Preliminary study of phytochemical constituents and antimicrobial activity of two varieties of cashew apple grown in Nigeria

Aims@#The specific aim of this study was to investigate the phytochemical constituents and antimicrobial activities of cashew apple (Anacardium occidentale) grown in Nigeria. @*Methodology and results@#The cashew apples (red and yellow) were plucked directly from parent tree, sliced and drained in a press. Thereafter, it was dried, grounded and extracted using solvent percolation. The extracts were screened for the presence of phytochemicals and antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans using agar well diffusion method while the minimum inhibitory concentration was done using tube dilution technique. Alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, steroids, glycosides, terpenoids, phenols and anthraquinones were found in the two varieties at varying degree. However, saponin was not detected in either of the variety. The antimicrobial activities of the red and yellow cashew apples were comparable at all the concentrations used. Also, these activities were concentration dependent in all the samples as increased zones of inhibition were observed as the concentrations increased. There was a significant (p ≤ 0.05) difference between the antimicrobial activities of the different extracts. The largest inhibition zones were recorded against E. coli (22.33±0.15 mm) and K. pneumoniae (24.33±0.01 mm) for red cashew apple ethanol extracts at 30mg/mL while A. fumigatus (5.33±0.00 mm) showed the least zone of inhibition against the same extract. Ethanol extracts recorded the highest inhibitory activities against all the test organisms, followed by aqueous extract while n-hexane extract had the least inhibitory activity on the organisms. The least MIC recorded was 2.5 mg/mL and it was obtained against S. aureus (Red aqueous extract, red and yellow ethanol extracts), E. coli and K. pneumoniae (red and yellow ethanol extracts) while the highest MIC was 30 mg/mL recorded against B. subtilis (yellow n-hexane extract). In all, the ethanol extracts of the cashew apples showed comparable antimicrobial activities with the controls at 30 mg/mL. @*Conclusion, significance and impact of study@#The result of this investigation confirms the presence of bioactive substances in cashew apple which may be responsible for its antimicrobial activities against selected microorganisms, consequently, supporting the folkloric use of the apple in the treatment of various diseases.

Cashew apple juice as microbial cultivation medium for non-immunogenic hyaluronic acid production

In this work, natural cashew apple juice was used as cultivation medium as an alternative to substitute brain heart infusion medium. The effect of aeration and juice supplementation with yeast extract on the production of hyaluronic acid in batch fermentation was also investigated. Similar levels of cell mass were obtained in inoculum using cashew apple juice supplemented with yeast extract or the conventional brain heart infusion medium. Fermentation in Erlenmeyer flasks produced low biomass and hyaluronic acid concentrations. The hyaluronic acid concentration and viscosity increased from 0.15 g/L and 3.87 cP (no aeration or medium supplementation) to 1.76 g/L and 107 cP, when aeration (2 vvm) and 60 g/L of yeast extract were used. The results suggest the production of low-molecular weight hyaluronic acid oligomers instead of the high molecular weight polymer.

Respostas reprodutivas e metabólicas de ovelhas alimentadas com bagaço de caju desidratado, durante o pós-parto / Reproductive and metabolic responses of ewes fed dehydrated cashew apple bagasse during the postpartum period

Avaliou-se o efeito da adição de bagaço de caju desidratado (BCD), durante o pós-parto, em 41 ovelhas, alojadas com suas crias em baias, onde recebiam, à vontade, 75 por cento de capim-elefante + 25 por cento de concentrado (DI; n=17), ou 50 por cento de BCD + 25 por cento de capim-elefante + 25 por cento de concentrado (DII; n=24). Cinquenta dias pós-parto, o estro foi sincronizado, e as ovelhas submetidas à monta natural. O grupo DI perdeu mais peso (P<0,05), e o consumo de proteína bruta e de fibra em detergente neutro foi maior nesse grupo (P<0,001). A inclusão de BCD na dieta II induziu ao aumento do consumo de matéria seca, extrato etéreo e fibra em detergente ácido (P<0,001) e redução significativa das concentrações de colesterol, lipídios totais, albumina e proteína total (P<0,001). Não houve diferença entre os grupos (P>0,05) no tempo de retorno do primeiro corpo lúteo funcional, na resposta à sincronização do estro e nas taxas de gestação e prolificidade. A inclusão de 50 por cento de BCD amenizou as perdas de peso, foi bem consumida e não influenciou nas respostas reprodutivas após a sincronização do estro.

