Antioxidant Activities of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Anacardium occidentale (Cashew) on Lead Acetate-Induced Cerebellar Toxicity in Wistar Rats

Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate the antioxidant effect of aqueous leaves extract of Anacardium occidentale (A.O) on lead-induced toxicity in the cerebellum of wistar rats. Methods: Thirty wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups of five rats each. Group A: Normal control received 0.5ml normal saline; group B received 50mg/kg body weight (bwt) lead acetate (Pb) only (28 days); groups C and D: 150mg/kg bwt and 300mg/kg bwt of A.O respectively for 14 days and 50mg/kg bwt of Pb next 14 days; group E: 150 mg/kg bwtA.O and 50 mg/kg bwt Pb (28 days); group F: 300mg/kg bwt A.O and 50 mg/kg bwt Pb (28 days). At the end of the experiment, animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. One hemisphere of the cerebellum was homogenized for estimation of tissue Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and the second hemisphere was processed for histological studies. Results: Histological examination of lead only treated groups, showed alterations in cerebellar architecture. Biochemical estimations showed significant decrease in SOD, GPx levels (P=.03 and .04 respectively) and significant increase in MDA levels (P=.04), indicative of oxidative stress. Pretreatment and co-treatment with A.O showed dose dependent preservation of cerebellar architecture, significant increase of antioxidant parameters (SOD and GPx) (P=.03) and significant (P=.02) decrease in MDA. Conclusion: This study suggests that Anacardium occidentale especially at a higher dose (300mg/kg) exhibits antioxidant activities against lead-induced oxidative stress in the cerebellum of rats.