Technical Cashew Nut Shell Liquid Research Articles

Chitosan associated with technical cashew nut shell liquid in supplements for grazing beef steers: nitrogen balance and rumen metabolism

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate the inclusion of the chitosan (CHI) and technical cashew nutshell liquid (CNSLT) on nitrogen metabolism and ruminal fermentation on pasture system. Five steers (5 × 5 Latin square); kept of Marandu grass and supplemented daily by up to 0.4% BW. The experimental diets were: CON (mineral supplement); PRO (protein supplement); CHI supplementation; CNSLT supplementation and CC (CHI + CNSLT supplementation). Animals supplemented with CNSLT showed a reduction of pasture intake. The combination CC increased the intake of supplement. Steers supplemented with the combination of CNSLT, and CHI showed a higher supplement intake. The ruminal pH for the animals that received the combination of CNSLT and CHI, showed the lowest values. CHI decreased rumen acetate concentration, and increased propionate. Animals fed CC had a higher concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and a reduced value for purines. CNSLT increased the excretion of total purines, microbial nitrogen synthesis and crude protein. Animals that received CC showed higher urinary excretion of N compared to the other treatments. The CHI + CNSLT proved to be favourable, with a higher total concentration of SCFA and positive effect on nitrogen balance.

Effect of technical cashew nut shell liquid on growth, physicochemical and fatty acid composition of lamb meat

The cashew nut shell liquid is one natural antioxidant rich in phenolic lipids, and when detoxified (technical CNSL or tCNSL), it can be added as a natural antioxidant and energy source in the diets of ruminants. The tCNSL was added to the lambs' diet replacing ground corn to evaluate its effect on meat quality. A total of 40 Dorper × Santa Inês crossbred male lambs with a mean age of five months and initial body weight of 27.0 ± 0.5 kg were distributed in a randomized blocks design with four treatments [tCNSL inclusion at 0 (control), 0.75; 1.5 % and 2.25 % in dry matter (DM)] with 10 lambs per treatment. The tCNSL showed high (P < 0.05) antioxidant activity. Adding the tCNSL in lamb diet up to 1.5 % of DM improved the DMI, energy intake and growth performance of the lambs (P ≤ 0.05). The redness coloration and saturation index, the concentrations of vaccenic acid and the sum of trans-fatty acids of the meat increased linearly (P ≤ 0.05) by tCNSL inclusion in lamb diets. The lamb meat concentrations of oleic and rumenic acid ∑MUFAcis and ∑MUFA/∑SFA ratio reduced linearly (P ≤ 0.05), and hypocholesterolemic and hypercolesterolemic (h: H) ratio tended to be linearly reduced (P ≤ 0.10) due tCNSL diets inclusion. The inclusion of tCNSL in lamb diets did not affect (P > 0.05) the total fatty acids intake, feeding efficiency, meat quality parameters, such as pH, cooking loss, color indexes lightness (L*) and yellowness (b*), water holding capacity (WHC) and shear force (WBSF) and chemical composition (moisture, dry matter and crude ash). The tCNSL feed supplements are an alternative to synthetic additives in the lamb diet. Dietary tCNSL supplementation at 0.75 % in the diet of lambs, replacing ground corn, improves DMI, energy intake, performance, and meat coloration. In addition, the inclusion of the tCNSL changes the profile of fatty acids in meat because it increases vaccenic acid and consequently ∑MUFAtrans, and reduces ∑MUFAcis, h:H index and ∑MUFA of meat of the lamb.

