leaves, fruits, and other parts of the plant. Among the diverse Anacardium plants' bioactive effects, their antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer activities comprise those that have gained more attention.
Cashew nuts administration reduced pain-like behavior and showed antioxidant activities, restoring biochemical serum parameters: glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT) levels, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity and lipid peroxidation. Results demonstrated that the oral assumption of cashew nuts counteracts the inflammatory and oxidative process involved in osteoarthritis.
In an experimental model of colitis, cashew nuts were able to alleviate the clinical signs, histological damage, neutrophil infiltration, oxidative stress, the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, TNF-α, as well as to reduce iNOS, ICAM-1, and P-selectin expressions likely through the inhibition of ROS induced-NF-kB activation and increased antioxidant capacity. Thus, the administration of cashew nuts could have beneficial action for the treatment of IBD.
Cashew allergenicity was found to significantly decrease with fermentation of all the end-product types. For consumers concerned about allergic reactions to cashew nuts, these results suggested that a safer option is for products to be made by fermentation.
Coronary bypass operations are commonly performed for the treatment of ischemic heart diseases. Coronary artery bypass surgery with autologous human saphenous vein maintains its importance as a commonly used therapy for advanced atherosclerosis.
Anacardium plants are native to the American tropical regions, and Anacardium occidentale L. (cashew tree) is the most recognized species of the genus. These species contain rich secondary metabolites in their leaf and shoot powder, fruits and other parts that have shown diverse applications.
The cashew tree (Anacardium occidentale) is a tropical evergreen tree largely cultivated in Brazil, which produces the cashew apple, a peduncle rich in carbohydrates and considered an industrial waste of the nut production. Until now, there were no data available about the chemical structure of cell wall polysaccharides found in cashew apple. In this work, its pectic polysaccharides have been characterized through monosaccharide composition, HPSEC, methylation and 13C and 1H/13C HSQC-DEPT-NMR analyses.
Consumption of 1.5 servings of cashew nuts/d, the amount associated with the FDA qualified health claim for tree nuts and cardiovascular disease, did not positively or adversely affect any of the primary risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Cashews, as the main source of monounsaturated (MUFAs) and polyunsaturated (PUFAs) fatty acids, are associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases. Daily consumption of cashews reduced serum insulin and LDL-C/HDL-C ratio in patients with T2DM.