Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 3 — Observational / field trialPeer-reviewedConventional

Valorization of cocoa bean shell into high-value bioactive extracts as functional food ingredients using green extraction techniques: Enzyme-assisted and ultrasound-assisted methods

Piyachat Sunanta, Noppol Leksawasdi, Sarana Rose Sommano, Siraphat Taesuwan, Pornchai Rachtanapun, Charin Techapun, Nutsuda Sumonsiri, Julaluk Khemacheewakul

Applied Food Research · 2026

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Summary

This laboratory study optimized green extraction techniques—combining enzymatic treatment (pectinase, xylanase, cellulase) with ultrasonication—to recover bioactive compounds from cocoa bean shell residue. The optimized conditions (1.0% enzyme concentration, 80% ultrasonication amplitude) yielded freeze-dried powders with high phenolic content (286.97 mg GAE/g), flavonoids, and antioxidant capacity (DPPH: 132.31 µM TE/g). The extracts demonstrated tyrosinase and collagenase inhibitory activity without cytotoxicity, suggesting potential as anti-aging and antioxidant ingredients for functional foods and nutraceuticals, though storage stability over 12 weeks showed significant losses in bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity.

Regional applicability

This study reports methodology and chemical characterisation of a bioactive extract from cocoa bean shell, a co-product of chocolate manufacturing. The findings are applicable globally including to United Kingdom food manufacturers and nutraceutical producers seeking to valorise cocoa processing waste and develop functional food ingredients, though no region-specific validation or UK-based production constraints are addressed.

Key measures

Total phenolic content (mg GAE/g), total flavonoid content (mg CAE/g), procyanidin content (mg PC/g), DPPH and FRAP antioxidant activities (µM Trolox equivalents/g), tyrosinase and collagenase inhibitory activities (IC₅₀ mg/mL), moisture content, water activity, CIE color parameters, cell viability

Outcomes reported

The study optimized enzyme-assisted and ultrasound-assisted extraction of bioactive compounds from cocoa bean shell, measuring total phenolic content, flavonoid content, procyanidin content, antioxidant activities, and stability of freeze-dried versus spray-dried powders over 12 weeks of storage.

Theme
Nutrition & health
Subject
Food processing & bioavailability
Study type
Research
Study design
Laboratory / in vitro study
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
System type
Food supply chain
DOI
10.1016/j.afres.2026.101813
Catalogue ID
SNmqep5uit-swjzvt

Topic tags

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