408 SCIENTIFIC AND APPLIED PHARMACOGNOSY 



carp consists of parenchyma having thin brown walls, in among 

 which are numerous fibrovascular bundles and very large ellipsoidal 

 balsam-canals which contain the vesicating principle, cardol; endo- 

 carp consisting of several rows of stone cells, some of which are very 

 large and matted; seed-coat characterized by thin-walled cells con- 

 taining tannic acid; the cotyledons are made up of parenchyma, con- 

 taining an oily cytoplasm and starch grains, having the balsam canals 

 beneath the epidermis. 



Constituents. Cardol, a yellowish or reddish oily, vesicating 

 substance, becoming darker on exposure to the air, insoluble in 

 water, soluble in alcohol, ether, chloroform, solutions of the alkalies 

 and sulphuric acid, the latter solution becoming colored red. Also 

 anacardic acid, and tannic acid. The seeds contain from 40 to 50 

 per cent of a fixed oil, consisting mostly of glycerides of oleic acid 

 with some stearic acid and chloesterin. 



ANACARDIUM ORIENTALE. Oriental Cashew-nut. The fruit of 

 Semecarpus Anacardium (Fam. Anacardiacese), a tree indigenous to 

 northwestern India and widely distributed in southern Asia. The 

 fruits resemble those of the West Indian Cashew-nut and contain 

 similar principles, viz., cardol, anacardic acid and tannic acid. 

 They also contain an alkaloid, chuchunine, which resembles strych- 

 nine in its action. 



The fleshy receptacle of the West Indian cashew after maturing 

 is sweet and edible. In Brazil, a wine is made from it which is said 

 to resemble Madeira wine. The resinous juice of the stem furnishes 

 a varnish; and the fixed oil from the seeds is used in India for a floor 

 dressing, to protect the people from the attacks of white ants. 



PISTACHIO. Pistachio-nut or Green Almond. The seeds of 

 Pistacia vera (Fam. Anacardiacese), a tree indigenous to western 

 Asia and cultivated in the Mediterranean countries and also in Cal- 

 ifornia. These seeds are extensively used in confectionery and are 

 from 10 to 25 mm. in length, somewhat quadrangular in cross-section 

 and consist of two fleshy green cotyledons. They are readily deter- 

 mined by the carmine or brown coloring matter in the seed-coat, 

 which becomes green upon the addition of solutions of alkalies, and 

 by the exceedingly small polygonal cells with porous walls of the 

 inner epidermal layer of the seed-coat. Almond and other seeds 

 dyed with coal-tar colors, are sometimes substituted for the genuine 

 article. Winton and Moeller, The Microscopy of Vegetable Foods, 

 p. 315. 



