Anacardium semecarpus

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• marking nut-tree
• phobi nut-tree
• varnishtree
• Oriental cashew
• bhilawa
• dhobi nut
• marking nut

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cassuvium anacardium

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Sapindales, it is classified under the family Anacardiaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Semecarpus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed across various regions within the Indian Subcontinent. Its presence is documented extensively throughout the country of India. Furthermore, it can be found growing in the specific landscape of Assam. The species also extends its range into neighboring nations such as Bangladesh and Nepal. Finally, its geographical reach includes the unique mountainous terrain of the East Himalaya.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Semecarpus anacardium is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing the plant to persist in its environment over many years. As a long-lived woody tree, it follows a life cycle that moves beyond the shorter durations of annual or biennial growth, establishing a stable and enduring presence in its native forest habitats. This perennial nature enables the plant to invest significant energy into developing a robust structural framework and a complex root system, which supports sustained growth and periodic reproductive cycles throughout its extended lifespan.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Semecarpus anacardium is characterized by its robust growth form as a large, woody tree. It is a self-supporting plant that grows as an independent organism, lacking any parasitic tendencies. Reaching a significant stature, the plant maintains a mean height of approximately 25 m. As a strictly terrestrial species, it thrives in land-based environments rather than aquatic or semiaquatic habitats. Its structural integrity is defined by its woody nature, providing the necessary support for its substantial tree-like architecture.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

25 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Semecarpus anacardium is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation process through the direct carboxylation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate by the enzyme RuBisCO. This metabolic strategy involves the standard Calvin cycle to convert atmospheric carbon dioxide into organic compounds, a process typical of most woody dicotyledonous plants. Furthermore, regarding its nutrient acquisition capabilities, the plant is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the specialized symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria (such as Rhizobium or Frankia) required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms; instead, it relies on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil through its root system.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Semecarpus anacardium is characterized by a specialized reproductive strategy involving the production of drupe-type fruits. These fruits are indehiscent, meaning they do not split open at maturity to release their contents, which is consistent with their role in the plant's dispersal mechanism. The seeds produced are uniform in size, with a recorded mass of 1.111 g (representing the minimum, mean, and maximum values), suggesting a highly consistent seed development process. Dispersal is primarily zoochorous, relying on animals to aid in the movement of the seeds to new locations. Furthermore, the species exhibits a reproductive pattern where self-fertilization is absent, necessitating cross-pollination to ensure genetic diversity and successful seed set.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit type :

drupe

Seed mass mean:

1.111 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Semecarpus anacardium has 3 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, seed, stem.

Leaf

1. Frontiers in microbiology

Seed

1. Phytochemistry

Stem

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Semecarpus anacardium has 18 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Glycosides, Saponins, Tannins, triterpenoids.

Flavonoids

1. Journal of nanoscience and nanotechnology
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
3. Frontiers in microbiology

Glycosides

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
2. Frontiers in microbiology

Saponins

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
2. Journal of dentistry (Tehran, Iran)

Tannins

1. Journal of nanoscience and nanotechnology
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

triterpenoids

1. Journal of nanoscience and nanotechnology
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

ANACARDIC ACID

1. Ayu

Aflatoxin B(1)

1. Pharmacological research

Aflatoxin M(1)

1. Pharmacological research

Anacardoside

1. Phytochemistry

BHILAWANOL

1. Ayu

Activities

Semecarpus anacardium has 11 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Anticarcinogenic, Antiatherogenic, Anticancer, Anticoagulant.

Antioxidant

1. Bioscience reports
2. Pharmacognosy reviews
3. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
4. Inflammopharmacology
5. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Anticarcinogenic

1. Bioscience reports
2. Pharmacognosy reviews

Antiatherogenic

1. Pharmacognosy reviews

Anticancer

1. Journal of nanoscience and nanotechnology

Anticoagulant

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Antihelminthic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antiinflammatory

1. Pharmacognosy reviews

Antimicrobial

1. Pharmacognosy reviews

CNS-Stimulant

1. Pharmacognosy reviews

Cytotoxic

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Conditions

Semecarpus anacardium has 16 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancer, arthritis, obesity, Dental caries, Diabetes mellitus.

Cancer

1. Pharmacological research
2. Regulatory toxicology and pharmacology : RTP
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Arthritis

1. Indian journal of experimental biology
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Obesity

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Dental caries

1. Journal of dentistry (Tehran, Iran)

Diabetes mellitus

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Anthelmintic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Atherogenesis

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Atherosclerosis

1. Recent patents on inflammation & allergy drug discovery

Blisters

1. Ayu

Diabetes mellitus

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Preparations

Semecarpus anacardium has 8 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include nut extract, aqueous extract, extracts, leaf extracts, monoherb.

Nut extract

1. Pharmacological research
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Aqueous extract

1. Bioscience reports

Extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Leaf extracts

1. Frontiers in microbiology

Monoherb

1. Clinical rheumatology

Saponins

1. Journal of dentistry (Tehran, Iran)

Water soluble fraction

1. Inflammation

Water-soluble fractions

1. Inflammopharmacology