Fractionation, identification of chemical constituents, and biological properties of cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) leaf extracts

The current study aimed to identify the chemical constituents and bioactivities of the crude ethanolic extract (CEE) and its fractions (ethyl acetate (EAF), hexane (HEF), and aqueous (AEF)) from leaves of cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) grown in Vietnam. A total of 31 compounds which belong to alkanes, hydrocarbons, iodine, terpenoids, phenolics, and flavonoids were determined by a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis, with bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate being the most prevailing compound. The highest total phenolic and flavonoid contents were obtained in the EAF, followed by HEF, CEE, and AQF. All samples showed promising in vitro antibacterial activity, enzyme inhibition, and anticancer activity. Among the samples tested, the EAF exhibited the highest enzyme inhibition activity against alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase (IC50 values of 51.24 mu g/mL and 99.29 mu g/mL, respectively), cytotoxicity activity against HeLa cells (IC50 value of 79.49 mu g/mL), and antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli with MIC values of 5 mg/mL and 2.5 mg/ mL, respectively. These findings suggest that the leaves of A. occidentale cultivated in Vietnam are a promising source of bioactive components and that EAF is a promising bioactive material warranting further pharmaceutical investigation.