title: Cocoa bioactive compounds: significance and potential for the maintenance of skin health.
abstract: Cocoa has a rich history in human use. Skin is prone to the development of several diseases, and the mechanisms in the pathogenesis of aged skin are still poorly understood. However, a growing body of evidence from clinical and bench research has begun to provide scientific validation for the use of cocoa-derived phytochemicals as an effective approach for skin protection. Although the specific molecular and cellular mechanisms of the beneficial actions of cocoa phytochemicals remain to be elucidated, this review will provide an overview of the current literature emphasizing potential cytoprotective pathways modulated by cocoa and its polyphenolic components. Moreover, we will summarize in vivo studies showing that bioactive compounds of cocoa may have a positive impact on skin health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Molise, Campobasso 86100, Italy. g.scapagnini@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scapagnini
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Molise, Campobasso 86100, Italy. s.davinelli@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Davinelli
authors.affiliation: Division of Human Nutrition, Department of Neuroscience, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome 00173, Italy. Laura.di.renzo@uniroma2.it.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Di Renzo
authors.affiliation: Division of Human Nutrition, Department of Neuroscience, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome 00173, Italy. delorenzo@uniroma2.it.
authors.forename: Antonino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Lorenzo
authors.affiliation: Casa Luker S.A., Bogotà DC, Colombia. holarte@casaluker.com.co.
authors.forename: Hector Hugo
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Olarte
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Clinic, University of Catania, Catania 95123, Italy. cldermct@nti.it.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Micali
authors.affiliation: Department Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna 40138, Italy. arrigo.cicero@unibo.it.
authors.forename: Arrigo F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Cicero
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10017, USA. gonzals6@mskcc.org.
authors.forename: Salvador
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002099:Cacao / Q000737:chemistry*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D064209:Phytochemicals / Q000494:pharmacology*; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000494:pharmacology; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D015595:Skin Aging / Q000187:drug effects; D013805:Theobromine / Q000494:pharmacology; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D005419:Flavonoids; D064209:Phytochemicals; D059808:Polyphenols; D014131:Trace Elements; D013805:Theobromine