title: Cocoa phytochemicals: recent advances in molecular mechanisms on health.
abstract: Recent reports on cocoa are appealing in that a food commonly consumed for pure pleasure might also bring tangible benefits for human health. Cocoa consumption is correlated with reduced health risks of cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, atherosclerosis, and cancer, and the health-promoting effects of cocoa are mediated by cocoa-driven phytochemicals. Cocoa is rich in procyanidins, theobromine, (-)-epicatechin, catechins, and caffeine. Among the phytochemicals present in consumed cocoa, theobromine is most available in human plasma, followed by caffeine, (-)-epicatechin, catechin, and procyanidins. It has been reported that cocoa phytochemicals specifically modulate or interact with specific molecular targets linked to the pathogenesis of chronic human diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, obesity, diabetes, and skin aging. This review summarizes comprehensive recent findings on the beneficial actions of cocoa-driven phytochemicals in molecular mechanisms of human health.
authors.affiliation: a WCU Biomodulation Major, Department of Agricultural Biotechnology , Seoul National University , Seoul , 151-742 , Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jiyoung
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jaekyoon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jaesung
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.forename: Chang Yong
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ki Won
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hyong Joo
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001682:Biological Availability; D002099:Cacao / Q000737:chemistry*; D002110:Caffeine / Q000032:analysis; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000517:prevention & control; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control; D064209:Phytochemicals / Q000032:analysis*; D044945:Proanthocyanidins; D015595:Skin Aging / Q000187:drug effects; D013805:Theobromine / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D005419:Flavonoids; D064209:Phytochemicals; D044945:Proanthocyanidins; D002110:Caffeine; D013805:Theobromine