A SCIENTIFIC REVIEW ON Anacardiumo ccidentale GUM

Abstract

Plant gums are generally complex carbohydrate polymers that may also include hydroxyproline-rich proteins,
resins, or other components and can be soluble, partly soluble, or insoluble.Because of their co-occurrence with
other secretion types and material properties, gums have been at times confused with resins (especially from
leguminous spp.) or latexes. Cashew Gum is a bark exudate from Anacardium occidentale L. belonging to
the family Anacardiaceae, a tree that can grow up to10m tall. Even though, it is widely grown in many
tropical and subtropical countries, the cashew tree is nativeto north-eastern Brazil, which has around
600,000 plantations. However, it can also be found in India, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Kenya among
other countries. In the present review the pharmacological and pharmaceutical application of cashew nut
have been discussed.