Anti-Inflammatory, Antinociceptive, and Antioxidant Properties of Anacardic Acid in Experimental Models

Anacardic acid (AA), a compound extracted from cashew nut liquid, exhibits numerous pharmacological activities. The aim of the current investigation was to assess the anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, and antioxidant activities of AA in mouse models. For this, Swiss albino mice were pretreated with AA (10, 25, 50 mg/kg, intraperitoneally, ip) 30 min prior to the administration of carrageenan, as well as 25 mg/kg of prostaglandin E2, dextran, histamine, and compound 48/80. The antinociceptive activity was evaluated by formalin, abdominal, and hot plate tests, using antagonist of opioid receptors (naloxene, 3 mg/kg, ip) to identify antinociceptive mechanisms. Results from this study revealed that AA at 25 mg/kg inhibits carrageenan-induced edema. In addition, AA at 25 mg/kg reduced edema and leukocyte and neutrophilic migration to the intraperitoneal cavity, diminished myeloperoxidase activity and malondialdehyde concentration, and increased the levels of reduced glutathione. In nociceptive tests, it also decreased licking, abdominal writhing, and latency to thermal stimulation, possibly via interaction with opioid receptors. Taken together, these results indicate that AA exhibits anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive actions and also reduces oxidative stress in acute experimental models, suggesting AA as a promising compound in the pharmaceutical arena.