author(s) : Abdel-Fattah M. Rizk, Husseiny A. H. Elgindi and Ibrahim A. El-Garf
description
Anacardiaceae (including Pistaciaceae) is a dicotyledon family with 70 genera and 875 species (Boulos, 2000).
Anacardiaceae is the main source of mono- (Lamberton, 1959) and di-phenols (Symes and Dowson, 1953), substituted in the aromatic ring with long aliphatic chains (Cojocaru, 1986).
In addition, other phenolic compounds (flavonoids and tannins), alkylhexenones and essential oils are weidely distributed in the family. Umadevi et al. (1988) carried out chemotoxonomic studies on some members of the Anacardiaceae.
Ninteen taxa belonging to 13 genera of the Anacardiaceae have been screened for leaf flavonoids, phenolic acids, saponins, tannins, alkaloids and iridoids. The family characteristically contains highly hydroxylated compounds like myricetin and gallic acid.
Genera Count
represented in egypt with 2 Genera
Species
represented in egypt with 7 Species
It is also rich in proanthocyanidins and flavonols such as quercetin, kaempferol and their methoxylated derivatives.
Tannins are common, saponins are rare and alkaloids and iridoids are absent. The chemical differences among the various tribes are not very pronounced. However, the tribe Mangiferae does not contain any flavones whereas the tribe Spondieae is comparatively rich in these compounds.
The tribes Rhoideae and Semecarpeae are similar in many chemical features. The separate identity of Chaerospondias away from Spondias is also established in the light of chemical evidences (Umadevi et al., 1988).
The presence and distribution of secondary metabolites in the main genera of Anacardiaceae and their activities have been reviewed by Correia et al. (2006).
- Proximate Composition and Amino Acids
- Carbohydrates
- Seed Oils and Fatty Acids
- Triterpenes, Sterols, Hydrocarbons and Alcohols
- Saponins
- Essential Oils
- Long-Chain Pheno
- Tannins, Phenolic Acids and Other Phenolics
- Xanthones, Chromones and Quinones
- Nitrogenous Compounds
- Other Constituents
Anacardium species are known for their anti-inflammatory and astringent effects andtheir activity against cancer cells (Luiz-Fereira et al., 2008).
Although the seed kernel ofAnacardium occidentale L. is edible, it is actually poisnous unless roasted until all thepericarp oil has exuded.
The bark has been used in gargles, as a febrifuge and in the treatmentof aphthae, while the root is purgative (Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk, 1962).
The methanolic extract of Anacardium humile leaves significantly inhibited gastric lesions in rodents.
There results support the traditional use of this species in treatment of gastric diseases (Luiz-Ferreira et al., 2008).
location
egypt