title: Antidiarrheal activity of cashew GUM, a complex heteropolysaccharide extracted from exudate of Anacardium occidentale L. in rodents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Anacardium occidentale L. (Anacardiaceae) is commonly known as the cashew tree. It is native to tropical America and extracts of the leaves, bark, roots, chestnut net and exudate have been traditionally used in northeast Brazil for the treatment of various diseases. The exudate of the cashew tree (cashew gum) has been exploited by locals since ancient times for multiple applications, including the treatment of diarrheal diseases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The primary aim of the present study is to evaluate the antidiarrheal activity of cashew gum (CG), a complex heteropolysaccharide from the exudate of the cashew tree, using various models.
  
  
  METHODS
  The antidiarrheal activity of cashew gum (CG) against acute diarrhea was investigated using the castor oil-induced diarrhea model. The effects of CG on gastrointestinal transit and castor oil- and PGE2- induced enteropooling were also examined in rodents. In addition, the effect of CG against secretory diarrhea was investigated using a model of fluid secretion in cholera toxin-treated intestinal closed loops in live mice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cashew gum (30, 60, and 90 mg/kg, p.o.) showed a significant (P<0.05-0.01) antidiarrheal effect in rats with castor oil-induced diarrhea, inhibiting the total amount of stool and diarrheal stools. The 60 mg/kg dose of CG exhibited excellent antidiarrheal activity and significantly reduced the severity of diarrhea (diarrhea scores) in rats. CG (60 mg/kg) significantly (P<0.05) decreased the volume of castor oil- and PGE2-induced intestinal fluid secretion (enteropooling). In addition, similar to loperamide (standard drug, 5 mg/kg, p.o.), CG treatment reduced the distance traveled by a charcoal meal in the 30-min gastrointestinal transit model by interacting with opioid receptors. In cholera toxin-induced secretory diarrhea, CG (60 mg/kg) significantly inhibited the intestinal fluid secretion and decreased Cl(-) ion loss in the cholera toxin(-)treated isolated loops model of live mice by competitively binding to cholera toxin-GM1 receptors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, our results indicate that a complex heteropolysaccharide extracted from the exudate of A. occidentale L. has antidiarrheal activity in acute, inflammatory, and secretory diarrhea models, which could justify its traditional use in the treatment of diarrhea in northeast Brazil. The antidiarrheal activity might be explained by the capacity of CG to inhibit gastrointestinal motility and thereby reduce the accumulation of intestinal fluid and the secretion of water and chloride ions in the lumen of the intestine.
authors: Biotechnology and Biodiversity Center Research, BIOTEC, Post-graduation Program in Biotechnology, Federal University of Piauí, Parnaíba, Piauí, Brazil.
authors: Thiago S L
authors: TS
authors: Araújo
authors: Medicinal Plant Research Center, NPPM, Post-graduation Program in Pharmacology, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil.
authors: Douglas S
authors: DS
authors: Costa
authors: Biotechnology and Biodiversity Center Research, BIOTEC, Post-graduation Program in Biotechnology, Federal University of Piauí, Parnaíba, Piauí, Brazil.
authors: Nayara A
authors: NA
authors: Sousa
authors: Post-graduation Program in Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Piauí, Parnaíba, Piauí, Brazil.
authors: Luan K M
authors: LK
authors: Souza
authors: Biotechnology and Biodiversity Center Research, BIOTEC, Post-graduation Program in Biotechnology, Federal University of Piauí, Parnaíba, Piauí, Brazil.
authors: Simone
authors: S
authors: de Araújo
authors: Biotechnology and Biodiversity Center Research, BIOTEC, Post-graduation Program in Biotechnology, Federal University of Piauí, Parnaíba, Piauí, Brazil.
authors: Ana Patrícia
authors: AP
authors: Oliveira
authors: Biotechnology and Biodiversity Center Research, BIOTEC, Post-graduation Program in Biotechnology, Federal University of Piauí, Parnaíba, Piauí, Brazil.
authors: Francisca Beatriz M
authors: FB
authors: Sousa
authors: Biotechnology and Biodiversity Center Research, BIOTEC, Post-graduation Program in Biotechnology, Federal University of Piauí, Parnaíba, Piauí, Brazil.
authors: Durcilene A
authors: DA
authors: Silva
authors: Biotechnology and Biodiversity Center Research, BIOTEC, Post-graduation Program in Biotechnology, Federal University of Piauí, Parnaíba, Piauí, Brazil; Medicinal Plant Research Center, NPPM, Post-graduation Program in Pharmacology, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil; Post-graduation Program in Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Piauí, Parnaíba, Piauí, Brazil.
authors: André L R
authors: AL
authors: Barbosa
authors: Biotechnology and Biodiversity Center Research, BIOTEC, Post-graduation Program in Biotechnology, Federal University of Piauí, Parnaíba, Piauí, Brazil; Medicinal Plant Research Center, NPPM, Post-graduation Program in Pharmacology, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil; Post-graduation Program in Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Piauí, Parnaíba, Piauí, Brazil.
authors: José Roberto S A
authors: JR
authors: Leite
authors: Biotechnology and Biodiversity Center Research, BIOTEC, Post-graduation Program in Biotechnology, Federal University of Piauí, Parnaíba, Piauí, Brazil; Medicinal Plant Research Center, NPPM, Post-graduation Program in Pharmacology, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil; Post-graduation Program in Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Piauí, Parnaíba, Piauí, Brazil. Electronic address: jandvenes@ufpi.edu.br.
authors: Jand Venes R
authors: JV
authors: Medeiros
mesh_terms: D031021:Anacardium; D000818:Animals; D000930:Antidiarrheals / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002368:Castor Oil / Q000633:toxicity; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053149:Plant Gums / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D000930:Antidiarrheals; D010936:Plant Extracts; D053149:Plant Gums; D011134:Polysaccharides; D002368:Castor Oil
keywords: 3, 30, 5, 50-Tetramethylbenzidine (PubChem CID: 41206); Anacardiaceae; Castor oil; Castor oil (PubChem CID: 14030006); Charcoal (PubChem CID: 297); Cholera; Diarrheal models; Loperamide hydrochloride (PubChem CID: 71420); Monosialoganglioside (PubChem CID: 9963963); Naloxone hydrochloride (PubChem CID: 5464092); Polysaccharide; Prostaglandin E2 (PubChem CID: 5280360)