The effect of the addition of dehydrated cashew apple bagasse (DCB) to the diet on ewe postpartum response was evaluated on 41 ewes, housed with their kids in pens, where they received two diets containing 75 percent of Elephant Grass plus 25 percent of concentrate (Diet I; n=17), or 50 percent of DCB plus 25 percent of Elephant Grass plus 25 percent of concentrate (Diet II; n=24). On the 50th day postpartum, estrus was synchronized and ewes mated. Diet Igroup exhibited a greater loss of live weight (P<0.05) and higher intakes of crude protein and neutral detergent fiber (P<0.001). By contrast, animals from diet II showed a significantly increase in dry matter, ether extract, and acid detergent fiber intakes (P<0.001), and lower plasmatic concentrations of cholesterol, total lipids, albumin, and total protein (P<0.001). No differences were found between groups (P>0.05) for the presence of first functionally CL, estrus synchronization response, and gestation or prolificity rates. Thus, the addition of DCB to the diet was well accepted, induced a reduction of weight loss, and did not affect the reproductive response of ewes.

Propriedades antioxidantes em subproduto do pedúnculo de caju (Anacardium occidentale L. ): efeito sobre a lipoperoxidação e o perfil de ácidos graxos poliinsaturados em ratos / Antioxidant properties in cashew apple byproduct (Anacardium occidentale L. ): effect on lipoperoxidation and on the polyunsaturated fatty acids profile in rats

O caju (Anacardium occidentale L.) apresenta substâncias fenólicas, as quais são atribuídas propriedades antioxidantes. Sendo assim, o presente trabalho objetivou verificar a capacidade antioxidante em subproduto, ou seja, no bagaço do pedúnculo do caju. O potencial antioxidante do extrato hidroalcoólico (EHAlc) do bagaço do pedúnculo de caju foi avaliado em sistema de varredura do radical 2,2'-difenil-1-picrilhidrazilo (DPPHò) e em ensaio in vivo. No sistema DPPH, o extrato demonstrou atividade antioxidante de cerca de 95% em sua maior concentração (1000 µg/mL). Para o estudo in vivo, foram utilizados ratos Wistar administrando oralmente EHAlc (200 e 400 mg/kg de peso corpóreo) por 30 dias e analisados os tecidos plasmático, hepático e cerebral. Não houve alterações na peroxidação lipídica no plasma e no fígado dos animais tratados comparados ao grupo controle. Contudo, foi observada redução da lipoperoxidação no cérebro dos grupos tratados. Além do mais, neste tecido, os animais tratados apresentaram maior quantidade de ácidos graxos poliinsaturados (AGPI), destacando-se o ácido docosahexaenóico (DHA). Estes resultados indicam que o EHAlc contém antioxidantes naturais efetivos e que podem contribuir na redução da lipoperoxidação e preservação dos AGPICL no tecido cerebral de ratos, dando indícios da capacidade antioxidante do bagaço do pedúnculo de caju CCP-76.

The cashew apple (Anacardium occidentale L.) contains phenolic compounds usually related with antioxidant properties. Then, the aim of this study was to investigate its antioxidant capacity. The antioxidant capacity of the hydroalcoholic extract of the cashew apple pulp (EHAlc.) was assessed for the scavenging of the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) by in vitro method and by an in vivo essay. For this essay a 30-day oral (gavage, EHAlc. 200 and 400 mg/kg) study was conducted in Wistar male rats, evaluating hepatic, plasma and brain tissues. In DPPH model, the extract demonstrated antioxidant activity of 95% (largest concentration, 1000 µg/ mL). There were found no relevant peroxidation comparing the treated animals with the control group. However, the treated group presented a lower level of brain lipoperoxidation. Also in the treated animals brain tissue was found the largest amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), mainly docosahexaenoic (DHA). Therefore, the analyzed extract from cashew apple pulp clone CCP-76 contains effective natural antioxidants, responsible for free radical scavenging in vitro and also for decreasing the brain lipoperoxidation and keeping the PUFAS levels in Wistar rats.

Propriedades antioxidantes de clones do pedúnculo de caju (Anacardium occidentale L. ): efeito sobre a lipoperoxidação e enzimas participantes do sistema antioxidante de defesa do organismo animal / Antioxidant properties of cashew apple clones (Anacardium occidentale L. ): effect on the lipoperoxidation and defense system antioxidant enzymes of the organism animal

