title: Effect of fermentation and drying on cocoa polyphenols.
abstract: Cocoa seed polyphenols have demonstrated interesting beneficial effects in humans. Most polyphenols contained in fresh seeds are chemically modified during fermentation, drying, and cocoa powder or chocolate production. The improvement of these procedures to obtain a high-polyphenol-content cocoa is highly desirable. To this aim, a field investigation on the effect of fermentation and natural drying on fine flavor National cocoa (cacao Nacional) was performed. Cocoa seeds were fermented for 6 days and, every day, samples were sun-dried and analyzed for polyphenol content and antioxidant power. During the first 2 days of fermentation, Folin-Ciocalteu and FRAP tests evidenced a significant reduction of polyphenol content and antioxidant capacity, respectively. Changes during the following days of fermentation were less significant. Epicatechin, the most studied member of the catechin family, followed a similar pathway of degradation. Data confirmed the high impact of fermentation and drying on cocoa seed polyphenols. Fermentation and drying are, on the one hand, necessary to obtain cocoa flavor and palatability but, on the other hand, are responsible for greatly compromising polyphenol content. To obtain high-polyphenol-content cocoa, the existing fermentation, drying, and manufacturing protocols should be scientifically reviewed to understand and modify the critical steps.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia , 06123 Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Albertini
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia , 06123 Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Aurélie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schoubben
authors.affiliation: Laerbium Pharma S.r.l., Via Togliatti n. 73/A, 06073 Corciano, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Guarnaccia
authors.affiliation: European Network "The chocolate way", Via XX Settembre 43, 06124 Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pinelli
authors.affiliation: Accademia Maestri Cioccolatieri Italiani, Via Sass Muss 6, 32037 Sospirolo, Belluno, Italy.
authors.forename: Mirco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Della Vecchia
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia , 06123 Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Biomedical Sciences, S. M. della Misericordia Hospital , S. Andrea delle Fratte, 06156 Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Gian Carlo
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Di Renzo
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino , Via Sant'Agostino 1, 62032 Camerino, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Blasi
mesh_terms: D002099:Cacao / Q000737:chemistry*; D005285:Fermentation; D005511:Food Handling / Q000379:methods*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry*; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000737:chemistry*; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D059808:Polyphenols
keywords: Theobroma cacao L.; catechin; chocolate; cocoa; cocoa fermentation and drying; epicatechins; polyphenols