From controlled transformed cocoa beans to chocolate: Bioactive properties, metabolomic profile, and in vitro bioaccessibility

Abstract

This study aimed to characterize the changes in bioactive compounds associated with health benefits during the transformation of cocoa seeds into chocolate and in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. Flavan-3-ols (catechin, epicatechin), methylxanthines (theobromine, caffeine), total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and metabolomic fingerprint were analyzed. The results indicated that processing stages led to a general decrease in bioactive compound content, attributed to factors such as temperature, pH, and diffusive phenomena. Roasting and chocolate processing particularly affected epicatechin and caffeine contents. In vitro digestion released compounds in response to enzymatic activity and system conditions, with a significant release of amino acids and peptides in the intestinal phase. Catechin and theobromine exhibited higher effective bioaccessibility. The antioxidant activity mirrored the quantification of individual compounds. This research provides valuable insights into the dynamic changes of chemical compounds in cocoa matrices throughout the transformation of cocoa seeds into chocolate and in vitro gastrointestinal digestion.