Study of the physical and chemical changes during the maturation of three cocoa clones, EET8, CCN51, and ICS60.

BACKGROUND: Colombia is known for its production of fine and aromatic cocoa; however, the lack of homogeneity in the ripeness stage of cocoa fruit affects the final quality of cocoa beans. Therefore, the aim of this work was to identify parameters that can be use as indicators of ripeness in cocoa fruit in order to homogenize the characteristics of raw cocoa used in the production of cocoa-products industry. The parameters evaluated were fruit, seed and pod weight, firmness, color, polar and equatorial diameters of the fruit, seed moisture content, total titratable acidity, pH, and total soluble solids of pulp. RESULTS: Factors such as seed weight, firmness, diameters, total soluble solids, pH, and acidity were affected by the clone factor, whereas seed weight, pH, and total titratable acidity were affected by ripeness stage. CONCLUSION: Identification of indicators of ripeness for cocoa fruit is a complex task due to the influence of the clone on the evolution of the physicochemical characteristics of cocoa fruit during its maturation process. Thus, indicators must be developed for each clone, and at least two parameters among color, pH, and total titratable acidity should be used to determine the ripeness stage of cocoa fruit. © 2019 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Antioxidant capacity and total phenol content of Hyptis spp., P. heptaphyllum, T.panamensis, T. rhoifolia and Ocotea sp / Capacidad antioxidante y contenido de fenoles totales de hyptis spp., P. heptaphyllum, T. panamensis, T. rhoifolia, y Ocotea sp / Capacidade antioxidante e conteúdo de fenóis totais de Hyptis spp., P. heptaphyllum, T. panamensis, T. rhoifolia, e Ocotea sp

In this work, the possible correlation between the antioxidant activities and the Total Phenolic Content (TPC) and chemical composition of Lamiaceae (H. conferta, H. dilatata, H. mutabilis, H. suaveolens), Burseraceae (P. heptaphyllum, T. rhoifoila, T. panamensis), and Lauraceae (Ocotea sp.) were evaluated. The Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity or the Total Antioxidant Activity (TAA) was determined by using a colorimetric assay with the ABTS radical cation, Effective Concentration (EC50) was evaluated with the DPPH radical, and the TPC was established by the Folin-Ciocalteu method, for ethanolic extracts obtained by cold maceration and evaporation to dryness. Both the TAA and the EC50 were highly correlated with the TPC. The barks of T. rhoifolia and T. panamensis demonstrated the highest antioxidant capacities. The Burseraceae spp. exhibited the highest TPC, and the Lamiaceae (Hyptis spp.) demonstrated the lowest TPC.

Neste trabalho foi avaliada a possível correlação entre as atividades antioxidantes, o conteúdo de fenóis totais e a composição química de Lamiaceae (H. conferta, H. dilatata, H. mutabilis, H. suaveolens), Burseraceae (P. heptaphyllum, T. rhoifoila, T. panamensis), e Lauraceae (Ocotea sp.). Para os extratos de etanol obtidos por maceração em frio e evaporação até a secura, a Capacidade Antioxidante Equivalente ao Trolox ou à Atividade Antioxidante Total (AAT), foi determinada por meio de um ensaio colorimétrico com o cátion radical ABTS, a concentração eficaz (EC50) foi avaliada com o radical DPPH, e o Conteúdo de Fenóis Totais (CFT) foi estabelecido pelo método do Folin-Ciocalteu. Tanto a AAT quanto a EC50 estiveram altamente relacionadas com a CFT. A casca de T. rhoifolia e T. panamensis apresentaram as maiores capacidades antioxidantes. As Burseraceae spp. apresentaram o CFT mais alto, e as Lamiaceae (Hyptis spp.) apresentaram o CFT mais baixo.

En este trabajo se evaluó la posible correlación entre las actividades antioxidantes, el contenido de fenoles totales (CFT) y la composición química de Lamiaceae (H. conferta, H. dilatata, H. mutabilis, H. suaveolens), Burseraceae (P. heptaphyllum, T. rhoifoila, T. panamensis) y Lauraceae (Ocotea sp.). Para los extractos etanólicos obtenidos por maceración en frio y evaporación a sequedad, la Capacidad Antioxidante Equivalente al Trolox o la Actividad Antioxidante Total (AAT), fueron determinadas mediante un ensayo colorimétrico con el catión radical ABTS, la Concentración Efectiva (EC50) fue evaluada con el radical DPPH, y el Contenido de Fenoles Totales (CFT), fue establecido mediante el método de Folin-Ciocalteu. Tanto la AAT como la EC50 estuvieron altamente correlacionados con el CFT. Las cortezas de T. rhoifolia y T. panamensis mostraron las capacidades antioxidantes más altas. Las Burseraceae spp. mostraron los TPC más altos y las Lamiaceae (Hyptis spp.) mostraron los TPC más bajos.