Cashew

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Cashew
• cashewnut
• Cachou Nut
• Cachou Nut Tree
• Cashew Apple
• Cashew Tree
• Cashew-Nut Tree
• Korocho Nut

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Acajuba occidentalis
• Cassuvium reniforme
• Cassuvium solitarium
• Anacardium occidentale var. americanum
• Anacardium curatellifolium
• Anacardium microcarpum
• Anacardium kuhlmannianum
• Cassuvium pomiferum
• Anacardium subcordatum
• Anacardium rondonianum
• Anacardium othonianum
• Anacardium occidentale var. gardneri

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Sapindales, it is classified under the family Anacardiaceae. Specifically, it is identified by the genus Anacardium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known scientifically as Anacardium occidentale, is distributed across several regions within West Tropical Africa. Specifically, its presence is documented in the nation of Benin. It can also be found growing within the borders of Burkina Faso. Furthermore, the species is located in Gambia and Guinea-Bissau. Finally, its geographical range extends to include the country of Guinea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Anacardium occidentale is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse and often challenging biomes, ranging from the semi-arid Caatinga (strictu sensu) and the tropical Cerrado (lato sensu) to the coastal Restinga ecosystems and the Amazonian Savanna (Savana Amazônica). This plant exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, thriving from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 1000 m AMSL, with a mean elevational range centered around 200 m AMSL. Such a wide ecological plasticity allows it to inhabit various soil types and moisture regimes across these distinct landscape types, demonstrating a resilient ability to establish itself in both coastal sandy environments and inland scrublands.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

200 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Caatinga (stricto sensu), Cerrado (lato sensu), Restinga, Savana Amazônica

Life history

The life history of Anacardium occidentale is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated branches, specifically functioning as a phanerophyte to protect its vital structures above the ground level. It exhibits an evergreen deciduousness pattern, meaning it retains its foliage throughout the year, providing a continuous canopy that supports its long-term survival and metabolic processes.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Anacardium occidentale is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree that functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor an epiphyte, as it is strictly terrestrial in its habitat. This self-supporting species exhibits significant vertical development, with a plant height that typically ranges from a minimum of 1 meter to a maximum of 12 meters, maintaining an average height of approximately 12 meters. As a woody tree, it does not possess climbing habits such as lianas or vines, instead relying on its own structural integrity to maintain its upright stature.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

12 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Anacardium occidentale is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic approach to carbon fixation. The plant exhibits specific leaf morphology, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 10 cm to a maximum of 21 cm, and leaf widths spanning from 5 cm to 10 cm. In terms of biomass composition, the leaf dry matter content (LDMC) remains consistent at a value of 385.1 mg/g, representing the mean, minimum, and maximum recorded levels. The foliage is non-succulent, lacking specialized water-storage tissues, and the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on soil nitrogen rather than symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria for its nutritional requirements.

Leaf dry matter content (LDMC) mean:

385.1 mg/g

Leaf length max:

21 cm

Leaf length min:

10 cm

Leaf width max:

10 cm

Leaf width min:

5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Anacardium occidentale begins with its inflorescence, which typically measures between 0.1 m and 0.25 m in length and features green flowers. The pollination process is facilitated by an ant-based pollination syndrome, and the plant is capable of self-fertilization. Following successful pollination, the plant develops a fleshy, indehiscent drupe. The fruit dimensions vary, with a mean length of 2.25 cm (ranging from 2 cm to 2.5 cm) and a mean width of 1.5 cm (ranging from 1.5 cm to 5 cm). The resulting seeds are substantial, characterized by a mean mass of 4.0865 g (ranging from 3.5 g to 4.673 g) and a consistent seed volume of 5000 mm³. The seeds reach a maximum length of 20 mm. Finally, the dispersal of the species is categorized as anthropochorous, relying on human activity for movement.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

green

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length max:

2.5 cm

Fruit length mean:

2.25 cm

Fruit length min:

2 cm

Fruit type :

drupe

Fruit width max:

5 cm

Fruit width mean:

1.5 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.25 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.1 m

Pollination syndrome :

ant

Seed length max:

20 mm

Seed mass max:

4.673 g

Seed mass mean:

4.0865 g

Seed mass min:

3.5 g

Seed volume max:

5000 mm³

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Anacardium occidentale has 4 reported plant parts identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, fruit, stem, seed.

Leaf

1. Applied radiation and isotopes : including data, instrumentation and methods for use in agriculture, industry and medicine
2. Biomarkers : biochemical indicators of exposure, response, and susceptibility to chemicals
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Fruit

1. Applied radiation and isotopes : including data, instrumentation and methods for use in agriculture, industry and medicine
2. Scientific reports

Stem

1. Applied radiation and isotopes : including data, instrumentation and methods for use in agriculture, industry and medicine
2. Indian journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Seed

1. Applied radiation and isotopes : including data, instrumentation and methods for use in agriculture, industry and medicine

Chemicals

Anacardium occidentale has 133 reported phytochemicals identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ANACARDIC ACID, Cardanol, Cardol, IRON, Ash.

ANACARDIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke
2. Basic & clinical pharmacology & toxicology
3. Biomedical chromatography : BMC
4. Blood
5. Genetics and molecular research : GMR

Cardanol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biomedical chromatography : BMC
3. Genetics and molecular research : GMR

Cardol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biomedical chromatography : BMC
3. Genetics and molecular research : GMR

IRON

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of food science
3. Indian journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Ash

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of food science

CADMIUM

1. Dr. Duke
2. Indian journal of pharmaceutical sciences

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of food science

LEAD

1. Dr. Duke
2. Indian journal of pharmaceutical sciences

MAGNESIUM

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of food science

Tannins

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Indian journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Activities

Anacardium occidentale has 590 reported activities identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Cytotoxic, Analgesic, Antibacterial, Fungicide.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Scientific reports
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Scientific reports
3. Pharmaceutical biology

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Scientific reports

Fungicide

1. Dr. Duke
2. Basic & clinical pharmacology & toxicology

Insecticide

1. Dr. Duke
2. Basic & clinical pharmacology & toxicology

Molluscicide

1. Dr. Duke
2. Basic & clinical pharmacology & toxicology

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-HETE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Anacardium occidentale has 47 reported medicinal uses identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include diabetes mellitus, inflammation, Oxidative Stress, edema, malaria.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations