Effect of Ethanolic Stem-Bark Extract of Anacardium Occidentale (Cashew) on the Histology of the Pancreas of Diabetic Wistar Rats

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the effect of aqueous ethanolic bark extract of Anacardium Occidentale (Cashew) on the histology of the pancreas of streptozotocin induced diabetic wistar rats. Twenty-four wistar rats weighing 150-170g were grouped into four (A, B, C and D) of six rats each. Streptozotocin was used in the production of diabetic models in groups B, C and D by subcutaneous injection of 65mg/kgbwt after an overnight fast.

Groups A and B served as the normal and diabetic controls respectively and received 0.5ml of normal saline, twice daily. Groups C and D are the treatment groups that were treated with 300mg/kgbwt and 500mg/kgbwt of plant extract pre os respectively, twice daily. All the rats were given growers’ mash and water. The experiment lasted for 28 days.  After the expiration of extract administration, rats were anaesthetized using chloroform and the peritoneum stripped open to excise the pancreas which were prepared for histological studies using haematoxylin and eosin staining technique. The result of this study showed regeneration of beta cells, but it was more significant in the group that received 500mg/kgbwt of the extract. The extract is therefore dosage dependent.

Keywords: Anacardium occidentale, Pancreatic (beta) Cells, Diabetes mellitus, streptozotocin, wistar rats and Histology