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Anacardium occidentale L. stem bark Traditional Herbal Preparations (AoBTHPs) are widely used in traditional medicine to treat inflammatory conditions, such as diabetes. The present study aims to evaluate the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and genotoxic potential of red and white Portuguese AoBTHPs. Using a carrageenan-induced rat paw edema model, a significant anti-edema effect was observed for all tested doses of white AoBTHP (40.2, 71.5, and 127.0 mg/kg) and the two highest doses of red AoB THP (71.5 and 127.0 mg/kg). The anti-edema effect of red AoBTHP's highest dose was much more effective than indomethacin 10 mg/kg, Trolox 30 mg/kg, and Tempol 30 mg/kg. In DPPH, FRAP, and TAC using the phosphomolybdenum method, both types of AoBTHPs showed similar antioxidant activity and no genotoxicity up to 5000 µg/plate in the Ames test. The LC-UV/DAD-ESI/MS fingerprint allowed the identification of gallic and protocatechuic acids as the two main marker compounds and the presence of catechin, epicatechin, epigallocatechin gallate, and ellagic acid in both AoBTHPs. The obtained results support the validation of red and white AoB and their THPs as anti-inflammatory agents and contribute to the possible development of promising new therapeutic options to treat inflammatory conditions.

Dried leaves of Lannea velutina A. Rich. and Sorindeia juglandifolia (A. Rich.) Planch. ex Oliv. (family Anacardiaceae) are used in African traditional medicine. Although these medicinal plants have widespread use in the treatment of inflammatory diseases, there is no scientific data concerning their preclinical or clinical safety. This work aimed to investigate the phytochemical properties of the leaves of both species using HPLC-UV/DAD, as well as the in vivo oral repeated-dose toxicity of 70% hydroethanolic leaf extract of S. juglandifolia and the in vitro genotoxicity of 70% hydroethanolic leaf extracts of L. velutina and S. juglandifolia . Clinical signs of toxicity, body weight variations, and changes in food consumption, mortality, and blood biochemical parameters were monitored. Genotoxicity was assessed using the bacterial reverse mutation assay (Ames test) with and without metabolic activation, according to OECD guidelines. The obtained results showed the presence of gallic acid and anacardic acid as the main marker constituents in both species. No significant changes in general body weight or food intake were observed; small significant changes with no critical relevance were observed in the blood biochemistry of animals treated with S. juglandifolia hydroethanolic extract (50, 400, and 1000 mg/kg body weight) compared to those in the control group. No genotoxicity was observed in the bacterial reverse mutation assay with S. juglandifolia and L. velutina extracts (up to 5 mg/plate). The safety data obtained in vivo and lack of genotoxic potential in vitro points to the safe medicinal use of S. juglandifolia and L. velutina extracts.

Anacardium occidentale L. is used throughout the world to treat type 2 diabetes. In Portugal, a traditional herbal preparation made with stem bark of this species (AoBTHP) has been used for more than 30 years to treat this pathology. The AoBTHP was standardized on total phenolic content, and its hypoglycemic activity was assessed using db/db mice ( n = 26) for 92 days. Three doses (40.2, 71.5, and 127.0 mg/kg/day, per os ) were tested, and glibenclamide (5 mg/kg/day) was used as positive control. During the study, glycemia was measured under non-fasting or fasting states. In sequence, thin-layer chromatography bioautographic assays were used for the detection of possible alpha- and beta-glucosidase inhibitors. A significant hypoglycemic effect in fasting glycemia in days 31 and 57 was observed with the three tested doses. The 71.5 mg/kg and 127.0 mg/kg AoBTHPs significantly reduced non-fasting glycemia on day 24. The highest dose showed the most significant hypoglycemic effect. Gallic acid was identified as the major alpha- and beta-glucosidase inhibitor. The 127 mg/kg/day AoBTHP dose showed a greater glucose-lowering effect than glibenclamide. For the first time, a standardized AoBTHP was tested using an in vivo diabetes model, and its usage was preclinically validated for type 2 diabetes treatment. The hypoglycemic activity of an AoBTHP can be related to the presence of alpha- and beta-glucosidase inhibitors, such as gallic acid, but other mechanisms can also be involved.