Obtenção da goma de cajueiro (Anacardium occidentale L.) e caracterização das propriedades farmacotécnicas de fluxo.

Abstract

The cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) is a Anacardiaceae family of plants originally from northeast and widely distributed in that locality representing 99% of cashew in Brazil. The species has applications in folk medicine being used as healing of wounds, antidiabetic, antimicrobial. Besides having these pharmacological actions the exudate (cashew gum) has potential for industrial area by its use as natural gums from the exudates and plant strata. The interest on cashew gum increases due to its multiple and lucrative possibilities of industrialization. The gums are used as several purposes as thickeners, gelling agents, emulsifiers, crystallization controllers, flocculants, clarifiers, wrappers, syneresis inhibitors and film-forming. The work aimed to get the cashew gum chemically purified and homogeneous and evaluate their pharmacotechnical properties. The polysaccharide was obtained by extraction and purification of exudates of cashew stem. The characterization of cashew gum (powder) was made by studying the physical and chemical properties, yields, moisture content, rheological properties, Hausner factor, Carr Index and Angle of repose. The extractions showed satisfactory properties in relation to tests, especially in moisture content, flow and compressibility. These results converge to the statement of the commercial application potential as a new raw material, as well as substituent of commercial gum arabic, helping to add value to products of exploitation chain and cashew gum byproducts in Brazil.