Cashew oil

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cashew oil refers to oil extracted from the fruit of the cashew. The cashew nut has a shell with an oily outer layer, and a hard inner layer, within which the familiar cashew nut is contained. Cashew shell oil comes from the outer shell. It is toxic to humans, and is normally considered a waste product. Some work, however, showed that cashew shell oil can be useful in fighting dental cavities.^[1] Other uses of cashew shell oil have been explored, including as an additive to brake fluid, to reduce brake fade and brake lining wear. ^[2]

[edit] Notes and references

1. ^ Masaki Himejima, Isao Kubo (February, 1991). "Cashew oil may conquer cavities". Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 39: 418–421. doi:10.1021/jf00002a039. 
2. ^ Daniel J. McConville (October 29, 1997). "Cardolite saga in a nutshell". Chemical Week.