Description

Anacardium occidentale, commonly known as the cashew tree, is a tropical evergreen tree in the family Anacardiaceae (the same family as mango and poison ivy). It typically grows 6–15 meters tall (up to 20+ m in ideal conditions) with a spreading, low-branching canopy. The tree has thick, leathery, oval-obovate leaves (10–20 cm long), fragrant yellowish-pink flowers in terminal panicles, and distinctive kidney-shaped nuts.

The true fruit is the cashew nut (a seed attached to a double-walled shell containing caustic oil), which develops at the end of a swollen, fleshy receptacle called the cashew apple (a pseudofruit that is juicy, pear- or apple-shaped, and yellow/red in color). Native to northeastern Brazil and the Amazon basin, it is now widely cultivated in tropical regions worldwide, including Nigeria (a major global producer). The plant is drought-tolerant with a deep taproot.

Common Names  

  • English: Cashew Tree, Cashew Nut, Cashew Apple, Cajou, Acajou, Marañon.
  • Yoruba: Kantosi, Kaju (also used in Hausa)
  • Igbo: Kasu, Mkpụrụ kasu
  • Hausa: Kanju, Kaju, , Fisa, Jambe.
  • Portuguese: Caju
  • Spanish: Marañón
  • French:  Pomme cajou

 Health Benefits

Anacardium occidentale (especially the nut, apple, leaves, and bark) is nutrient-rich. The nuts provide healthy fats (unsaturated fatty acids), protein, fiber, vitamins (B vitamins), and minerals (magnesium, copper, zinc, phosphorus). Key potential benefits include:

  1. Heart Health: Cashew nuts are rich in unsaturated fatty acids (oleic and linoleic acids), which help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and raise HDL (good) cholesterol, reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
  2. Antioxidant Activity: Cashew apples and leaves contain high levels of vitamin C, tannins, and flavonoids (like quercetin) that combat oxidative stress and reduce inflammation.
  3. Blood Sugar Control: Extracts from cashew tree bark have shown anti-diabetic potential by helping to lower blood glucose levels and improve insulin sensitivity.
  4. Antibacterial and Antiseptic: Anacardic acid from the nut shell liquid has demonstrated activity against Gram-positive bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus and oral pathogens (e.g., Streptococcus mutans).
  5. Bone and Nerve Health: Cashews are a good source of magnesium (supports bone density), copper (aids in iron absorption and nerve health), and phosphorus (bone and tooth formation).
  6. Weight Management: Despite being calorie-dense, moderate consumption of cashew nuts promotes satiety and may help control appetite when part of a balanced diet.
  7. Antidiarrheal and Astringent: In Nigerian and other traditional medicine systems, decoctions of the bark and leaves are used to treat diarrhea, dysentery, and hemorrhoids due to their tannin content.
  8. Boosts Immune System: The cashew apple is rich in vitamin C, supporting immunity and resistance to infections.
  9. Antioxidant Properties: Contains phenolic compounds that help reduce oxidative stress.
  10. Others: Potential wound healing, anti-ulcer, analgesic, and immune support (high vitamin C in cashew apple). Preliminary research on anticancer and antisickling properties exists.

Other Benefits

  • Industrial use: The nut shell liquid (CNSL – cashew nut shell liquid) is a valuable industrial raw material used to produce friction particles (for brake linings), paints, varnishes, laminates, and as a co-polymer for rubber and resin.
  • Agricultural:
    • Cashew apple pomace and nut processing waste can be used as livestock feed.
    • The tree is also grown for erosion control and shade in agroforestry systems.
    • The infusion of the stem bark is used to treat infections in chickens.
  • Biofuel: Cashew nut shell oil can be converted into biodiesel.
  • Culinary: Cashew nuts are eaten roasted/salted or used in cooking, baking, and as “milk.” Cashew apples are juiced, made into jams, wine, or eaten fresh (though often underutilized), and fermented beverages (e.g., feni in India).
  • Woodworking: Cashew wood is used for low-cost furniture, crates, and firewood.
  • Economic: Major cash crop in Nigeria and globally; provides income for farmers.

How It Is Used

·         As food:

  • Cashew nuts: The nuts are always shelled and roasted (to destroy the urushiol-like oil) before eating – eaten raw (after processing), salted, or roasted. Also used in curries, sweets (e.g., cashew brittle), and dairy-free milk and cheese.
  • Cashew apple: Eaten fresh (though fibrous and astringent), juiced, or made into preserves. In Nigeria, the apple is sometimes eaten with salt or roasted.

