In Vitro Study of the Inhibitory Effects of Anacardic Acid from Cashew Nut Shells on Candida Albicans, Streptococcus Mutans, and Oral Cancer Cells
Keywords:
Anacardic Acid, Antimicrobial Activity, Cytotoxicity Against Oral Cancer Cells, Cashew Nut Shell, CashewAbstract
This research was an experimental study that aimed to extract and isolate anacardic acid from cashew nut shells, and to investigate its cytotoxic effects on oral cancer cells as well as its antimicrobial activity against Candida albicans and Streptococcus mutans. The cashew nut shells were extracted using hexane as the solvent. The cytotoxicity against oral cancer cells was assessed using the MTT assay, while the antimicrobial activity was evaluated using the agar well diffusion method. The data were analyzed statistically using one-way ANOVA.
The cytotoxicity test on oral cancer cells showed that Doxorubicin had the highest efficacy in inhibiting oral cancer cells, followed by Calcium anacardate. Anacardic acid demonstrated moderate efficacy, while Cashew nut shell liquid exhibited the lowest efficacy. In the antimicrobial activity test, it was found that none of the three extracts from cashew nut shells inhibited Candida albicans, but all showed inhibitory effects against Streptococcus mutans.
Since this study used cashew nut shells obtained from a single source, factors related to the cultivation environment—such as soil, water, and climate—may have influenced the type and amount of active compounds, as well as their antimicrobial and oral cancer cell inhibitory effects. Anacardic acid demonstrated good antibacterial activity against S. mutans, while calcium anacardate exhibited strong inhibitory effects on oral cancer cells. Further studies should assess the toxicity of these compounds on normal cells and other types of oral cancer cells. Additionally, there is potential for developing these compounds as alternative therapeutic agents for consumers in the future. However, calcium anacardate has relatively poor solubility; modifying the metal group to sodium or potassium may improve its solubility, facilitating its use in product development.
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