Intra-Amniotic Administration of Cashew Nut (Anacardium occidentale L.) Soluble Extract Improved Gut Functionality and Morphology In Vivo (Gallus gallus).

Cashew nuts are rich in dietary fibers, monounsaturated fatty acids, carotenoids, tocopherols, flavonoids, catechins, amino acids, and minerals that offer benefits for health. However, the knowledge of its effect on gut health is lacking. In this way, cashew nut soluble extract (CNSE) was assessed in vivo via intra-amniotic administration in intestinal brush border membrane (BBM) morphology, functionality, and gut microbiota. Four groups were evaluated: (1) no injection (control); (2) H2O injection (control); (3) 10 mg/mL CNSE (1%); and (4) 50 mg/mL CNSE (5%). Results related to CNSE on duodenal morphological parameters showed higher Paneth cell numbers, goblet cell (GC) diameter in crypt and villi, depth crypt, mixed GC per villi, and villi surface area. Further, it decreased GC number and acid and neutral GC. In the gut microbiota, treatment with CNSE showed a lower abundance of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and E. coli. Further, in intestinal functionality, CNSE upregulated aminopeptidase (AP) gene expression at 5% compared to 1% CNSE. In conclusion, CNSE had beneficial effects on gut health by improving duodenal BBM functionality, as it upregulated AP gene expression, and by modifying morphological parameters ameliorating digestive and absorptive capacity. For intestinal microbiota, higher concentrations of CNSE or long-term intervention may be necessary.

Leaf extract of Anacardium occidentale ameliorates biomarkers of neuroinflammation, memory loss, and neurobehavioral deficit in N(ω)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) treated rats.

PURPOSE: Anacardium occidentale commonly known as Cashew is a plant that is widely used in African traditional medicine. It is endowed with phytochemical constituents that are responsible for its medicinal properties. METHODS: Twenty-five male Wistar rats were grouped as follows: Control (Group A), Group B (L-NAME 40 mg/kg), Group C (100 mg/kg Anacardium occidentale extract plus 40 mg/kg L-NAME), Group D (200 mg/kg extract plus 40 mg/kg L-NAME) and Group E (10 mg/kg of Lisinopril plus 40 mg/kg L-NAME). The animals were treated with oral administration of either the extracts or Lisnopril daily for 4 weeks. Neuro-behavioural tests such as the Morris Water Maze and Hanging Wire Grip tests were carried out to evaluate memory/spatial learning and muscular strength, respectively. Makers of oxidative stress, antioxidant enzymes and immunohistochemical staining of Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein and Ionised Calcium Binding Adaptor molecule 1 were assessed. RESULTS: L-NAME administration caused significant increases in biomarkers of oxidative stress, decreased antioxidant status, acetylcholinesterase activity, altered neuro-behavioural changes, astrocytosis, and microgliosis. However, Anacardium occidentale reversed exaggerated oxidative stress biomarkers and improved neuro-behavioural changes. CONCLUSIONS: Combining all, Anacardium occidentale enhanced brain antioxidant defence status, improved memory and muscular strength, thus, suggesting the neuroprotective properties of Anacardium occidentale.

Cashew (Anacardium occidentale) Nut-Shell Liquid as Antioxidant in Bulk Soybean Oil.

Recently, natural antioxidants for the food industry have become an important focus. Cashew nut-shell liquid (CNSL) is composed of compounds that can act as natural antioxidants in food systems. The aim of this work was to evaluate the potential of CNSL and its components to act as natural antioxidants in a bulk oil system. CNSL was treated with calcium hydroxide to obtain two fractions [cardol/cardanols acid fraction (CCF) and anacardic acid fraction (AF)]. CNSL, FF and AF were analyzed by thin-layer chromatography and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The protective effects of CNSL, CCF and AF were tested in terms of the peroxide value of bulk soybean oil in accelerated assays and were compared against controls with and without synthetic antioxidants (CSA and CWA). CNLS, CCF, AF and CSA were tested at 200 mg/kg soybean oil by incubation at 30, 40, 50 and 60 °C for five days. The activation energy (Ea) for the production of peroxides was calculated by using the linearized Arrhenius equation. Thin-layer chromatography and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that (i) CNSL contained cardanols, anacardic acids, and cardols; (ii) CCF contained cardanols and cardols; and (iii) AF contained anacardic acids. CSA (Ea 35,355 J/mol) was the most effective antioxidant, followed by CCF (Ea 31,498 J/mol) and by CNSL (Ea 26,351 J/mol). AF exhibited pro-oxidant activity (Ea 8339 J/mol) compared with that of CWA (Ea 15,684 J/mol). Therefore, cardols and cardanols from CNSL can be used as a natural antioxidant in soybean oil.