·         In traditional medicine (Nigeria and elsewhere):

  • Bark decoction: Boiled in water and drunk to treat diarrhea, dysentery, and sore throat.
  • Leaf infusion: Used as a gargle for thrush or mouth ulcers; taken for diabetes, fever, diarrhea, and also applied topically for skin warts and fungal infections.
  • Cashew apple juice: Consumed for its high vitamin C content, especially to combat scurvy and common colds.
  • Bark infusion: The bark is put in the drinking trough of poultries to control infections.
  • Topical use: Cashew leaf paste or crushed bark applied to cracked heels or wounds to promote healing (caution: ensure no allergy to the plant family).
  • Industrial: CNSL is extracted by heating the shell before roasting the nut.

 Side Effects / Caution

Cashew nuts are generally safe when properly processed and consumed in food amounts. However:

  1. Raw cashews are toxic: Never eat raw cashew nuts with their shells intact. The shell contains anacardic acid (similar to urushiol in poison ivy), which causes severe skin burns, blisters, and mouth/throat swelling. Commercially sold cashews are always heat-processed to remove this oil.
  2. Allergies: Cashew nuts are common allergens; people with tree nut allergies (e.g., pistachio, mango, walnut) often cross-react. Symptoms include hives, itching, anaphylaxis.
  3. Oxalates: Cashews contain oxalates, which in large amounts can contribute to kidney stones in susceptible individuals.
  4. Medication interactions: The high vitamin K content in cashews may affect blood-thinning medications (e.g., warfarin). Cashew apple juice may lower blood sugar, so diabetics should monitor glucose if consuming regularly.
  5. Gastrointestinal issues: Overconsumption of nuts can cause bloating, flatulence, or diarrhea due to high fat and fiber content.
  6. Pregnancy and lactation: Moderate consumption of processed nuts is safe, but avoid unprocessed cashew apples or bark extracts without medical advice, as safety data are limited.
  7. Topical use caution: Crude bark or leaf preparations can irritate the skin; always do a patch test first.
  8. High Caloric Content: Excess consumption may contribute to weight gain.

References

“Cashew – Uses, Side Effects, and More.” WebMD, https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-10/cashew. Accessed 5 May 2026.

“Cashew Nuts and By-Products.” Feedipedia, https://www.feedipedia.org/node/56. Accessed 5 May 2026.

“Cashew: Health Benefits, Side Effects, Uses, Dose & Precautions.” RxList, https://www.rxlist.com/supplements/cashew.htm. Accessed 5 May 2026.

Akinwale, T. O. “Cashew Apple Juice: Its Use in Fortifying the Nutritional Quality of Some Tropical Fruits.” European Food Research and Technology, vol. 211, 2000, pp. 205–207.

Akinwumi, K. A., and O. O. Oyedeji. “Nutritional and Health Benefits of Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) in Nigeria: A Review.” Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences, vol. 6, no. 3, 2018, pp. 81–87.

Burkill, H. M. The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa. 2nd ed., vol. 1, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, 1985, pp. 112–116.

Food and Agriculture Organization. Cashew Production and Processing. FAO, 2013.

Ijato, J. Y., and A. O. Adepoju. “Antibacterial Activity of Anacardium occidentale Leaf and Bark Extracts Against Some Clinical Isolates.” International Journal of Biological and Chemical Sciences, vol. 10, no. 4, 2016, pp. 1651–1659.

Orwa, C., et al. Agroforestree Database: A Tree Reference and Selection Guide. World Agroforestry Centre, 2009.

Salehi, Bahare, et al. “Anacardium occidentale L.: A Comprehensive Review on Phytochemistry, Biological Activities, and Industrial Applications.” Biomolecules, vol. 10, no. 3, 2020, p. 379. MDPI, doi:10.3390/biom10030379.

Salehi, Bahare, et al. “Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, and Anticancer Effects of Anacardium Plants…” PMC, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7303264/. Accessed 5 May 2026.

Sharma, Priyanka, and S. S. Arya. “A Review on Cashew Nut (Anacardium occidentale L.) and Its Industrial Applications.” International Journal of Food Science and Nutrition, vol. 3, no. 6, 2018, pp. 14–21.

Tédong, L., et al. “Acute and Subchronic Toxicity of Anacardium occidentale Linn…” PMC, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2816447/. Accessed 5 May 2026.

Trevisan, M. T. S., et al. “Chemical Composition and Biological Activity of Cashew (Anacardium occidentale) Extracts.” Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, vol. 54, 2006, pp. 4584–4588.

World Health Organization. WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants. WHO Press, 1999.