D. Olufunke Moronkola*, Adeleke A. Kasali and Olusegun Ekundayo

Abstract: GC and GC/MS analyses of the fresh leaf oil of Nigerian Anacardium occidentale revealed that there were 51 components representing 99.3%. The most abundant compound was limonene (85.9%). Other major components were β-caryophyllene (1.7%), α–pinene (1.5%), α-terpineol (1.1%) and α-ylangene (1.0%). Forty-six other compounds were also identified which have not been earlier reported in the leaf oil.

<i>Anacardium occidentale</i> L. (Anacardiaceae) is a tropical straggling nut tree. The plant is an attractive ornamental evergreen shade tree, especially when in fruits between January and April (1). Different parts of <i>A. occidentale</i> are used in traditional medicine. Leaf and bark infusions relieve toothaches and sore gums. Decoction from young leaves could cure dysentery, diarrhea and hemorrhoids. The bark is usually applied on ‘thrush’ in children and in the treatment of more serious black tongue (2,3). Earlier essential oil studies reported that Brazilian leaf oil was dominated by (E)-β-ocimene, α-copaene and δ-cadinene. Fourteen components were identified in the leaf oil from a Malaysian sample which possessed medicinal values (4). Major components reported in the leaf oil were ocimene, α-copaene, δ-cadinene and β-caryophyllene, with more sesquiterpenes than monoterpene hydrocarbons. While the flower, red and yellow fruit oils contained different components (5). Esters dominated the fruit oil. It was suggested that the esters were responsible for the characteristic cashew flavor (6). In this paper, we report the constituents of the leaf oil of Nigerian grown <i>A. occidentale</i>, whose constituents differed qualitatively and quantitatively from earlier reports.