Effect of cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) nut-supplemented diet on steroidogenic enzymes, hormonal and oxidative imbalances, and sperm parameters in cisplatin-induced reproductive toxicity in male rats.

Cisplatin (CP) is a chemotherapeutic/anticancer drug culpable in sperm and testicular damage, but the use of dietary patterns has been reported to averse this effect. To date, no report on the use of roasted cashew nut-supplemented diets (RCNSD) against chemotherapy-induced testicular damage has been presented. In this study, the effect of 10% and 20% RCNSD on reproductive hormones, sperm parameters, testicular and epididymal antioxidant status, and steroidogenic enzymes activities in CP-induced rats were determined. Interestingly, these parameters were boosted, but with a decrement in radical species level in the testes/epididymis of CP-induced rats fed with RCNSD as against the untreated CP-induced rats. The modulatory effect of RCNSD on the tested reproductive parameters in studied tissues could be among the mechanism of action, by which RCNSD mitigates andrological toxicity. Hence, RCNSD could be harnessed as a functional food/nutraceutical agent for alleviating the andrological toxicity of CP-induced male reproduction. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Consumption of cashew nuts has been a great benefit to human health, as a result of its richness in nutritional constituents including biologically active amino acids, tocopherols, fatty acids, polyphenols, and selenium, among others. Cashew nuts are mostly consumed fried/roasted, with yoghurt, as a paste, or used as an ingredient in confectionery products. The folkloric use of cashew nuts in the management of cardiovascular diseases, male reproductive disorders, and diabetes has been reported. In this study, the ability of roasted cashew nut-supplemented diets to modulate reproductive hormones, sperm parameters, testicular and epididymal antioxidant status, and steroidogenic enzymes activities in CP-induced reproductive toxicity in male rats was revealed, thus, indicating its possible use, clinically, in the management of reproductive toxicity induced by cancer drugs.

In vitro antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects of Anacardium occidentale L. extracts and their toxicity on PBMCs and zebrafish embryos.

This study evaluated the in vitro antimicrobial and immunomodulatory action of crude extracts from Anacardium occidentale L. (cashew tree) leaves and bark, and to determine their toxicity to peripheral-blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and to zebrafish embryos and larvae. Chemical analysis of extracts was performed by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR). The antibacterial activity was evaluated against selected bacteria strains by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). Cytotoxicity of the extracts was assessed using resazurin method, while the effect on production of ROS by PMN leukocytes was measured by luminol. Embryotoxicity to zebrafish was assessed using the fish embryo acute toxicity test (FET) and quantification of toxicity marker enzymes (AChE, LDH, and GST). 1H-NMR results showed anacardic acid as the main component of the extracts. All bacterial species tested were sensitive to the extracts, with MICs ranging from 312.5 to 10,000 µg/mL. Streptococcus mutans and Escherichia coli were the most susceptible species. The extracts promoted cell viability above 75% at concentrations from 1.25 to 80 µg/mL. Both extracts reduced zymosan-induced ROS (p < 0.05) at concentrations of 1, 8, and 80 µg/mL compared to the control. In vivo, there were embryotoxic effects in zebrafish embryos exposed to both extracts through the presence of lethal and sublethal endpoints. The samples also acted by inhibiting the activities of biomarker enzymes. The A. occidentale L. bark and leaf extracts showed antimicrobial potential and modulated ROS production in vitro, but these also showed embryotoxic effects to zebrafish.

Effect of functional oils or probiotics on performance and microbiota profile of newly weaned piglets.

The study aimed to evaluate a commercial blend of functional oils based on liquid from the cashew nutshell and castor oil as a growth promoter in newly weaned piglets. A total of 225 piglets, castrated males and females with 28 days of age were randomly distributed in pens with 15 animals composing three treatments and five repetitions. The treatments were: control (without the inclusion of additives), probiotics, or functional oils. The performance was evaluated. At 50 days of age, a pool of fresh feces from 3 animals/repetition was collected to perform the sequencing of microbiota using the Illumina MiSeq platform. Supplementation with functional oils improved the piglets' daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio (P < 0.05) in the first weeks of the experiment, which resulted in higher final live weight (P < 0.05) in the phase when compared to the control treatment (24.34 kg and 21.55 kg, respectively). The animals that received probiotics showed an intermediate performance (23.66 kg final live weight) at the end of the 38 experimental days. Both additives were effective in increasing groups essential for intestinal health, such as Ruminococcaceae and Lachnospiraceae. The functional oils were more effective in reducing pathogenic bacteria, such as Campylobacter and Escherichia coli. In conclusion, the use of functional oils optimized performance and effectively modulated the microbiota of newly weaned piglets.