Epoxy-free polyphenalkamine one-pack sustainable coating from technical cashew nut shell liquid: fabrication and electrochemical studies for anti-corrosive applications

Phenalkamines (PhAA) are commonly used as curing agents for epoxies and polyureas. This study reports the polymerization and crosslinking of virgin PhAA resin and its conversion to anti-corrosive coatings for commonly used mild steel substrate. In this work polyphenalkamine (PolyPhAA) resin was prepared in four different ratios via., one-step reaction between technical cashew nut shell liquid, aldehyde, and amine through an environment-friendly route without any catalyst. The coating properties were compared with trivial PhAA-cured-epoxy coatings. Standard spectral techniques were performed to confirm the formulation of PolyPhAA. X-Ray diffractionand scanning electron microscopy confirmed the amorphous behavior and nano-roughness of the coating surface. PolyPhAA2 (with 1:2:1) coatings depicted excellent hydrolytic stability up to 16 h, anti-icing ability (−15 to −18 °C for 24 h) and strong adhesion with the substrate. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and open circuit potential measurements revealed the formation of stable, well-adhered coating with a uniform impedance value in 106 Hz range, throughout the 40 days of immersion studies. Apart from expressing excellent corrosion protection ability, PolyPhAA2 coating showed high reflectiveness, hydrophobic character (contact angle 120°–135°), mechanical robustness, thermal stability (>300 °C), and chemically resistance. The in-expensive, sustainable, environment-friendly, and non-toxic one pack coatings could be an alternative to petroleum-based two-pack epoxy coatings in various engineering applications.

The Mobility of the Cap Domain Is Essential for the Substrate Promiscuity of a Family IV Esterase from Sorghum Rhizosphere Microbiome

Metagenomics offers the possibility to screen for versatile biocatalysts. In this study, the microbial community of the Sorghum bicolor rhizosphere was spiked with technical cashew nut shell liquid, and after incubation, the environmental DNA (eDNA) was extracted and subsequently used to build a metagenomic library. We report the biochemical features and crystal structure of a novel esterase from the family IV, EH0, retrieved from an uncultured sphingomonad after a functional screen in tributyrin agar plates. EH0 (optimum temperature [Topt], 50°C; melting temperature [Tm], 55.7°C; optimum pH [pHopt], 9.5) was stable in the presence of 10 to 20% (vol/vol) organic solvents and exhibited hydrolytic activity against p-nitrophenyl esters from acetate to palmitate, preferably butyrate (496 U mg-1), and a large battery of 69 structurally different esters (up to 30.2 U mg-1), including bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-terephthalate (0.16 ± 0.06 U mg-1). This broad substrate specificity contrasts with the fact that EH0 showed a long and narrow catalytic tunnel, whose access appears to be hindered by a tight folding of its cap domain. We propose that this cap domain is a highly flexible structure whose opening is mediated by unique structural elements, one of which is the presence of two contiguous proline residues likely acting as possible hinges, which together allow for the entrance of the substrates. Therefore, this work provides a new role for the cap domain, which until now was thought to be an immobile element that contained hydrophobic patches involved in substrate prerecognition and in turn substrate specificity within family IV esterases. IMPORTANCE A better understanding of structure-function relationships of enzymes allows revelation of key structural motifs or elements. Here, we studied the structural basis of the substrate promiscuity of EH0, a family IV esterase, isolated from a sample of the Sorghum bicolor rhizosphere microbiome exposed to technical cashew nut shell liquid. The analysis of EH0 revealed the potential of the sorghum rhizosphere microbiome as a source of enzymes with interesting properties, such as pH and solvent tolerance and remarkably broad substrate promiscuity. Its structure resembled those of homologous proteins from mesophilic Parvibaculum and Erythrobacter spp. and hyperthermophilic Pyrobaculum and Sulfolobus spp. and had a very narrow, single-entry access tunnel to the active site, with access controlled by a capping domain that includes a number of nonconserved proline residues. These structural markers, distinct from those of other substrate-promiscuous esterases, can help in tuning substrate profiles beyond tunnel and active site engineering.

