Endocrine Abstracts

Anacardium occidentale is a multi-purpose tree of the anacardae family with great economic and medicinal value. The leaf of the tree has been reported to possess hypoglycaemic and anti-diabetic properties. However, literature is devoid of any molecular basis for the potent effects observed. This study evaluated the molecular mechanisms underlying the efficacy and safety of the leaves by investigating glucagon-like peptide 1, insulin and kidney injury molecule genes using beta actin as the control for gene expression. Normoglycaemic Wistar rats were separated experimental and control groups. Experimental rats were fed 30% feed formulation of A. occidentale leaf powder while control rats were fed ordinary rat chow. Feeding occurred ad libitum over a period of three days after which the rats were fasted overnight and sacrificed the following day. The pancreas, kidney and intestinal crypts were excised for molecular studies. A. occidentale fed rats showed 18.9% increase in insulin and 50% in GLP-1 compared to control rats. There was no significant difference in Kim-1 expression compared to control (P<0.05). These results shed light on the molecular basis of the well reported anti-diabetic potency of A. occidentale and its low toxicity to the kidney.