Cashew nut shell liquid potentially mitigates methane emission from the feces of Thai native ruminant livestock by modifying fecal microbiota.

The methane-mitigating potency of cashew nutshell liquid (CNSL) was evaluated by investigating gas production from batch cultures using feces from Thai native ruminants that had been incubated for different periods. Feces was obtained from four Thai native cattle and four swamp buffaloes reared under practical feeding conditions at the Kasetsart University farm, Thailand. Fecal slurry from the same farm was also included in the analysis. CNSL addition successfully suppressed the methane production potential of feces from both ruminants by shifting short chain fatty acid profiles towards propionate production. Methane mitigation continued for almost 150 days, although the degree of mitigation was more apparent from Day 0 to Day 30. Bacterial and archaeal community shifts with CNSL addition were observed in feces from both ruminants; specifically, Bacteroides increased, whereas Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae decreased in feces to which CNSL was added. Fecal slurry did not show marked changes in gas production with CNSL addition. The findings showed that the addition of CNSL to the feces of ruminants native to the Southeast Asian region can suppress methane emission. Because CNSL can be easily obtained as a byproduct of the local cashew industry in this region, its on-site application might be ideal.

Gallic acid anti-myotoxic activity and mechanism of action, a snake venom phospholipase A2 toxin inhibitor, isolated from the medicinal plant Anacardium humile.

Snakebite envenoming is the cause of an ongoing health crisis in several regions of the world, particularly in tropical and neotropical countries. This scenario creates an urgent necessity for new practical solutions to address the limitations of current therapies. The current study investigated the isolation, phytochemical characterization, and myotoxicity inhibition mechanism of gallic acid (GA), a myotoxin inhibitor obtained from Anacardium humile. The identification and isolation of GA was achieved by employing analytical chromatographic separation, which exhibited a compound with retention time and nuclear magnetic resonance spectra compatible with GA's commercial standard and data from the literature. GA alone was able to inhibit the myotoxic activity induced by the crude venom of Bothrops jararacussu and its two main myotoxins, BthTX-I and BthTX-II. Circular dichroism (CD), fluorescence spectroscopy (FS), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and interaction studies by molecular docking suggested that GA forms a complex with BthTX-I and II. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) kinetics assays showed that GA has a high affinity for BthTX-I with a KD of 9.146 × 10-7 M. Taken together, the two-state reaction mode of GA binding to BthTX-I, and CD, FS and DLS assays, suggest that GA is able to induce oligomerization and secondary structure changes for BthTX-I and -II. GA and other tannins have been shown to be effective inhibitors of snake venoms' toxic effects, and herein we demonstrated GA's ability to bind to and inhibit a snake venom PLA2, thus proposing a new mechanism of PLA2 inhibition, and presenting more evidence of GA's potential as an antivenom compound.

Sustainable Drug Discovery of Multi-Target-Directed Ligands for Alzheimer's Disease.

The multifactorial nature of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a reason for the lack of effective drugs as well as a basis for the development of "multi-target-directed ligands" (MTDLs). As cases increase in developing countries, there is a need of new drugs that are not only effective but also accessible. With this motivation, we report the first sustainable MTDLs, derived from cashew nutshell liquid (CNSL), an inexpensive food waste with anti-inflammatory properties. We applied a framework combination of functionalized CNSL components and well-established acetylcholinesterase (AChE)/butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) tacrine templates. MTDLs were selected based on hepatic, neuronal, and microglial cell toxicity. Enzymatic studies disclosed potent and selective AChE/BChE inhibitors (5, 6, and 12), with subnanomolar activities. The X-ray crystal structure of 5 complexed with BChE allowed rationalizing the observed activity (0.0352 nM). Investigation in BV-2 microglial cells revealed antineuroinflammatory and neuroprotective activities for 5 and 6 (already at 0.01 µM), confirming the design rationale.

Electrosprayed cashew gum microparticles for the encapsulation of highly sensitive bioactive materials.