Density Functional Theory Study of the Molecular Interaction between Selective Phenolic Compounds and Glycerol-Based Deep Eutectic Solvents

In this work, the global scalar properties, including the highest occupied orbital energy (HOMO), lowest unoccupied orbital energy (LUMO), global softness (S), hardness (η), electronegativity (χ), and electrophilicity index (ω) of the different salts of choline chloride [CHCL], tetra butyl ammonium bromide [TBAB], tetra methyl ammonium chloride [TMAC], tetra butyl phosphonium bromide [TBPB], tetra butyl ammonium chloride [TBAC] with glycerol [GLY], and these different combinations of deep eutectic solvents (DESs) with cardanol, were predicted using density functional theory in Gaussian 03 software (DFT theory). Furthermore, the sigma profile and sigma potential of all the studied DESs, technical cashew nut shell liquid (Tech.CNSL), natural cashew nut shell liquid (Natural.CNSL), and their phenolic compounds such as anacardic acid, cardanol, cardol, and 2-methyl cardol were generated using COSMO-RS model in COSMOThermX software in order to understand the molecular behavior of different salt combinations with glycerol for the removal of phenolic compounds from their mixtures in CNSL without affecting the individual compound structural configuration at the molecular level. Finally, the best DES was screened for the removal of selective phenolic compounds of cardanol from CNSL via the DES-based extraction process.

Corrosion protection of stainless steel by a new and low‐cost organic coating obtained from cashew nutshell liquid

AbstractIn this work, the corrosion protection of 316L steel was promoted by an electro‐synthesized polymer obtained from the technical cashew nutshell liquid (t‐CNSL). Spectroscopic techniques confirmed the polymer formation. The polymer was dispersed in the ethyl acetate solvent and used to form coatings on 316L steel substrates. The coated samples were subjected to electrochemical tests in a saline environment. The coated electrode with poly(t‐CNSL) polymer was exposed to the corrosive medium for 24 days, and superior corrosion protection was observed compared with the uncoated sample. The open circuit potential measurements showed that the coated sample possessed a more positive corrosion potential when compared with the uncoated substrate. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy results indicated that the coated electrode's polarization resistance (Rp) recorded ~1.0 MΩ cm2 after 24 days of exposure. A decrease in polarization resistance was observed with the exposure time due to the presence of micropores in the t‐CNSL coating. The polarization curves exhibited that the coated electrode with poly(t‐CNSL) has lower corrosion current density and less negative corrosion potential than the uncoated steel electrode. Therefore, t‐CNSL favors the manufacture of thin poly(t‐CNSL) coatings for corrosion protection purposes besides being a low‐cost material.

Chitosan-Based Nanoparticles for Cardanol-Sustained Delivery System.

Cardanol, principal constituent of the technical cashew nut shell liquid, has applications as antioxidant and antibacterial, and these properties may be enhanced through encapsulation. In the present study, we isolated and purified cardanol, and nanoparticles (NPs) were produced by polyelectrolyte complexation using polysaccharide systems with chitosan, sodium alginate, and non-toxic Arabic gum, because they are biocompatible, biodegradable, and stable. We characterized the NPs for morphological, physicochemical, and antioxidant activity. The micrographs obtained revealed spherical and nanometric morphology, with 70% of the distribution ranging from 34 to 300 nm, presenting a bimodal distribution. The study of the spectra in the infrared region suggested the existence of physicochemical interactions and cross-links between the biopolymers involved in the encapsulated NPs. Furthermore, the NPs showed better antioxidant potential when compared to pure cardanol. Thus, the encapsulation of cardanol may be an effective method to maintain its properties, promote better protection of the active ingredient, minimize side effects, and can target its activities in specific locations, by inhibiting free radicals in various sectors such as pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and biomedical.

Chitosan combined with technical cashew nut shell liquid improves in vitro ruminal parameters and gas production kinetics

The objective was to evaluate the inclusion of chitosan (CHI) and technical cashew nut shell liquid (CNSLt) as natural feed additives in cattle diets on nutrient digestibility, ruminal fermentation, and in vitro gas production kinetics. We conducted a completely randomized design with 5×4 factorial arrangement, with 20, 35, 50, 65, and 100% Tifton 85 hay and four additives, monensin (200 mg/kg DM), CNSLt (500 mg/kg DM), CHI (500 mg/kg DM), and CNSLt+CHI (500 mg/kg DM/each). Dry matter (DM) and [...]

