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ABSTRACT:
Anacardium occidentale commonly known as the cashew tree , produces a gum on bark injury. This gum exudate is traditionally used for treatment of skin infections. At the same time it shows properties similar to edible gum. The gum can be extracted in sufficient amount from the bark of cashew tree during summer season. The gum can probably be used as a pharmaceutical excepient.
This aim of the current study is to characterize Anacardium occidentale gum After extraction the gum was dried and purified and stored in powder form Microbial load on the purified gum was determined using standard procedures. The protein content of extracted gum was determined .The amount of inorganic elements was evaluated by determining the total ash content and acid insoluble ash. The other studies included determination of microbial activity against common pathogenic organisms. Based on the results it was concluded that the cashew gum could be a substitute for edible gums used in food and pharmaceuticals
KEYWORDS: Cashew, Anacardium occidentale, gum exudate, ash content, edible gum.
INTRODUCTION:
Cashew tree exudates are gums obtained from various species of cashew tree (Anacardium occidentale) as a result of tree bark injury. Cashew gum is produced in the epithelial cells of the plant. The gum is fluid in nature and dries up by evaporation of water on exposure to the environment.
The cashew gum has been found to have a variety of industrial uses .It can be used as a substitute of gum Arabic. In paper industry it can be used as a substitute for liquid glue .In pharmaceutical industry it can be used as an agglutinant for capsules and pills. It can be used as a stabilizer for fruit juices in food industry.
Cashew gum has a high...