ABSTRACT
The present study highlights the investigation of antioxidant and antimicrobial property of different extracts of seed coat and leaf of cashew nut (Anacardium occidentale L.). The antioxidant activity was determined by the 2, 2- diphenyl -1 picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) method. Maximum activity was observed in acetonic extract of Anacardium occidentale leaf which was 52.50% (1000μg/ml). The antimicrobial activity had been tested for the plant parts using its aqueous, acetone and ethanol extracts against two Gram-positive human pathogenic bacteria like Micrococcus luteus (lab culture), Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC96), four Gramnegative human pathogenic bacteria Salmonella typhi (ATCC12600), Klebsiella pneumoniae (MTCC109), Escherichia coli (MTCC1687), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MTCC733). The ethanol extract of the seed coat of Anacardium occidentale L. were most efficacious against all the test organisms with zone of inhibition ranging from 12.0-34.0 mm, and the acetonic extract of the leaf sample of Anacardium occidentale L. was also active against all the test organisms with zone of inhibition ranging from 12.0-28.0 mm.