Anacardium

Synonyms

Anacardium occidentale

Anacardium occidentales

Anacardiums

Cashew

Cashews

occidentales, Anacardium

A plant genus of the family ANACARDIACEAE. This is the source of the familiar cashew nuts, which are heat treated to remove the irritant toxin. Cashew nut shell liquid (frequently abbreviated as CNSL) is a major source of alkenyl phenolic compounds, especially ANACARDIC ACIDS, cardol, and cardanol.