Description:
The cashew, or caju, is a small tree native to Brazil. Cashew nuts are the seeds of the cashew apple, and are found in the grey bump at the end of the fruit. The cashew apple itself is sweet, soft and juicy.Cashews are usually sold roasted and salted and eaten as a snackCommon Names:
in English: cashew, cashew apple, cashew gum, cashew nut, cashew-nut tree, cashew tree, coffin nail, East Indian almond, korocho nut
in Guatemala: jocote marañon
in South America: acajaiba, acaju, cacahuil, caju, cajú, caju manso, cajueiro, cajuil, casca antidiabética, cashu, cayú, marañon, merche, merehi, merey, sacaju, salsaparrilha-dos-pobres
in East Africa: mkanju, mutua, nkorosho in Madagascar: abiba, abibo, bibo, mabibo
in Mali: jibarani
in Nigeria: acashu, ejoju, ekaju, ikasu, kaju, kanju
in Southern Africa: kasjoe, mbiba
in Tanzania: mkorosho, nkorosho
in West Africa: e-lil-e-potho, kushu, kusui
in Burma: thiho thayet si
in Cambodia: svaay chantii
in China: du xian zi
in India: agnikrita, andima, andimangottai, arushkara, bi, duk, gaeru, gaeru beeja, gaeru kaayi, gaeru pappu, gaerumara, gerapoppu, gerbija, gerligai, geru, geru beeja, geru pappu, gerubija, gerupoppu, godambe, godambee, godambi mara, godambimara, godami, godumbi, gokuda, gonkuda, gori, govamba, govambe, gove, gove gaeru, gove hannu, guchhapushpa, hajli badam, hijli badam, jaedima-midi, jeedimaamidi, jidi, jidi mamidi, jidi-mamidi-vittu, jidimamidi, kaajoocha, kajoo, kajooaka, kaju, kaju-ki-gutli, kajucha, kajutah, kajutaka, kajutakah, kallarma, kapamava, kapamava, kappa-mavakuru, kappa-mavu, kappaimavu, kappal-cheru-kuru, kappalcher, kappalmavu, kappalsera, kappamavakum, kappamavu, karmavu, kashumavu, kasumavu, kempu gaeru, kempugeru, kempukerubija, kollaamaram, kollamma, kottai-mundiri, kottai munitirima, kottaimundiri, lanka amba, lonkabhalya, mandiri pappu, mindiri-appazham, mindiriparuppu, mokka mamidi, mokkamaamidi, mokkamamidi, moonthamamidivittu, mundhiri, mundiri, mundiri-kai, mundiri kottai, mundthri, munta mamidi, muntamamidi, muntamamidivittu, munthamaamidi, munthiri, munthri, munthri-kottei, muntiri, muntiri-p-palam, ote rai, parangimavu, parankimava, parankimavu, paringimavu, parvati, patirimavu, portugimavu, portukimavu, prithagabija, pritikannavu, saram, shoephahara, sigidima, sophahara, sophara, srigdhahapitaphala, tarukageru, thuruka geru, tirigai, turakageru, turukageru, upapushpika, uttumabalam, venamrah, vrittapatra, vrkkabijah, vrkkaphalah, vrttarushkarah
in Indonesia: buwa jaki, buwa yakis, buwah monyet, gaju, jambu dipa, jambu dwipa, jambu erang, jambu gajus, jambu jipang, jambu mede, jambu mete, jambu monye, jambu monyet, jambu parang, jambu sempal, jambu seran, jambu siki, jangus gajus, jhambhu monyet, kanoke, masapana,
nyambu monyet, nyambu nyebet
in Japan: kashu-nato
in Malaysia: gajus, jambu bongkok, jambu gajus, jambu
golok, jambu monyet, janggar, janggus, kanjus, keterek, terek
in Philippines: balogo, balubad, balubar, balubat, balugo, batuban, bolugo, kasoi, kasoy, kasue, kasui, kasul, kologo, kosing, sambalduke, in Thailand: ma-muang-himma-phan, mamuang himmaphan, mamuang letlor, muang-let-lo, thai-lo, ya-ngai, yaruang, yaruang
in Vietnam: cây diêù, dào lôn hôt
Floral Description:
According to Flora of China:
Trees or shrubs, 4-10 m tall; branchlets glabrous to subglabrous. Petiole 1-1.5 cm; leaf blade obovate, 8-11 × 6-8.5 cm, leathery, glabrous on both sides, base broadly cuneate, margin entire, apex rounded, truncate to retuse, lateral veins ca. 12 pairs, reticulate venation pattern prominent on both sides. Inflorescence paniculate, 10-20 cm, glabrous to densely grayish sericeous; floral subtending bracts ovate-lanceolate, 5-10 mm, keeled, grayish sericeous abaxially, glabrous adaxially. Flower sessile to shortly pedicellate. Calyx grayish sericeous abaxially, ca. 4 × 1.5 mm. Petals 5, greenish yellow to red, linear-lanceolate, 7-9 × ca. 1.2 mm, grayish sericeous abaxially, minutely pubescent to subglabrous adaxially. Stamens 7-10, larger one 8-9 mm in male flowers, 5-6 mm in bisexual flowers, sterile stamens 3-4 mm. Ovary ca. 2 mm, glabrous; style 4-5 mm. Fleshy hypocarp 3-7 × 4-5 cm, purplish red at maturity; drupe reniform, 2-2.5 × ca. 1.5 cm.
