The petroleum ether extract of cashewnut shell (Anacardium occidentale
) was tested for its mutagenic, carcinogenic and cocarcinogenic potenc
y. Mutagenicity tests using Salmonella typhimurium (Ame's test) Strain
s TA 1535, TA 100 and TA 98 showed that cashewnut shell liquid is non-
mutagenic up to a concentration of 0.003% (in 0.1 ml DMSO) with and wi
thout metabolic activation (S9 mixture). Carcinogenicity testing using
murine (female Swiss albino mice) two stage skin tumourigenesis model
revealed that cashewnut shell liquid has no tumour initiating potency
at a concentration of 10% (in 0.2 ml acetone) while it may act as wea
k promoter (P <0.05) at a concentration of 5% (in 0.2 ml acetone). Tes
ting for cocarcinogenic potency of cashewnut shell liquid (2% and 5% i
n 0.2 ml acetone) demonstrated that it has no cocarcinogenic potency o
n mouse skin tumour model when applied along with 2x10-6% benzo(a)pyre
ne in acetone up to a period-of 20 weeks. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ir
eland Ltd.