a b s t r a c t
Considering the lack of research studies about nutrients’ bioaccessibility in cashew apple, in this study
the whole cashew apple juice and the cashew apple fibre were submitted to simulated in vitro gastrointestinal
digestion. The samples were analysed before and after digestion and had their copper, iron, zinc,
ascorbic acid, total extractable phenols and total antioxidant activity assessed. As a result, for the whole
cashew apple juice, the content of copper and iron minerals bioaccessible fraction were 15% and 11.5%
and for zinc this level was 3.7%. Regarding the cashew apple fibre, the bioaccessible fraction for these
minerals was lower than 5%. The ascorbic acid, total extractable polyphenols and total antioxidant activity
bioaccessible fraction for whole cashew apple juice showed bioaccessibility percentages of 26.2%, 39%
and 27%, respectively, while for the cashew apple fibre, low bioaccessibles levels were found. The bioacessible
percentage of zinc, ascorbic acid and total extractable polyphenols were higher in cashew apple
juice than cashew apple fibre.