Antioxidant, larvicidal and antiacetylcholinesterase activities of cashew nut shell liquid constituents.

Micheline Soares Costa Oliveira, Selene Maia de Morais, Davi Varela Magalhães, Williams Pereira Batista, Icaro Gusmão Pinto Vieira, Afrânio Aragão Craveiro, Jane Eire Silva Alencar de Manezes, Ana Fontenelle Urano Carvalho, Glauber Pacelli Gomes de Lima

Index: Acta Trop. 117(3) , 165-70, (2011)

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Abstract

Anacardic acid, cardanol and cardol, the main constituents of natural cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL), were obtained by solvent extraction and assayed for antioxidant, larvicidal and antiacetylcholinesterase activity. Their relative percent composition was obtained by HPLC analysis. Antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH and ABTS(+) tests, which showed cardanol as the most active, followed by cardol and anacardic acid. The three CNSL components demonstrated good larvicidal activity against Aedes aegypti (LC(50)=12.40 for anacardic acid, 10.22 for cardol and 14.45 for cardanol) and exhibited inhibition zones for acetylcholinesterase enzymes in the TLC test similar to carbachol, which was used as standard. Based on the results, these multipotent compounds represent promising agents in the control of Ae. aegypti, the main dengue vector in Brazil.Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier B.V.