Evaluation of the Bioactive Composition of Cocoa Pod Husk From Sulawesi Island, Indonesia, for Health Benefits

Background. Indonesia is the world's third-largest cocoa producer. Processing cocoa beans into chocolate products generates a substantial amount of cocoa pod husk (CPH) waste. The island of Sulawesi is a major cocoa hub in Indonesia. However, there has been limited exploration of the phytochemical content of cocoa pod husks originating from this region. Materials and methods. The proximate composition was determined using the official AOAC method. A spectrophotometer and GC-MS analysis were used to identify polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannins, as well as other chemical compounds in CPH. Results. CPH has an average moisture content of 25.63%, ash content of 8.48%, fat content of 0.65%, protein content of 10.34%, and carbohydrate including fiber content of 54.91%. The total polyphenol content is 98.68 mg GAE/g, flavonoid content is 3.58 mg quercetin/g, and tannin content is 79.12 mg EGCG/g. A total of 23 compounds were identified, and based on their chemical structures, the compounds in CPH are derivatives of terpenoids, fatty acids, and steroids. The largest compound compositions are butyric acid (25.91%), Hexadecanoic acid, Methyl ester (24.35%), 13-Docosenoic acid, Methyl ester, (Z)-(CAS) (11.05%), and 2-Furancarboxaldehyde (8.14%). Butane-1,2,3,4-tetraol (5.44%), 9,12-octadecadienoic acid methyl ester (4.71%), and Methyl 2-hydroxy-3-butenoate (3.67%). Conclusion. The CPH originating from the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia, possesses a bioactive composition that is nearly identical to CPH sourced from various other countries, as well as other regions within Indonesia, despite varying levels. These compounds exhibit beneficial effects on health. However, further evidence and development are still required to verify the health benefits of CPH, both in vitro and in pre-clinical settings, prior to actual human application.