ASSESSMENT OF THE MEDICAL VALUE AND INDUSTRIAL VALUE FROM CASHEW (ANACARDIUM OCCIDENTALE)

Abstract

Cashew fruit, also known as peaches with seed outside, is considered a fruit with seeds that contain a lot of nutrients besides common nuts such as beans, walnuts, macadamia. Cashew kernels contain a large amount of substances such as minerals, amino acids, fats, sugars and fiber. That is also the reason why this seed has many medicinal values ​​and is becoming more and more popular. In addition to the dominant cashew kernel in terms of exploitation and economy, experts from different industries have been working hard to study other components of the fruit in order to create high-value by-products. The flesh of the fruit contains a high content of vitamin C and a number of essential nutrients, so it is used as a juice, wine, candy, jam or more as a source of reducing sugars for fermentation and enzyme production in foods. production process. In the hard shell contains a liquid called cashew shell oil (CNSL) with the main ingredients being anacardic acid (70%), cardol (18%) and cardanol (5%). This is considered to be the most important by-product of interest from manufacturing industries such as paint glue and automobiles. CNSL is a promising bio-compound capable of reducing the environmental impacts of plastics and the composite industry. Cashew shell after CNSL extraction is used as fuel – a promising option due to its wide availability from cashew nut factories and low cost.