This study focuses on the production and characterization of electrosprayed cashew gum (CG) microparticles that encapsulate ß-carotene. CG is an inexpensive, non-toxic polysaccharide obtained from Anacardium occidentale trees. Encapsulation of ß-carotene in CG was performed by electrospraying from two emulsion formulations (water : oil ratios 80:20 and 90:10 (v/v)) in which the dispersed phase consisted of ß-carotene dissolved in castor oil, and the continuous phase was a CG aqueous solution. Spherical particles with smooth surface and medium size between 3 and 6 µm were obtained. The particles produced from the 90:10 (v/v) emulsion showed a loading capacity of 0.075 ± 0.006 % and a minor amount of extractable ß-carotene, 10.75 ± 2.42 %. ATR-FTIR confirmed the absence of interaction between the particles' components. CG demonstrated to offer thermoprotection, and photoprotection for short periods of time. These results make CG a viable candidate to encapsulate bioactive compounds via electrospraying for agricultural, food and pharmaceutical applications.

Cashew apple pectin as a carrier matrix for mangiferin: Physicochemical characterization, in vitro release and biological evaluation in human neutrophils.

In this work, cashew apple pectin (CP) of the species Anacardium occidentale L. was used as an encapsulation matrix for hydrophobic drugs. The model drug chosen was mangiferin (Mf), a glycosylated C-xanthone which has antioxidant properties but low solubility in aqueous medium. CP (1-100 µg mL-1) was not toxic to human neutrophils and also did not significantly interfere with the pro-inflammatory mechanism of these cells in the concentration range of 12.5 and 100 µg mL-1. The results are promising because they show that pectin encapsulated mangiferin after spray drying presented an efficiency of 82.02%. The results obtained in the dissolution test, simulating the release of mangiferin in the gastrointestinal tract (pH 1.2, 4.6 and 6.8) and using Franz diffusion cells (pH 7.4), showed that cashew pectin may be a promising vehicle in prolonged drug delivery systems for both oral and dermal applications.

New n-nonadecanoyl-ß-sitosterol and other constituents from the stem-bark of Anacardium occidentale.

A new steroidal ester bearing n-nonadecanoyl moiety (1) and a mixture of isomeric cerebrosides (2) along with two known compounds were isolated from the methanol extract of the stem-bark of Anacardium occidentale. The structure of the new steroidal ester was determined as 3-n-nonadecanoyl-ß-sitosterol on the basis of modern spectroscopic techniques (IR, ESI-MS, HR-ESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR) and chemical degradation studies. The structures of the known compounds were identified as gallic acid and tanacetene by comparison of the spectroscopic data with those of reported data. The mixture of cerebrosides was confirmed based on the analysis of 1D and 2D NMR. These compounds were evaluated for cytotoxicity against human cancer cell lines A549, SCOV3 and rat normal cell line NRK49f.

Cashew apple byproduct: Gastroprotective effects of standardized extract.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The incidence of gastric mucosa lesions in the adult population has increased mainly due to the continued use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) is a tropical tree, cultivated in several countries, whose barks, leaves and pseudofruit (cashew apple) are popularly used in traditional medicine for the treatment of many diseases, including gastric ulcer. AIM: Our study evaluated the potential gastroprotective effect of the carotenoid and anacardic acids-enriched aqueous extract (CAE), prepared from cashew apple pomace, in the dose-repeated acetylsalicylic acid (ASA)-induced gastric lesions model in rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS: After randomly distribution into five group (G1 - G5, n = 8 animals/group), male Wistar rats were daily treated with ASA solution (200 mg/kg, 5 ml/kg, G2 - G5) or potable water (Satellite group, G1) during 14 days. From 8th to 14th experimental day, rats in G3 - G5 groups were orally treated with CAE (50, 100 and 500 mg/kg, 5 ml/kg, respectively). Body weight was measured on 0, 7th and 14th day. On the 14th experimental day, all surviving animals were euthanized for macroscopic evaluation of the inner organs and stomach removal. After weighting, each stomach was properly prepared for biochemical analysis [myeloperoxidase activity (MPO), reduced glutathione analysis (GSH), IL-1ß, CXCL2/MIP-2, TNF-α and IL-10 levels]. RESULTS: At the most efficient dose (100 mg/kg, p.o.), CAE-treated animals showed a slight improvement in the macroscopic aspect of gastric mucosa associated with significant (p < 0.05) reduced levels of IL-1ß, CXCL2/MIP-2, and MPO activity besides increased levels of GSH (partially), and IL-10 in stomach tissues. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated that the carotenoid and anacardic acids-enriched extract obtained from cashew apple pomace is a promising raw material for the development of herbal medicine and/or functional food supplements for the adjuvant treatment of NSAIDs-induced gastric ulcers.

