Phytochemical, Antifungal and Antioxidant Potential of Cashew ( Anacardium Occidental L.) Leaf Methanolic Extract Grown Under Controlled Field for Medicinal Uses

Abstract

The Cashew nut ( Anacardium occidental L.) tree is recognized for its medicinal importance and is widely used in many products for its therapeutic potential. However, the plant’s distribution is limited to tropical climates due to its sensitivity to frost. The aim of this study was to grow cashew nuts under a controlled environment and evaluate their potential for medicinal applications. Cashew nut seeds were germinated at 35°C and 55% humidity in a glasshouse. Fresh leaf of four-month-old cashew seedlings were collected, air-dried, and reduced to fine powder. The extraction was carried out by five-day maceration process using the powdered leaf into methanol. After five days, the solution was filtrated, and filtrate was stored at 4°C until utilization. Phytochemical screening was performed to characterize the extract. The antifungal potential was assayed against Aspergillus flavus and Candida albicans using the agar well diffusion method, while the antioxidant activity was evaluated through a 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay. It was found that the extract contained Alkaloids, Flavonoids, Phenols, Steroids, and Terpenoids. The cashew nut leaf extract demonstrated antifungal activity against A. flavus and C. albicans , with mean ± standard deviation values of 1.106 ± 0.03 cm and 1.17 ± 0.15 cm respectively. The extract exhibited concentration- dependent inhibition of DPPH radicals with high antioxidant activity (93.28%) at 100 μg/ml while 82.88% at 20 μg/ml. The finding suggests that cashew nuts cultivated in a controlled environment (glasshouse) can be used for medicinal purposes and further pharmaceutical applications.