title: Cashew Nut Allergy: Clinical Relevance and Allergen Characterisation.
abstract: Cashew plant (Anacardium occidentale L.) is the most relevant species of the Anacardium genus. It presents high economic value since it is widely used in human nutrition and in several industrial applications. Cashew nut is a well-appreciated food (belongs to the tree nut group), being widely consumed as snacks and in processed foods by the majority of world's population. However, cashew nut is also classified as a potent allergenic food known to be responsible for triggering severe and systemic immune reactions (e.g. anaphylaxis) in sensitised/allergic individuals that often demand epinephrine treatment and hospitalisation. So far, three groups of allergenic proteins have been identified and characterised in cashew nut: Ana o 1 and Ana o 2 (cupin superfamily) and Ana o 3 (prolamin superfamily), which are all classified as major allergens. The prevalence of cashew nut allergy seems to be rising in industrialised countries with the increasing consumption of this nut. There is still no cure for cashew nut allergy, as well as for other food allergies; thus, the allergic patients are advised to eliminate it from their diets. Accordingly, when carefully choosing processed foods that are commercially available, the allergic consumers have to rely on proper food labelling. In this sense, the control of labelling compliance is much needed, which has prompted the development of proficient analytical methods for allergen analysis. In the recent years, significant research advances in cashew nut allergy have been accomplished, which are highlighted and discussed in this review.
authors: REQUIMTE-LAQV, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal.
authors: Cíntia
authors: C
authors: Mendes
authors: REQUIMTE-LAQV, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal. jbcosta@ff.up.pt.
authors: Joana
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8229-2902
authors: J
authors: Costa
authors: CEB, Centro de Engenharia Biológica, Universidade do Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
authors: António A
authors: AA
authors: Vicente
authors: REQUIMTE-LAQV, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal.
authors: Maria Beatriz P P
authors: MBPP
authors: Oliveira
authors: REQUIMTE-LAQV, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal. isabel.mafra@ff.up.pt.
authors: Isabel
authors: I
authors: Mafra
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D031021:Anacardium / Q000276:immunology*; D000707:Anaphylaxis; D000818:Animals; D052179:Antigens, Plant / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007167:Immunotherapy; D051379:Mice; D021184:Nut Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D015995:Prevalence; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D010940:Plant Proteins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D004837:Epinephrine
keywords: Allergens; Anacardium occidentale L.; Cashew detection; Clinical relevance; Food allergy; Immunotherapy; Prevalence; Threshold levels