ANTIBACTERIAL AGENTS FROM THE CASHEW ANACARDIUM-OCCIDENTALE (ANACARDIACEAE) NUT SHELL OIL

Sixteen phenolic compounds have been isolated from the cashew Anacardium occidental (Anacardiaceae) nut shell oil. Their antimicrobial activity has been tested against four typical microorganisms, Bacillus subtilis, a Gram-positive bacterium; Escherichia coli, a Gram-negative bacterium; Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a yeast; and Penicillium chrysogenum, a mold. Most of them exhibited potent antibacterial activity against only Gram-positive bacteria, among which Streptococcus mutans, one of several bacteria responsible for tooth decay, and Propionibacterium acnes, one of the bacteria responsible for acne, were the most sensitive bacteria. Anacardic acids also showed weak activity against molds. Their structure-activity relationships are also described.