Modulation of the intestinal microbiota of broilers supplemented with monensin or functional oils in response to challenge by Eimeria spp.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplementation with 100ppm sodium monensin or 0.15% of a blend of functional oils (cashew nut oil + castor oil) on the intestinal microbiota of broilers challenged with three different Eimeria spp. The challenge was accomplished by inoculating broiler chicks with sporulated oocysts of Eimeria tenella, Eimeria acervulina, and Eimeria maxima via oral gavage. A total of 864, day-old male broiler chicks (Cobb) were randomly assigned to six treatments (eight pens/treatment; 18 broilers/pen) in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement, composed of three additives (control, monensin or blend), with or without Eimeria challenge. Intestinal contents was collected at 28 days of age for microbiota analysis by sequencing 16s rRNA in V3 and V4 regions using the Illumina MiSeq platform. Taxonomy was assigned through the SILVA database version 132, using the QIIME 2 software version 2019.1. No treatment effects (p > 0.05) were observed in the microbial richness at the family level estimated by Chao1 and the biodiversity assessed by Simpson's index, except for Shannon's index (p < 0.05). The intestinal microbiota was dominated by members of the order Clostridiales and Lactobacillales, followed by the families Ruminococcaceae, Bacteroidaceae, and Lactobacillaceae, regardless of treatment. When the controls were compared, in the challenged control group there was an increase in Erysipelotrichaceae, Lactobacillaceae, Bacteroidaceae, Streptococcaceae, and Peptostreptococcaceae, and a decrease in Ruminococcaceae. Similar results were found for a challenged group that received monensin, while the blend partially mitigated this variation. Therefore, the blend alleviated the impact of coccidiosis challenge on the microbiome of broilers compared to monensin.

Antimicrobial effect of anacardic acid-loaded zein nanoparticles loaded on Streptococcus mutans biofilms.

Bacterial biofilms play a key role in the pathogenesis of major oral diseases. Nanoparticles open new paths for drug delivery in complex structures such as biofilms. This study evaluated the antimicrobial effect of zein nanoparticles containing anacardic acid (AA) extracted from cashew shells of Anacardium occidentale on in vitro Streptococcus mutans biofilm formation and mature biofilms. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bacterial concentration (MBC), and antibiofilm assays were performed. Streptococcus mutans UA159 biofilms were formed on saliva-coated hydroxyapatite disk for 5 days. To evaluate the preventive effect on biofilm formation, before contact with the inoculum, the disks were immersed once for 2 min in (1) hydroethanolic solution; (2) blank zein nanoparticles; (3) zein nanoparticles containing AA; and (4) 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate. To determine the effect against mature biofilms, the disks containing 5-day preformed biofilms were further treated using the same procedure. The bacterial viability and dry weight were determined for both assays and used to compare the groups using ANOVA followed by Tukey's test (p < 0.05). Both MIC and MBC for AA-loaded zein nanoparticles were 0.36 µg/mL. Groups 3 and 4 were very effective in inhibiting S. mutans biofilm formation, as no colony-forming units were detected. In contrast, for mature biofilms, no difference in bacterial viability (p = 0.28) or dry weight (p = 0.09) was found between the treatments. Therefore, the AA-based nanoformulation presented very high inhibitory and bactericidal activities against planktonic S. mutans, and the results indicate a strong antiplaque effect. However, the formulation showed no antimicrobial effect on the established biofilm.

Antityrosinase Activity of Combretum micranthum, Euphorbia hirta and Anacardium occidentale Plants: Ultrasound Assisted Extraction Optimization and Profiling of Associated Predominant Metabolites.

Tyrosinase is an important component of the enzyme polyphenol oxidase, which upon contact with the phenolic substrates forms the pigment melanin and induces undesirable food browning. The phenolic and triterpenoid compounds that naturally occur in plants are well known as tyrosinase inhibitors. Combretum micranthum (CM) leaves, Euphorbia hirta (EH) plant, and Anacardium occidentale (AO) fruits are traditionally known to have potential anti-tyrosinase activities. The aim of this study was to optimize the ultrasound-assisted extraction of secondary metabolites from these matrices, and to evaluate in tubo the antityrosinase activity of these extracts. Efforts were also taken to profile the secondary metabolites, mainly the phenolic and triterpenoid compounds, in order to understand their probable association with tyrosinase inhibition. The optimal ultrasound-assisted extraction conditions for simultaneous extraction of phenolic, and triterpenoid compounds were determined. The aqueous fraction of these extracts showed significant antityrosinase activity, with the CM leaves exhibiting the strongest inhibitory effect (IC50 of 0.58 g·L-1). The predominant metabolic compounds from these natural extracts were putatively identified by using a high-resolution quadrupole-time of flight (QToF) LC-MS instrument. The high-resolution accurate mass-based screening resulted in identification of 88 predominant metabolites, which included dihydrodaidzein-7-O-glucuronide, micromeric acid, syringic acid, morin, quercetin-3-O-(6″-malonyl-glucoside), 4-hydroxycoumarin, dihydrocaffeic acid-3-O-glucuronide, to name some, with less than 5 ppm of mass error.

Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, and Anticancer Effects of Anacardium Plants: An Ethnopharmacological Perspective.

Anacardium plants have received increasing recognition due to its nutritional and biological properties. A number of secondary metabolites are present in its leaves, fruits, and other parts of the plant. Among the diverse Anacardium plants' bioactive effects, their antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer activities comprise those that have gained more attention. Thus, the present article aims to review the Anacardium plants' biological effects. A special emphasis is also given to their pharmacological and clinical efficacy, which may trigger further studies on their therapeutic properties with clinical trials.

Detection and quantification of cashew in commercial tea products using High Resolution Melting (HRM) analysis.

Tea, a popular aromatic infusion and food supplement, prepared from Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze leaves, is often subjected to adulteration with various undeclared inorganic and plant-derived materials. Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) nut husk is one of the most common plant tea adulterants. To date, there are limited DNA-based technologies for tea authentication and quantitative detection of adulterants. Herein, we used a universal plant DNA barcoding marker coupled with High Resolution Melting (Bar-HRM) analysis to authenticate tea products from cashew ground nut. Additionally, cashew-specific markers coupled with HRM technology were used to detect and quantify adulteration of tea with cashew DNA. This methodology can reliably detect admixtures as low as 1% v/v cashew in commercial tea products. Overall, our results demonstrate that the HRM technology is a strong molecular approach in tea authentication, capable of detecting very low adulterations in DNA admixtures. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: In this study, we established the use of high-resolution DNA-based technologies for the detection of cashew adulteration in tea, even in very low quantities. The technology could be applied to a greater range of plant-based tea adulterants. This work is expected to facilitate the traceability and authenticity of tea products and form the basis for the development of strategies against fraudulent practices.

Complex coacervates of cashew gum and gelatin as carriers of green coffee oil: The effect of microcapsule application on the rheological and sensorial quality of a fruit juice.

In this work, cashew gum (CG) and gelatin (GE) complexation was explored to encapsulate green coffee oil (GCO), rich in cafestol and kahweol, for use as ingredient in fruit juice. The microcapsules were loaded with 25, 50 and 75% (w/w) GCO and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, encapsulation efficiency and accelerated oxidation by Rancimat. Gas chromatography coupled to the mass detector was used to cafestol quantification in simulated gastrointestinal digestion and during fruit juice storage. Particles with 25% GCO (14.56 ± 6.36 µm) presented good encapsulation efficiency (85.57 ± 1.41%), reduced the GCO oxidation by six-fold and were resisted in the pasteurization conditions. The beverage added of capsules showed good sensory quality when compared to the control formulation. For the first time, the incorporation of GCO capsules into fruit juice has been reported, promoting a diterpene-rich drink with good rheological and sensory properties.

Anti-proliferative profile of Anacardium occidentale polysaccharide and characterization by AFM.

This paper explores the application of cashew gum (CG) as an in vitro antiproliferative, firstly by isolating and characterizing the gum using elemental analysis, gel-permeation chromatography, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The molar mass of isolated CG was in the order of 103-104 g/mol, with small protein traces present. Polymer characterization by NMR identified key signals correlating to galactose, glucose, rhamnose and acid-related groups. Three distinct conformational stages were observed by AFM. The impact of CG on cell morphology and viability with both tumor and non-tumor cell lines was studied by AFM and 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazole)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay respectively. Antiproliferative activity was confirmed for HCT116 (colorectal carcinoma), B16F10 (melanoma) and HL60 (promyelocytic leukemia) cancer cell lines. A change in cell morphology was demonstrated as an increased surface roughness for HL60. Considering that a CG does not exhibit cytotoxicity to non-tumor lines, it can be seen that the CG shows selectivity for tumor cells and can be a promising biomaterial for future studies.