Ecotoxicological Evaluation of Products Obtained from Technical Cashew Nutshell Liquid (tCNSL) Proposed as Larvicide to Control Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)

The development of new insecticides for vector control that are toxicologically safe and eco-friendly (such as those obtained from industrial by-products) is an important public health concern. Previous research has shown that the obtained tCNSL (technical cashew nutshell liquid) + NatCNSLS (sodium tCNSL sulfonate mixture) emulsion displayed both surfactant properties and larvicidal activity (LC50-24 h 110.6 mg/L). Thus, the emulsion is considered a promising alternative product for the control of Aedes aegypti. The goal of this study was an ecotoxicological evaluation of the tCNSL + NatCNSLS mixture emulsion and its components. In addition, we compared the toxicity of the tCNSL + NatCNSLS mixture emulsion with toxicity data from larvicide currently recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Ecotoxicological tests were performed to assess acute toxicity, phytotoxicity, cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and mutagenicity using Daphnia similis, Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, Oreochromis niloticus, Allium cepa, and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. Regarding acute toxicity, D. similis was the most sensitive test organism for the three evaluated products, followed by P. subcapitata and O. niloticus. The highest acute toxicity product was tCNSL. The tCNSL + NatCNSLS mixture emulsion did not show cytotoxic, genotoxic, or mutagenic effects, and showed low acute toxicity to D. similis. In addition, the tCNSL + NatCNSLS mixture emulsion presented a lower or similar toxicological classification to the larvicides recommended by the WHO. Therefore, ecotoxicological tests suggest that the tCNSL + NatCNSLS mixture emulsion can be considered a larvicide environmentally safe way to control Ae. aegypti.

Comparative studies on coating materials of urotropine modified furfurylolated-tCNSL and methylolated-tCNSL thermoset for anticorrosive application: Switching towards a cleaner approach

Urotropine (UT, 5–25 wt%) modified furfurylolated and methylolated technical Cashew Nut-Shell Liquid (tCNSL-Fur-UT, and tCNSL-Met-UT) were prepared to study the potential of greener derivatives as polymeric alternatives to petroleum products. Resins were synthesized using condensation reaction, green reactants (tCNSL, & furfural), and UT as a crosslinker. The chemical structures along with change in participating functional groups (-OH, –C=O, –NH) were established by Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) and Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) spectral analysis. Glass transition (Tg) and molecular changes with temperature was investigated by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). The coatings were studied for their potential to resist various corrosive chemicals (3.5% acid, 3.5% alkali, 3.5% saline and water). Thermal properties were investigated using Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Differential TGA (DTG) (N2 environment), and heating in an oven. The high thermal stability of the resin (>400 °C) supports the formation of well crosslinked and stable polymeric system. Systematic “American Society for Testing and Materials” (ASTM) analysis reveals the hydrophobic (107°), flexible, glossy (98 GU) and resistance to scratch, impact as well as bending abilities of formulated films. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) studies revealed superior corrosion inhibition ability (>90%) even after 40 days of constant exposure to corrosive (NaCl solution) ions. The tCNSL-Fur-UT15 was found to have superior properties among other systems, projecting 15% UT as the optimum crosslinker. The study highlights the importance of cleaner production of materials through tCNSL (Agro waste), zero residues, and green chemistry principles. It gives a perspective of broadening the scope of tCNSL as thermally stable and mechanically robust polymeric substitute to petroleum derivatives in practical anticorrosive applications.

