Cashew Gum: A Review of Brazilian Patents and Pharmaceutical Applications with a Special Focus on Nanoparticles

Abstract

Natural polysaccharides are structures composed of highly diversified biological macromolecules whose properties have been exploited by a diversity of industries. Until 2018, the polysaccharides market raised more than US $ 12 billion worldwide, while an annual growth forecast of 4.8% is expected by 2026. The food industry is largely responsible for the consumption of this plant-source material, produced by microbiological fermentation. Among the used polysaccharides, gums are hydrocolloids obtained from a variety of sources and in different forms, being composed of salts of calcium, potassium, magnesium and sugar monomers. Their non-toxicity, hydrophilicity, viscosity, biodegradability, biocompatibility and sustainable production are among their main advantages. Although Brazil is amongst the largest producers of cashew gum, reaching 50 tons per year, the polysaccharide is not being used to its full potential, in particular, with regard to its uses in pharmaceuticals. Cashew gum (CG), obtained from Anacardium occidentale L., caught the attention of the industry only in 1970; in 1990, its production started to grow. Within the Brazilian academy, the groups from the Federal University of Ceará and Piauí are devoting the most efforts to the study of cashew gum, with a total of 31 articles already published. The number of patents in the country for innovations containing cashew tree gum has reached 14, including the technological process for the purification of cashew tree gum, comparison of physical and chemical methods for physicochemical characterizations, and optimum purification methodology. This scenario opens a range of opportunities for the use of cashew gum, mainly in the development of new pharmaceutical products, with a special interest in nanoparticles.

Evaluation of the anti-trypanosoma activity of alkaloids from Pilocarpus microphyllus by molecular docking: A search for new drugs for Chagas disease

“…Seeking to suggest new drugs for therapy for NTDs, especially focusing on Chagas diseases, it was reported the Brazilian flora, as a feasible alternative for the discovery of molecules with bioactive potential (AMARAL et al, 2022;CALDEIRA et al, 2017a;SAEED;KHAN, 2019;ROCHA et al, 2017). A great example is Pilocarpus microphyllus, which is a plant species that has in its leaf's alkaloids with high antiparasitic potential, demonstrated in studies performing in silico, in vitro e in vivo experiments (DE SÁ et al, 2023;GUIMARÃES et al, 2015;M.…”

On the Unique Morphology and Elastic Properties of Multi-Jet Electrospun Cashew Gum-Based Fiber Mats

“…Plastic pollution and a lack of biodegradability, together with the scarcity of oil sources, have boosted worldwide research into renewable and biodegradable alternatives to petroleum-based polymers for various applications [1]. In this connection, agro-based polymers and natural gums have been described as promising biodegradable polymeric materials [2]. The term "gum" identifies exudates or slims, which are not part of the vegetable cell wall, also known as polysaccharide hydrocolloids [3].…”

Structural and Thermal Characteristics of Buriti Tree Gum (Mauritia flexuosa)

“…By 2018, the polysaccharides market had raised more than USD 12 billion worldwide, while an annual growth forecast of 4.8% is expected by 2026. The food industry is largely responsible for the consumption of this plant-source material, which is produced by microbiological fermentation [ 4 ].…”