Biologically active compounds from grated cocoa and cocoa butter samples

Cocoa-products are source of biologically active substances and render the expressed and versatile pharmacological action – raise serviceability, regulate inflammatory mediators, normalize blood pressure, influence on immune system, inhibits growth of human breast cancer cells, etc.

The results of five samples of grated cocoa and five samples of cocoa butter analysis under contents of the main biologically active components such as phenolic compounds – tannins, monomeric and polymeric proanthocyanidins, individual catechins; amino acids and their biochemical derivatives – purin alkaloids and biogenic amines; lipophylic compounds – fatty acids formed triglycerides and phytosterines are presented. The investigation was done by modern instrumental methods such as HPLC, GC, UV-VIS-spectroscopy, and also with application of titrimetric and gravimetric methods.

Grated cocoa samples were richer then cocoa butter for content of biologically active components. In the analyzed samples contents of total phenolics changes in an interval 1.0–3.2%, including monomeric proantocyanidins 0.6–1.35%; pyrroloquinoline quinine (PQQ) 0.34–0.76µg/g; phenyl ethylamine from 2.79 to 14.97µg/g, tyramine from 9.56 to 71.68µg/g, dopamine from 5.3 to 25.85µg/g; theobromine from 3.3 to 8%, caffeine from 0.49 to 0.70%; among the amino acids at the greatest quantities were presented glutaminic and asparaginic acids, arginin and leucin; three main fatty acids were determined – palmitinic (31±2% rel.), oleinic (35±2% rel.) and stearinic (35±2% rel.); the main phytosterins were sytosterin (up to 192mg%) and obtusifoliol (up to 198.5mg%).

Antiradical and protective effects of cocoa can be connected with proanthocyanidins and pyrroloquinoline quinone presence, soft stimulating action on the central nervous system and spasmolythic effect are caused by alkaloids theobromine and coffeine, emotional and angioprotective effects, increase of serviceability and sexual potention – by presence of biogenic amines (phenyl ethylamine, tyramine, dopamine).

Acknowledgements: Prof. I.G. Zenkevich (St.-Petersburg State University, Russia), Dr. I.K. Zurkovich (Institute of Toxicology, St.-Petersburg, Russia), Dr. E.A. Protasov (Institute of high clear substances, St.-Petersburg, Russia)