摘要：

The concentrated extract of carotenoids (ECC) obtained from cashew-apple fiber has been the object of studies in recent years in the Embrapa Agroindústria Tropical. This extract has an intense yellow coloration, and can be an important substitute of artificial colorants in the food industry. However, for its use in food, it is necessary to evaluate the toxicity of the material, since it has anacardic acids, which although related to positive biological effects, have also been reported as toxic. In this sense, the objective of this work was to assess qualitatively and quantitatively the anacardic acids present in the ECC, and to evaluate their toxicity using the Artemia salina assay. For this, ECC was obtained through steps that included enzymatic treatment of the cashewapple fiber, followed by sequential pressing, centrifugation, microfiltration and heat treatment of the extract. The ECC was then evaluated for the composition of anacardic acids by UPLC-ESI-QToF-MSE and quantification by HPLCDAD. For the toxicity tests, ten different concentrations of ECC were used and inoculated with Artemia salina. After 24 hours, the LD50 was calculated. The results indicated that three different anacardic acids were found in ECC, at concentrations of 13.44, 14.92 and 18.72 mg/g, for the anacardic acids with tri, di and mono-unsaturations, respectively. For the tests with Artemia salina, the results showed that the ECC showed no toxicity, since the LD50 was higher than 1 mg/mL. However, other in vivo assays are required to ensure the safety of the extract when incorporated into food products for human consumption.

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