Pharmacological Activities and Uses
The shells of cashews are cross-reactive with catechols of Rhus species. The black corrosive liquid obtained from the pericarp of the nut of Semecarpus anacardium L.f. is also known as bhilawa nut shell liquid, and is analogous in many respects with cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) from Anacardium occidentale. It has been shown to contain anacardic acid. As well as having vesicant and allergenic properties, the bhilawanols have cytotoxic activity. Resorcinols may be involved as primary and secondary contact allergens, and also as primary irritants. Anaphylactic reaction after eating small amounts of cashew nuts. Resin in leprosy. Bark infusion antidiabetic, bark paste applied on piles; bark decoction taken every month during menstruation as a contraceptive. Root bark tincture in reducing blood pressure. Root, bark, leaves and fruit analgesic, antipyretic, antibacterial, antiinflammatory, antiulcerogenic, to treat snakebite, odontalgia, inflammation of the gums, leprosy, ringworm, corns, skin diseases, dysentery, hemorrhoids, anorexia and to increase hair growth; bark and leaves infusion astringent, used for dysentery. Milky latex from the seeds smeared for foot sores; fruit juice taken for cholera. A wine from the fresh fruits used for chronic dysentery
Known Hazards
The shell of the nut contains an acrid juice that acts as a powerful vesicant. The active ingredient is cardole and it is poisonous in the same way as poison ivy (Toxicodendron spp.). Very irritant to the skin, causing severe blistering. It is destroyed by heat, so roasting the seed whilst in its shell renders it completely safe.
Other Uses
The fruits contain 45 - 47% oil which has high heat resistance. It is an excellent lubricant and is also used in varnishes, inks, termite proofing wood, insulating coatings etc. The bark contains an acrid sap of thick brown resin, which becomes black on exposure to air. This is used as indelible ink in marking and printing linens and cottons.The resin is also used as a varnish, a preservative for fishnets and a flux for solder metals. The stem yields an amber-coloured gum, which is partly soluble in water, the main portion swelling into a jellylike mass. This gum is used as an adhesive (for woodwork panels, plywood, bookbinding), partly because it has insecticidal properties. It is also used in inks, dyes and varnishes. The acrid sap of the bark contains 3-5% tannin and is employed in the tanning industry. One of the components of the bark gum acts as a vesicant and has insect repellent properties. The toxic, acrid oil in the shell has high polymerizing and friction-reducing properties and is used as a waterproofing agent and preservative. It can be used for treating fishing nets, woodwork etc in order to repel termites. The oil in the shell can also be added to paraffin to make it more effective in controlling mosquito larvae. It has been used in the manufacture of plastics, and in the manufacture of certain sorts of paints such as are used for ship's keels, cement surfaces and where corrosive influences preclude the use of ordinary pain. Distilled and polymerized, the oil is also used in insulating varnishes and in the manufacture of typewriter rolls, oil- and acid-proof cements and tiles, friction-modifying material for brake linings, as a component of space-rocket lubricants, inks, etc. The reddish-brown wood is light in weight, fairly hard, but is subject to termite attack. It is sometimes used for construction and general carpentry. It is usually of unsuitable dimensions for construction. Pulp from the wood is used to fabricate corrugated and hardboard boxes. The wood makes a good charcoal and fuel. The residue of the shell is often used as fuel in cashew nut shell liquid extraction plants.
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