Biochemical Changes in Non-Diabetic and Diabetic Wistar Rats with the Administration of Stem-Bark Extract of Anacardium occidentale Linn (Cashew)

In this study, forty-eight presumably healthy Wistar rats of both sexes weighing between 150160g were used. The animals were divided into two groups (N and D). Diabetes was induced with 65mg/kg body weight of streptozotocin intraperitoneally in group D animals. Diabetes was confirmed after 72 hours of induction using a glucometer. Anacardium occidentale Linn stembark was extracted using the method described by Ugochukwu and Babady (2003).The diabetic and non-diabetic rats were randomly divided into four parallel groups of six rats each. The control groups received normal saline orally daily while the other groups received varied oral doses of the stem-bark extract daily. After 28 days of treatment, the animals were anaesthetized. Blood samples for analysis was collected via cardiac puncture. Results revealed that the alcoholic stem-bark extract of Anacardium occidentale Linn was able to increase insulin levels significantly (p <0.05) in diabetic rats in a dose dependent manner but had no effect on the normal rats. The extract did not seem to have any deleterious effect on the serum activities of liver enzymes and urea, electrolyte and creatinine concentrations of non-diabetic rats and so may be a good alternative in diabetic management if adequately explored. (