CAJUÍNA from Piauí (Brazil): Implications of a cultural beverage with nutraceutical potential in the management of peptic oesophagitis

Cajuína, a traditional clarified beverage obtained from the cashew apple (Anacardium occidentale L.), holds ethnopharmacological relevance in Northeastern Brazil, particularly in Piauí, where it is recognised as intangible cultural heritage. This study evaluated its oesophagoprotective effects in a murine model of acute erosive oesophagitis and characterised its antioxidant and phytochemical profile. Cajuína contained phenolic compounds and high levels of vitamin C, which contributed to significant reductions in oesophageal lesion area, oedema, histopathological damage and biochemical markers of oxidative stress and inflammation. In vitro assays confirmed its antioxidant potential through ABTS and DPPH radical-scavenging activity. These findings provide the first experimental evidence that cajuína preserves mucosal integrity and attenuates injury in reflux-related oesophageal damage, supporting its potential as a culturally relevant nutraceutical and dietary adjunct in the management of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD).