title: Efficacy of cocoa pod extract as antiwrinkle gel on human skin surface.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cocoa pods are abundant waste materials of cocoa plantation, which are usually discarded onto plantation floors. However, due to poor plantation management, the discarded cocoa pods can create suitable breeding ground for Phytophthora palmivora, which is regarded as the causal agent of the black pod disease. On the other hand, cocoa pods potentially contain antioxidant compounds. Antioxidant compounds are related to the protection of skin from wrinkles and can be used as functional cosmetic ingredients. Therefore, in this study, cocoa pods were extracted and to be used as active ingredients for antiwrinkles.
  
  
  METHODS
  The active compounds in cocoa pod extracts (CPE) were screened using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Fibroblast cells were used to determine the effective concentration of CPE to maintain the viability for at least 50% of the cells (EC50 ). The gel was tested by 12 panelists to determine the efficacy of CPE in gel form using Visioscan to reduce skin wrinkles and improve skin condition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CPE was detected to contain malic acid, procyanidin B1, rosmarinic acid, procyanidin C1, apigenin, and ellagic acid, all of which may contribute to functional cosmetic properties of CPE. The EC50 value of cocoa pod extracts was used to calculate the amount of CPE to be incorporated into gel so that the formulated product could reach an effective concentration of extract while being nonintoxicant to the skin cell. The results showed that CPE is potential ingredient to reduce wrinkles. Skin wrinkles reduced at 6.38 ± 1.23% with the application of the CPE gel within 3 weeks and significantly improved further (12.39 ± 1.59%) after 5 weeks. The skin hydration increased (3.181 ± 1.06%) after 3 weeks of the CPE gel application.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Flavonoid compounds in CPE contributed to the functional cosmetic properties of CPE. The CPE which is nontoxic to skin cells help to reduce wrinkles on skin after 3 weeks of application. CPE can be used as the active ingredients in antiwrinkle products, and prolonged application may result in significant visual changes to the naked eyes.
authors.affiliation: Cocoa Innovation and Technology Centre, Malaysian Cocoa Board, Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Azila
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abdul Karim
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.|Laboratory of Halal Science Research, Halal Products Research Institute, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.|Research Centre of Excellence, Nutrition and Non-communicable Disease, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Azrina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Azlan
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Amin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ismail
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Halal Science Research, Halal Products Research Institute, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Puziah
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hashim
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Halal Science Research, Halal Products Research Institute, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Siti Salwa
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Abd Gani
authors.affiliation: Cocoa Innovation and Technology Centre, Malaysian Cocoa Board, Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Badrul Hisyam
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Zainudin
authors.affiliation: Cocoa Innovation and Technology Centre, Malaysian Cocoa Board, Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Nur Azilah
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Abdullah
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002099:Cacao; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts; D005638:Fruit; D005782:Gels; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects*; D015595:Skin Aging / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D005782:Gels; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: antiwrinkles; cell culture; cocoa pod extracts; efficacy; formulation; functional cosmetics