
Overview
Cacao has been traditionally used by natives in South America, such as Mayas, for its medicinal properties.
This is a Amazon rainforest tree with a history of providing traditional medicines used in South America. The medicinal preparations are derived from the leaves seeds of the fruit (cocoa beans). Depending on the processing, cocao and its derivative products (chocolate, cacao butter) can contain flavonols and procyanidins (flavonoids). The flavonols and the procyanidins from cocao possess biological activities relevant to oxidant defenses, vascular health, tumor suppression, and immune function. The chronic ingestion of flavonol- and procyanidin-rich cocoa is associated with a reduction in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation and inhibition of platelet function In addition, specific procyanidin fractions isolated from cocoa have demonstrated protection against peroxynitrite-mediated protein damage as well as against oxidation of synthetic liposomes and DNA. Studies have shown that purified cocoa procyanidin fractions, as well as a crude cocoa extract, can alter cytokine transcription, it seems that these natural products have the potential to modulate the immune response. These mechanistic observations may provide a basis that suggests that the regular consumption of foods rich in flavonoids is associated with a reduced risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers.
Applications
Stimulating mood enhancer (aphrodisiac), heart-tonic (cardiovascular properties, recent research indicating anti-coagulant properties)
Cacao seed powder has been found to contain high levels of antioxidant polyphenols, oligomeric procynanidins and other flavonoids; helps boost the immune system.
Phyto-chemicals
Many chemicals are contained in the leaves, seeds, flowers and petioles of theobroma cacao such as alanine, alkaloids, amyl-alcohol, amylase, arabinose, arachidic-acid, ash, aspariginase, biotin, campesterol, carbohydrates, catalase, catechins, catechol, cellulose, chloride, cholesterol, copper, cyanidin, decarboxylase, dextrinase, ergosterol, fat, fiber, formic-acid, fructose, furfurol, glucose, glutamic-acid, glycerin, glycine, iron, isoleucine, kilocalories, lactic-acid, leucine, linalool, lipase, lysine, maleic-acid, mannose, nicotinic-acid, oleic-acid, oxalic-acid, palmitic-acid, peroxidase, protein, purine, riboflavin, stearic acid, sucrose, tannins, tartaric-acid, valeric-acid, vanillic-acid, vitexin, water, xylose.
(Klein, R. M. The Green World, An Introduction to Plants and People.)
(Schultes, R. E. and Raffauf, R. F. The Healing Forest.)
(Forsyth, A. How Monkeys Make Chocolate.
Pharmacology
Flavonoids isolated from cocoa have biological activities relevant to oxidant defenses, vascular health, tumor suppression, and immune function. The intake of certain dietary flavonoids, along with other dietary substances such as tocopherols, ascorbate, and carotenoids, is epidemiologically associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. Flavonoids have also been shown to modulate tumor pathology in vitro and in animal models.
The primary alkaloid in cocao, Theobromine, has similar stimulating activity to that of caffeine.
is a weak CNS stimulant, with one-tenth the cardiac effects of other methylxanthines (caffeine, theophylline).
Polyphenols in cocoa are similar to the phenol in red wine, which has been shown to inhibit the oxidation of LDL.
Cocao inhibit LDL oxidation and increase HDL-cholesterol concentrations, this potentially decreases the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Extract of cacao counters the bacteria responsible for boils and septicemia.
Polyphenol compounds present in the cacao liquor, extracted by using ethanol, have the potential in decreasing the severity of hepatocarcinogenesis.
Dosage
Tincture: 1 - 4 ml per day
For depression, dieting 6 ml / day
Precaution
The above presentation is for informational and educational purposes only.
It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage.
For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over - the - counter medication is also available.
Consult your doctor, practitioner, and / or pharmacist for any health problem and before using dietary supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. |