The possible toxicity effect of Anacardium Occidentale nut oil on the blood, liver and kidneys of male Wistar rats was investigated. Phytochemical screening was conducted on the oil to determine its antinutrient composition. The rats were assigned to three treatment groups i.e 0.027mLg-1, 0.081mLg-1, 0.162mLg-1 and a control group. The oil was administered to the rats through the oral route daily for 28 days. Blood samples were collected on a weekly basis for haematological screening throughout the period of the experiment. The haematological result showed a slight deviation from the normal in packed cell volume (52%), total white blood cell count (9.38) and lymphocyte count (58.17) in Wistar rats administered 0.081 to 0.162mLg-1 of the cashew nut oil respectively yet no visible compromise of the immune system was observed. Histological analysis, however, revealed some hepatocyte morphological lesions including microvesicular steatosis and necrosis, kupffer cell hyperplasia, shrinkage of glomeruli, glomerular distortion, necrotic renal tubules, severe congestion and atrophy of renal tubules in rats fed 0.162mLg-1 of the nut oil. In conclusion, the cashew nut oil was responsible for hepatic parenchymal and matrix alteration in Wistar rats following sub-chronic treatment at 0.162mLg-1.
Key words: cashew nut oil, toxicity, sub-chronic treatment, immune response and hepatic lesion
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