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.

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.

Satureja khuzestanica Jamzad is a popular herbal medicine among the nomadic inhabitants of southwestern Iran as a dental anesthetic and oral antiseptic [1]. Essential oil composition has been already determined and carvacrol identified as the main constituent [2]. Different biological studies were performed using the essential oil but studies related to quality; safety and efficacy of the leaf traditional herbal preparations (THPs, infusion and decoction) were scarce. Hereby results concerning the chemical characterization together with antioxidant and α- and β-glucosidase inhibitory potential of these THPs are presented. Chemical analyses were performed using different phytochemical methods, including TLC, LC-UV/DAD and preparative CC. The THPs total phenolic content was also determined. α- and β-glucosidase inhibitory activity and DPPH free radical scavenging potential were evaluated by bioautographic method [3, 4]. This last activity was also evaluated by spectrophotometry. Results of the TLC and LC-UV/DAD screening were consistent with presence of phenolic compounds, namely phenolic acids, flavonoids (flavones) and condensed tannins. Bioautographic analyses revealed the presence of free radical scavengers as well as α- and β-glucosidase inhibitors in both THPs and also in infusion liquid-liquid (L-L) partition fractions. Among all, 3 compounds of the ethyl acetate infusion L-L fraction were isolated and identified as cirsilineol, diosmetin and 6-hydroxyluteolin 7,3'-dimethyl ether according to UV, 1 H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectral data in comparison with the literature. In conclusion, non-volatile compounds like flavones and phenolic acid derivatives were detected and quantified for the first time in S. khuzestanica leaf and might be responsible for the antioxidant/anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic activities traditionally referred to this medicinal plant. Acknowledgements: This work was financially supported by FCT-PEst-OE/SAU/UI4013/2011 Keywords: Satureja khuzestanica Jamzad, traditional herbal preparations References: 1. Farsam, H. et al., (2004) Flavour Frag J 19, 308 – 310. 2. Sefidkon, F. & Ahmadi, Sh. (2000)J Essent Oil Res 12, 427 – 428. 3. Simões-Pires, C. et al., (2009) Phytochem Anal 20, 511 – 515. 4. Gu, L. et al., (2009) LWT-Food Sci Technol 42, 131 – 136.

The red and white types of Anacardium occidentale L. stem barks (AoB) are used in the Community of Portuguese Language Countries, including Portugal, to make traditional herbal preparations for the treatment of diabetes. This work aims to obtain the macroscopic, micromorphological, chemical, and purity data necessary to use both types of AoBs as medicinal plants safely. Macroscopically, a brown inner (red AoB) or a dark-brown inner surface (white AoB) was observed. Light and scanning electron microscopy showed that sclereid cells with thin cell walls were significantly larger (p < 0.001) in red AoB than in white AoB, but calcium oxalate druses and starch grain areas were significantly larger (p < 0.001) in white AoB than in red AoB. The chromatographic profiles (thin-layer chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography) of both types of AoBs were characterized by the presence of gallic and protocatechuic acids and other phenolic derivatives. The condensed tannins were the major secondary metabolites class (143.69 ± 4.67 mg and 73.79 ± 4.46 mg catechin equivalents/g AoB in red and white types, respectively). The loss on drying and the total ash were, respectively, 7.07 ± 0.16% and 2.31 ± 0.18% in red AoB and 6.58 ± 0.16% and 1.94 ± 0.14% in white AoB. The obtained data are helpful in ensuring the quality of AoB as raw material for the pharmaceutical market.

Anacardium occidentale stem bark, commonly known as cashew bark, is a medicinal plant traditionally used in the Community of Portuguese Language Speaking Countries (CPLP) to treat different diseases including diabetes. The toxicity of a traditional recipe of this herbal medicine was evaluated through a repeated dose toxicity test. Three doses (40.2, 127, 402mg/kg) of a traditional recipe of two types of A. occidentale (red and white), and water as control, where administered by gavage for a period of 14 days to mice. Daily evaluation of animal behaviour, body weight, feed and water intake was performed before sacrifice. No signs of degeneration, necrosis and inflammation were observed when the animals were sacrificed. Body weight variations were observed for both types of A. occidentale. No blood glucose level differences were observed at the end of the study. Kidney weight gain (8–10%) with red type of A. occidentale with all tested doses and significant liver weight loss (20%) for intermediate and higher dose of both types of A. occidentale was observed.