CASHEW NUT

Botanical Name : Anacardium occidentale
English Name : Cashew nut,
Hindi Name : Kaju
Sanskrit Name : Kajutak, Agnikrit

Anacardium occidentale is a tree common in India It is commonly found in south India. This variety and the tree grown in West Indies have similarly properties.

This tree is a member of Anacardiaceae plant family.

This is a tall evergreen tree. It grows to a height of about 4 to 6 metres, with light-black, rough, shallowly longitudinally fissured bark.The leaves are obovate-oblong or elliptic obovate, glabrous, coriaceous.The pennicles are 5-20 cms. long and terminal. The nuts are 2-3 cms. long reniform, pale-greenish yellow, at times purple. The flowering season is Setember to April.

Usage:

In Ayurveda the leaves, seeds and the roots are used for treatment of skin diseases, leprosy and annoraxia.

Chemical compounds obtained:

Cashew nut shell liquid resin (CNSL), Cardanol and anacadic acid are main chemicals obtained from this tree.