The Medicinal Use of Chocolate in Early North America

Cocoa and its flavonoids have potential anti-inflammatory properties in vitro and in acute inflammation models in vivo. The aim of the present study was to ascertain the effects of two cocoa-enriched diets on adjuvant arthritis (AA) in rats, considering not only clinical and biochemical inflammatory indices, but also antibody response and lymphocyte composition. Female Wistar rats were fed with a 5 or 10 % cocoa-enriched diet beginning 2 weeks before arthritis induction and until the end of the study. AA was induced by an intradermal injection of heat-killed Mycobacterium butyricum suspension. The hind-paw swelling (plethysmometry), serum anti-mycobacterial antibody concentration (ELISA), blood and inguinal lymph node lymphocyte subset percentage (flow cytometry), and IL-2, interferon g and PGE 2 released from splenocytes (ELISA) were assessed. Although the cocoa diets had no significant effect on hind-paw swelling, a tendency to reduce it was observed at the end of the study. Cocoa-enriched diets were able to decrease the serum anti-mycobacterial antibody concentration and the splenocyte PGE 2 production, as well as the proportion of T-helper (T h ) lymphocytes in blood and regional lymph nodes, which probably includes cells responsible for the arthritic process. The cocoa diets prevented a decrease in the proportion of regulatory T-cells in blood and a disequilibrium between inguinal lymph node natural killer (NK) CD8 þ and NK CD8 2 subsets.In conclusion, the cocoa-enriched diets during AA were not able to significantly decrease joint inflammation but modified T h -cell proportions and prevented specific antibody synthesis.

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“…With respect to the NK cell population ( Fig. 4(d)), the arthritic process increased more than twofold the CD8 þ :CD8 2…”

Section: Effect Of the Cocoa Diet On Inguinal Lymph Node Lymphocyte Smentioning

confidence: 94%

Effect of cocoa-enriched diets on lymphocytes involved in adjuvant arthritis in rats

et al. 2011

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“…The food of the gods, this is how chocolate was known in the Mayan culture due to its multiple benefits to promote health [1,2], and treat diseases [3]. There is scientific evidence, that chocolate influences on bone health [4], cardiovascular health [5], potential neuromodulatory and neuroprotective [6], among others [1].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bioactive compounds and techno-functional properties of high-fiber co-products of the cacao agro-industrial chain

Delgado‐Ospina

Lucas‐González

Viuda‐Martos

et al. 2021

Heliyon

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The cacao shell (CS) and cacao pod husk (CPH), two of the most promising high-fiber co-products of the cacao agro-industrial chain, were evaluated to determine their potential incorporation into food products. This research determined bioactive compounds and techno-functional properties of CS and CPH, and was evaluated the enzymatic inactivation by thermal treatments in CPH. We found that CS is rich in protein, lipids, dietary fiber (48.1 ± 0.3 g 100 g dw −1 ), and antioxidant molecules such as epicatechin (1.10 ± 0.02 mg g −1 ) and isoquercetin (1.04 ± 0.09 mg g −1 ). Moreover, in CS a positive effect of hydration mechanism occur; in fact, it was observed a reduction of Lightness (L∗) value and a remarkable color difference (ΔE∗,18.8 ± 0.7) (CIEL∗a∗b∗ color space), between hydrated and dry CS samples; so, it could be used as a potential natural colorant in foods. CPH resulted equally rich in dietary fiber (35.3–37.4%) and flavonoids (2.9 ± 0.1 mg RE g −1 ); in this co-product, the rapid enzymatic inactivation by thermal treatments was essential to obtain the highest antioxidant activity and polyphenols content; regarding the techno-functional properties, it was found that CPH flour had high hydration capacity, so CPH can use it as a replacement for emulsifiers or water holding additives while incorporating the fiber and abundantly found antioxidants.

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“…[27,28] In addition, chocolate has also been found to be a subclass of functional food which is a richest source of proteins, calcium, iron, magnesium, and riboflavin. [29][30][31][32] Citrus fruits are another type of functional food which have already been reported to produce therapeutic effects as anticancer, antiviral, antioxidant agents, and further have potential to stimulate immune system. [33] The fermented milk and related products are also the example of a functional food which offers good digestive effects.…”

Section: Functional Foodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Untitled

Sharma¹

2017

IJGP

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The term "nutraceuticals" can be explained as the food items as a whole or a part which possesses some nutritional value along with the medicinal properties. This special feature, besides providing good health, leads to treatment and prevention of certain diseases. With the advancements in the qualitative and quantitative determining parameters, the requisition of these products has been found to be amplified. Due to this, the nutraceutical market has become a million dollar industry at a global level. The era of emergence of nutrients as medicines in the pharmaceutical world is of great importance and draws attention of scientists and researchers toward the appreciable benefits. The history and discovery has explored many facts about the remarkably profound therapeutic activities of such agents. As a result, interdisciplinary approaches are now been applied to design and develop various dosage forms to deliver these herbal products relative to their applications. The extensive researches have revealed the involvement of these agents in the treatment of many disorders such as cancer, arthritis, metabolic abnormalities, diabetes, asthma, and many others. The presented review is an attempt to classify all types of nutraceuticals with examples followed by their applications in the treatment of various disorders. Furthermore, the implementation of the designing and development of dosage forms for offering better delivery carrier of the nutraceuticals, the importance and challenges have also been enumerated.

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The Medicinal Use of Chocolate in Early North America

Cited by 20 publications

References 20 publications

Effect of cocoa-enriched diets on lymphocytes involved in adjuvant arthritis in rats

Effect of cocoa-enriched diets on lymphocytes involved in adjuvant arthritis in rats

Bioactive compounds and techno-functional properties of high-fiber co-products of the cacao agro-industrial chain

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