Cashew nut (Anacardium occidentale L.) testa as a potential source of bioactive compounds: A review on its functional properties and valorization

Abstract

Cashews are widely consumed tree nuts due to their high nutritional content and health benefits. Cashew nut testa is one of the cashew industry by-products with various bioactive compounds. This article explores the bioactive compounds, extraction methods and functional properties of cashew nut testa. In addition, the applications of cashew nut testa in food and other industries were also discussed. Articles published between the year 2000 and 2023 were analyzed for this study using databases such as Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, Pub Med and Springer Link. Articles focusing on the phytochemistry and valorization of cashew nut testa were selected for this review. Various bioactive compounds are found in cashew nut testa. It is rich in polyphenols, especially catechin, epicatechin, catechin gallate and procyanidin, which have shown to possess antioxidant and anti-microbial properties. There is a great potential to use this by-product due to the higher production of cashew nuts resulting in the generation of huge quantities of testa as a by-product. Testa has different bioactive properties, resulting in its multifaceted utilization in diverse industries. Overall, this review article provides insights into the phytochemistry and various applications of this agro-industrial by-product.