Cocoa bean (Theobroma CacaoL.) shells as a functional food ingredient: evaluation of potential health benefits after simulated gastrointestinal digestion and ex vivo absorption
摘要
The aim of the present study was to evaluate Mexican cocoa bean shells (CBS) as a functional food ingredient with potential antihypertensive (angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition), and antidiabetogenic (dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) inhibition) effects, as well as antioxidant activities after simulated gastrointestinal digestion (SGD) and ex vivo absorption. Finely ground fully fermented (FFCBS) and partially fermented (PFCBS) CBS reconstituted in water (10% w/v) were subjected to hydrolysis degree determination (OPA method) and peptide abundance (RP–HPLC) before and after SGD and ex vivo absorption. Then, water soluble extracts (< 3 kDa) from CBS before and after SGD and ex vivo absorption were obtained to determine ACE and DPP-IV inhibitory activities (%) and IC5₀ (mg/mL), and antioxidant activity (ORAC, ABTS and DPPH). Results showed that FFCBS presented a higher (P < 0.05) hydrolysis degree and peptide abundance than PFCBS. Although, after the ex vivo absorption model, no differences (P > 0.05) were observed for peptide abundance. Moreover, ACE and DPP-IV inhibitions and antioxidant activities were not different (P > 0.05) between PFCBS and FFCBS after the ex vivo absorption model. Thus, CBS either fully fermented or partially fermented may be used as a functional food ingredient for the manufacture of cocoa products with potential beneficial health effects.