Self-emulsifiable Bioactive Derivatives of Technical Cashew Nut Shell Liquid (tCNSL) Developed to Control Aedes aegypti Populations

Self-emulsifiable Bioactive Derivatives of Technical Cashew Nut Shell Liquid (tCNSL) Developed to Control Aedes aegypti Populations

Cashew nut shell liquids: Antimicrobial compounds in prevention and control of the oral biofilms

ObjectiveThe aim was to evaluate the antibacterial and antibiofilm activity of natural (n-CNSL) and technical (t-CNSL) cashew nut shell liquid against streptococci and enterococci related to dental caries and chronic apical periodontitis, respectively. Material and methodsMinimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined to assess the antimicrobial effect of both CNSLs (n-CSNL and t-CNSL) against S. oralis ATCC 10557, S. sobrinus ATCC 6715, S. parasanguinis ATCC 903, S. mutans UA 159 and E. faecalis ATCC 19433. The antibiofilm activity was evaluated by total biomass quantification, colony forming unit (CFU) counting and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, cytotoxic effect of the substances was evaluated on L929 and HaCat cell lines by MTS assay. ResultsThe n-CNSL and t-CNSL showed inhibitory and bactericidal effect against all strains tested in this study, with MIC and MBC values ranging from 1.5 to 25 μg/mL. Overall, both CNSLs showed significant reduction in biomass quantification and enumeration of biofilm-entrapped cells for the strains analyzed, in biofilm formation and preformed biofilms (p < 0.05). In biofilm inhibition assay, the t-CNSL and n-CNSL showed reduction in biomass and CFU number for all bacteria, except in cell viability of S. parasanguinis treated with t-CNSL (p > 0.05). Indeed, SEM images showed a reduction in the amount of biomass, bacterial cells and changes in cellular morphology of S. mutans. ConclusionIn conclusion, both substances showed effective antibacterial and antibiofilm activity against the strains used in the study, except in viability of S. parasanguinis cells treated with t-CNSL.

Sulphonates' mixtures and emulsions obtained from technical cashew nut shell liquid and cardanol for control of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae).

Aedes aegypti is the main mosquito vector of dengue, zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever diseases. The low effectiveness of vector control options is mainly related to the increased insect's resistance and to the toxicity of products used for non-target organisms. The development of new environmentally friendly and safer products is imperative. Technical cashew nut shell liquid (tCNSL), mostly composed by cardanol (C), is an abundant by-product of the cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) production chain, available at low cost, and with proven larvicidal activity. However, chemical modifications in both tCNSL and cardanol were required to increase their water solubilities. Our objectives were to synthesise and characterise sustainable, low-cost and easy-to-use multiple function products based on tCNSL, cardanol, and the sulphonates obtained from both; and to evaluate all these products efficacy as surfactants, larvicidal, and antimicrobial agents. None of the sulphonates presented antimicrobial and larvicidal activities. tCNSL and cardanol were successfully emulsified with sodium technical cashew nut shell liquid sulphonate (NatCNSLS, complex mixture of surfactants). The emulsions obtained presented larvicidal activity due to the presence of tCNSL and cardanol in their composition. Our results showed that the tCNSL+NatCNSLS mixture emulsion was an effective larvicide and surfactant multiple function product, with high availability and easy-to-use, which can facilitate its large-scale use in different environments. Graphical abstract.

Characterization and application of a selective coating for solar collectors from of the cashew nut shell liquid

Solar energy is the most promising energy source, due to its great availability and applicability in thermal energy applications. However, researchers still experience technological and economical challenge, since many systems that use this energy still have low efficiency and high cost. In this way, the development of new materials and technologies to increase the efficiency of solar thermal collectors is both a challenge and a necessity. In this context, the objective of this work is to obtain and analyze selective surfaces for solar thermal collectors, using cashew nut shell liquid. The cashew nut shell liquid can be classified as technical or natural, depending on the mode of extraction of cashew liquid. An experimental bench was built to simulate a flat plate solar collector under real operating conditions. For comparative purposes, the tests were performed between the cashew nut shell liquid and the commercial surface (MRTiNOX). In order to verify the structure morphology and the chemical composition of the surface, analyzes were performed by scanning electron microscopy. In order to identify the presence of components after the sintering process, the infrared analysis technique was used. To analyze the surface absorbance, the ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy absorbance technique was used. With the tests in real conditions, it was possible to perform the temperature measurements, and later, with the energy balance, the absorptivity, emissivity, and efficiency were calculated. The technical cashew nut shell liquid presented efficiency of 42.86%, while the MRTiNOX, 41.8%. In contrast, natural cashew nut shell liquid obtained efficiency of 31.28%. Thus, the use of technical cashew nut shell liquid, a low-cost regional product, was presented as a viable and satisfactory solution for cost reduction in solar thermal collectors.

