α‐glucosidase and aldose reductase inhibitors: Constituents of cashew, Anacardium occidentale , nut shell liquids

Abstract Constituents of cashew, Anacardium occidentale (Anacardiaceae), shell liquids inhibit α‐glucosidase, invertase and aldose reductase. Sixteen compounds including four anacardic acids, four cardols, four cardanols and four methyl cardols were isolated and identified as active constituents. Anacardic acids were more potent enzyme inhibitors among the constituents isolated from the nut oil while the enzyme inhibitory activities of commercial structurally related compounds were negligible in comparison.