Cashew Nut

Contains phenolic compounds such as anacardic acid, cardanol, cardol and tannins

The kernel is edible, but the skin of the nut is irritating. The aqueous extract of the bark (extracted in the dark at 0–5 °C; heating renders it ineffective) has a blood-pressure-lowering effect. Oral administration of the tincture or extract of the bark to normal subjects has a hypoglycemic effect, beginning 15–20 minutes after oral administration, most marked at 60–90 minutes, and the effect lasts up to 3 hours. The decoction of the bark (inner bark) also has a hypoglycemic effect in animals. The hypoglycemic component promotes the production of CO₂ by isolated rat epididymal adipose tissue.

No precautions information available