Technical cashew nut shell liquid associated with non-protein nitrogen sources in high-grain diets for ruminants: intake and digestibility of nutrients, ruminal fermentation, and microbial protein synthesis

This study aimed to evaluate the association of technical cashew nut shell liquid (tCNSL) and two sources of non-protein nitrogen (NPN), dry matter intake (DMI), the partial and total apparent digestibility coefficient of nutrients, ruminal fermentation, microbial synthesis, and blood characteristics. Four Holstein steers (438 kg ± 17.14 kg) fitted with ruminal and duodenal cannula were used. Diets had (in DM basis) 135 g kg?1 of crude protein and 746 g kg?1 of total digestive nutrients. The roughage to concentrate ratio was 30:70. The experimental design was a 4 x 4 Latin square with 14-day experimental periods. The non-protein nitrogen sources used were livestock urea (U) and slow-release urea (SRU) (Optigen® II). The treatments consisted of diets containing U or SRU associated or not with tCNSL. The tCNSL was added to the diet in a proportion of 300 mg kg?1 of concentrate. DMI and ruminal, intestinal and total apparent digestibility coefficients of nutrients were not affected by experimental diets. The association of sources of NPN and tCNSL did not affect pH, ammoniacal nitrogen (NH3-N), plasma urea nitrogen (PUN), and microbial synthesis of animals consuming high-grain diets.

Larvicidal and pupicidal activities of eco-friendly phenolic lipid products from Anacardium occidentale nutshell against arbovirus vectors.

Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus are vectors of diseases that constitute public health problems. The discovery of products capable of inhibiting their development which are less harmful to the environment would have a huge impact on vector control. Here, natural cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL), technical CNSL, anacardic acid, cardanol, and cardol were isolated from Anacardium occidentale and evaluated for larvicidal and pupicidal activity against Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus under laboratory and field conditions. The activities of phenol, resorcinol, salicylic acid, and pentadecane, commercial chemicals similar in structure to nut shell derivatives, were also evaluated. All of the fractions extracted from A. occidentale oil exerted larvicidal effects against both mosquito species (LC50 5.4-22.6mg/L), and two of the aforementioned were effective against pupae (LC50 90.8-109.7mg/L). Of all the fractions tested, cardol demonstrated the strongest larvicidal and pupicidal effects and presented the most prolonged residual activity against the larvae and pupae of Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus under field conditions. This study suggests that A. occidentale nut shell derivatives are sustainable and promising candidates for the development of novel insecticides to overcome the problem of harmful chemical insecticides.

Technical Cashew Nutshell Liquid in Diets of Growing Meat-Type Quails

The aim of this study was to evaluate the inclusion of technical cashew nutshell liquid (TCNSL) in European quails (Coturnix coturnix coturnix) diets from 1 to 35 days of age on the performance, carcass traits, and development of the digestive organs. 575 quails were distributed in a completely randomized design with five treatments (0%, 0.25%, 0.50%, 0.75%, and 1.00% TCNSL), five replicates, and 23 birds per experimental unit. Live performance was evaluated by weight gain, average feed intake, and feed to conversion ratio. The relative weight of the digestive organs (proventriculus, gizzard, pancreas, liver, small intestine, and large intestine), length of the small and large intestine, and carcass and parts yield (breast, wing, and leg) were determined at the end of the experimental period (35 days). The supplementation of quail diets with TCNSL did not influence live performance or carcass and parts yields. The relative weights of the proventriculus, gizzard, pancreas, small intestine, and large intestine, and the length of the small intestine and large intestine were not affected by the dietary inclusion of TCNSL. However, TCNSL supplementation had a quadratic effect (p<0.05) on liver relative weight, with the lowest relative weight predicted at 0.33% TCNSL. Quails fed 1% TCNSL showed higher liver relative weight compared with those fed the TCNSL-free diets. The dietary inclusion of up to 1% TCNSL did not influence the performance, carcass traits, or development of the digestive organs of European quails.

