Comparative Histopathological Evaluation of Mature and Sprout Shoots of Anacardium Occidentale in Experimentally Induced Anemia in Albino Rats

Anemia is a major global health problem characterized by reduced oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, often resulting in oxidative stress and structural damage to vital organs such as the liver and kidneys. Anacardium occidentale is rich in bioactive phytochemicals with reported antioxidant and hematopoietic properties. This study evaluated the comparative histopathological effects of mature and sprout shoots of A. occidentale in phenylhydrazine-induced anemic albino rats. Twenty-eight albino rats were randomly assigned to seven experimental groups. Anemia was induced with phenylhydrazine, after which animals received oral administration of mature or sprout shoot extracts (200 and 500 mg/kg) or the standard hematinic drug (Cameron®). Liver and kidney tissues were processed and examined using hematoxylin and eosin staining. Phenylhydrazine induced marked renal and hepatic lesions characterized by glomerular shrinkage, tubular degeneration, hepatocellular degeneration, vascular congestion, and distortion of normal tissue architecture. Treatment with Cameron® restored near-normal histological features. Mature shoot extract, particularly at 500 mg/kg, produced substantial recovery of tissue architecture with only mild residual degeneration, whereas sprout shoot extract showed comparatively limited histological improvement and persistent lesions. The mature shoot-treated groups also demonstrated better overall tissue preservation than the sprout-treated groups. Mature shoots of A. occidentale exhibited superior histoprotective activity compared with sprout shoots, supporting their potential as a natural adjunct for mitigating anemia-induced organ damage and providing a basis for further pharmacological and clinical investigations.