Os compostos fenólicos são substâncias amplamente distribuídas no reino vegetal, em particular nas frutas e em outros vegetais. Estes compostos, destacando-se flavonóides e os ácidos fenólicos, devido à estrutura molecular, podem apresentar a capacidade de inibir processos oxidativos. Além do mais, estão relacionados com a redução de risco de doenças crônicas não transmissíveis tais como: cardiovasculares, câncer, aterosclerose, entre outras. Considerando a elevada produção de caju em território brasileiro e a possibilidade da existência de compostos com potencial antioxidante no pedúnculo de caju, este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar quantitativa e qualitativamente os compostos fenólicos, particularmente os ácidos fenólicos, e identificar a participação destes em processos metabólicos do organismo animal. Foram caracterizados quimicamente três clones distintos de pedúnculos de caju (CCP-76, CCP-09, BRS-189 e CCP-76 tratado) e na análise química, apresentaram um elevado teor de ácidos graxos monoinsaturados, predominando o ácido oléico, e de fenólicos totais. Os ácidos fenólicos identificados foram: gálico, protocatecuíco, 'rô'-cumárico, ferúlico, caféico e salicílico. Foram obtidos extratos aquoso (EAq) e alcoólico (EAlc) e frações de ácidos fenólicos a partir dos pedúnculos e, avaliados em sistemas modelo 'beta'-caroteno/ácidolinoléico e em Rancimat As frações de ácidos fenólicos exibiram expressiva atividade antioxidante no primeiro sistema e os extratos, no segundo, demonstraram fatores de proteção superior ao antioxidante sintético BHT. Pôde-se também verificar a capacidade antioxidante dos extratos e frações do clone CCP-76 no sistema de varredura do radical DPPH. Em ensaio experimental com ratos, em condição normal, foi administrado EAq (80 e 240 mg/kg, v.o.) ou fração de ácidos fenólicos livres (40 e 120 mg/kg, v.o.) obtidos do pedúnculo de caju CCP-76...

Phenolic compounds are widely distributed in the plant kingdom, particularly fruits and vegetables. Due to their chemical structure, these compounds, in particular flavonoids and phenolic acids, are able to inhibit oxidative processes. Furthermore, can be used to reduce the risk of non-transmissible chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer and atherosclerosis. Taking into consideration the large production of cashew in Brazil and the possible existence of potentially antioxidant compounds present in the cashew apples, the aim of this study was to quantitatively and qualitatively evaluate the presence of phenolic compounds in cashew apple, particularly phenolic acids, and identify their role in metabolic processes in animals. The cashew apples of three distinct clones (CCP-76, CCP-09, BRS-189 and CCP-76 (processed)) were studied. The determination of fatty acids yielded a high concentration of monounsaturated fatty acids, mainly oleic acid, and of total phenolic compound. The phenolic acids found were: gallic, proteocatechuic, p-cumaric, ferulic, caffeic and salicylic acids. Both aqueous (EAq) and ethanolic (EAlc) extracts and phenolic acid fractions were obtained from the cashew apples and were evaluated in a ß-carotene/linoleate model system and Rancimat test. The phenolic acid fractions presented an expressive antioxidant activity in the ß-carotene/linoleate model system and the extracts, by the Rancimat test presented a protection factor higher than that of antioxidant additive, BHT. We also observed the antioxidant capacity of the extracts and fractions of the CCP-76 clone in the DPPH radical scavenging assay. In an experimental assay with rats, the EAq (80 and 240 mg/kg) or the free phenolic acid fraction (40 and 120 mg/kg) obtained from the cashew apple of CCP-76 clone was administered via the oral route. In this study, the enhancement of enzymatic antioxidants (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and reductase) was not observed, nevertheless, a decrease in the amount of lipoperoxidation in the brain tissue was observed, suggesting that the ingestion of cashew might increase the antioxidative state in animals. Also, the antioxidant activity of EAq and of the free phenolic acid fraction from the cashew apple of CCP-76 clone was verified on the liver damage induced by carbon tetrachloride. The liver damage caused by the administration of carbon tetrachloride was detected by biochemical parameters, namely, the increase in the serum concentrations of alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) as well as a decrease in the activities of antioxidant enzymes and an increase in peroxidation in the liver. Rats who received EAq (480 mg/kg, p.o.) did not present alterations in any of the parameters evaluated, compared to the animals treated with carbon tetrachloride. On the other hand, the administration of free the phenolic acid fraction in doses of 40 and 120 mg/kg, p.o., had a pronounced effect in protecting against hepatic lesion, which was evidenced by the decrease in plasma ALT and AST, enhancing the activity of antioxidant enzymes and preventing lipoperoxidation mediated by the CCl3• radical generated by carbon tetrachloride. Histological studies were able to confirm the biochemical alterations observed in that the liver tissue obtained from rats treated with phenolic acid fractions extracted from cashew apple of CCP-76 clone presented a preserved tissue structure and suppression of macro and microgoticular vacuolar degeneration as well as of signs of necrosis.