Antimutagenic activity of cashew apple (Anacardium occidentale Sapindales, Anacardiaceae) fresh juice and processed juice (cajuína) against methyl methanesulfonate, 4-nitroquinoline N-oxide and benzo[a]pyrene

Abstract

Cashew apple juice (CAJ), produced from the native Brazilian cashew tree (Anacardium occidentale), and has been reported to have antibacterial, antifungal, antitumor, antioxidant and antimutagenic properties. Both the fresh unprocessed juice and the processed juice (cajuína in Portuguese) has been shown to consist of a complex mixture containing high concentrations of anacardic and ascorbic acids plus several carotenoids, phenolic compounds and metals. We assessed both types of juice for their antimutagenic properties against the direct mutagens methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) and 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide (4-NQO) and the indirect mutagen benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) using pre-treatment, co-treatment and post-treatment assays with Salmonella typhimurium strains TA100, TA102, and TA97a. In pre-treatment experiments with strains TA100 and TA102 the fresh juice showed high antimutagenic activity against MMS but, conversely, co-treatment with both juices enhanced MMS mutagenicity and there was an indication of toxicity in the post-treatment regime. In pre-, co-, and post-treatments with TA97a as test strain, antimutagenic effects were also observed against 4-NQO and BaP. These results suggest that both fresh and processed CAJ can protect the cells against mutagenesis induced by direct and indirect mutagens.

Biological activity of phenolic lipids

“…The antimutagenic properties against the direct mutagens methyl methanesulfonate and 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide and the indirect mutagen benzo[a]pyrene were investigated using pre-treatment, co-treatment, and post-treatment assays with Salmonella typhimurium strains. The results suggest that both fresh and processed cashew apple juice can protect the cells against mutagenesis [96]. An antigenotoxic effect was shown for 5-n-alkylresorcinols in HT29 human colon cancer cells.…”

Anti-inflammatory and wound healing potential of cashew apple juice (Anacardium occidentale L.) in mice

“…1,4,11 Its phytochemical profile reveals a complex source of natural antioxidants as phenolic compounds and carotenoids what makes this pseudofruit an excellent source of antioxidants that can scavenge free radical or reactive oxygen species (ROS), inhibit free radical formation, and prevent damage of cellular components, as well as cellular death. 10,[12][13][14] More recently, the interest and research on the nutritional and medicinal properties of cashew apple and its juice have grown, 11,15 but none of these studies have evaluated the anti-inflammatory and healing potential of cashew apple or juice. Therefore, the present study evaluated the antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and healing properties of cashew apple juice.…”

Phenolic lipid ingredients from cashew nuts

“…As major components of cashew nuts, anacardic acid and its analogues have attracted considerable attention in the areas of biological activities, for example against tooth abscesses due to their lethality to Gram-positive bacteria, molluscicidal activity [2], anti-tumor activity [3][4][5], antimicrobial activity [6][7][8], inhibition of a-glucosidase, invertase and aldose reductase [9], inhibition of tyrosinase [10], antioxidant activity [11,12], antimutagenic activity [13] and inhibition of acetylcholinesterase [14]. Despite being a multifunctional and high nutritional food resource, we are more interested in its immunological modulation and effects on drug metabolism through the cytochrome P450 enzyme system.…”