Chemical transformations in technical cashew nut shell liquid and isolated mixture of cardanols, evaluation of the antioxidant activity and thermal stability of the products for use in pure biodiesel

Biodiesel demand is increasing all over the world. The maintenance of oxidative stability is extremely important to biodiesel market, from the point of view of the quality of the fuel as the economic amount involved. In the present work, we synthesized new antioxidant candidates for biodiesel from chemical transformations in alkyl phenols present in technical cashew nut shell liquid (t-CNSL) and, more specifically, in cardanols isolated from t-CNSL. This raw material is viable, easy accessed and low cost. Five chemical transformations were performed in both t-CNSL and cardanols with yields from 50% to 92%. The starting materials and their respective derivatives were characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR and IR. Antioxidant activity and thermal stability of the products were evaluated. The induction period for pure biodiesel was 6.35 h and the addition of 0.5% (w/w) of cardanols increased to 7.37 h. Two products presented excellent antioxidant activity, epoxidized cardanols (4) and hydrolyzed cardanols (6). They increased the induction period to 15.05 h and 18.62 h, respectively. The oxygenated derivatives also showed better thermal stability than the starting materials.

Characterising Technical Cashew Nut Shell Liquid using Maldi-ToF MS

Background: Various techniques have been applied for detecting anacardic acid, cardanol, cardol, and 2-methylcardol and their degrees of unsaturation in a complex mixture of a highly corrosive cashew nut shell liquid found in the cashew (anacardium occidentale) nut shells. However, very little has been reported on the applicability of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry for the same. The aim of this paper is to report the application of this technique for identifying those components in technical cashew nut shell liquid obtained by a hot-roasting process. Methods: The cashew nut shell liquid analyte was diluted in acetone before adding a matrix of 2,5- dihydroxybenzoic acid, which contained acetone in a volumetric ratio of 1:2. This was followed by doping the analyte with either sodium or silver trifluoroacetate. Results: The mass spectra obtained by both sodium trifluoroacetate and silver trifluoroacetate dopants revealed existence of well-resolved peaks ascribed to cardanol and cardol in the analyte. It was further observed that the peaks corresponding to 2-methyl cardol and anacardic acid in the analyte could only be detected by using sodium trifluoroacetate dopant. The results have further revealed the possibility of the material to contain traces of other components between 0.3 and 23%. Peaks associated with those components may have been overlapped with peaks ascribed to the phenolic components. Conclusion: The results therefore suggest that this technique may be applicable for characterising the composition of technical cashew nut shell liquids when proper sample preparation is done and appropriate solvents, dopants and matrices are used. Keywords: Anacardic acid, cardanol, cardol, 2-methyl cardol, Maldi-ToF, saturation.

Antibacterial and anticancer activity of the purified cashew nut shell liquid: implications in cancer chemotherapy and wound healing

The cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) from the cashew nut shell of Anacardium occidentale L. has been used to treat skin infections, cracks on soles of feet and cancerous ulcers. In this study, we have purified the technical CNSL, systematically evaluated its anticancer, antibacterial and wound healing activity. The LC-MS data revealed that the purified CNSL contains the compounds, cardanol, anacardic acid and methylcardol. It inhibited the proliferation of HeLa cells with an IC50 of 0.004%(v/v) and caused moderate mitotic block with spindle abnormality. It induced apoptosis in HeLa cells and accelerated wound closure in L929 cells. It inhibited the growth of Bacillus subtilis with an IC50 of 0.35%(v/v) and the treated cells exhibited elongated morphology indicating that suppression of cell division is one of the possible mechanisms of its action. The study suggests that the purified CNSL might have potential applications in anticancer and antibacterial drug development.