Abstract:

Cashew apple is a tropical fruit widely known for its rich phytochemical composition and traditional medicinal uses. This study aimed to analyze the bioactive compounds present in cashew apple juice using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The ethyl acetate extract of cashew apple juice revealed 46 bioactive constituents, including esters, alcohols, aldehydes, fatty acids, organic acids, siloxanes and flavonoids. The most abundant compounds were 3-Hydroxyflavone (12.21%), Carbonic acid, tetradecyl vinyl ester (7.86%), Tricosane (4.12%), 9-Octadecene (3.99%) and Benzamide (5.71%), which possess antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antimutagenic properties. Other significant compounds, such as Phenol, 3,5-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)- (2.64%), 4,6-di-tert-Butylresorcinol (3.05%) and Sulfurous acid, octadecyl 2-propyl ester (3.36%), enhance the juice’s pharmacological potential. Additionally, the presence of esters, aldehydes and terpenes contributes to the aromatic and organoleptic characteristics, making the juice nutritionally valuable. The GC-MS analysis proved to be a powerful technique for identifying phytoconstituents, facilitating their potential utilization in pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, cosmetics and functional foods. The diverse bioactivities of these compounds suggest promising applications in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases, emphasizing the need for further pharmacological and nutritional research. Future studies should focus on isolating and characterizing these compounds to explore their therapeutic efficacy.

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