• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.732-736
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• 2020

Theobroma cacao L., a fruit of cacao trees, is a perennial plant, which belongs to Sterculiaceae, and is native to the Amazon in South Africa. It also has been known for its various biologically active effects, such as anti-oxidation, anti-cancer, and anti-bacterial. The spleen cell proliferations of mice were measured at 48 hours after treatment of Theobroma cacao L. water extracts in seven concentrations(0, 5, 10, 50, 100, 250, 500 and 1,000 ㎍/mL) an ELISA assay. The production of cytokine (IL-1β, TNF-α, IFN-γ), is secreted by macrophages stimulated with LPS, was detected by ELISA assay using the cytokine kit. From the results of in vitro study, both splenocytes and cytokine production activated by peritoneal macrophages have increased when water extracts were supplemented in the range between 250 and 500 ㎍/mL concentration. Notably, splenocytes production has a signigicant proliferation at 500 ㎍/mL concentration. The result from this research suggests that supplementation with Theobroma cacao L. water extracts may enhance the immune function by stimulating the splenocyte proliferation and improving the cytokine production activating macrophage in vitro.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.92-96
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• 1995

In the course of our studies, novel flavan-3-ol structure isolated from Theobroma cacao L. husk was established by the thiolysis, desulfurization and spectroscopic method. The structure was identified for cinnamtannin A-2 containing the tetrameric epicatechin and molecular weight was [1153] by FAB-MS negative ion. The inhibitory effect on the glucosyltransferase activity was investigated. Cinnamtannin A-2 showed complete inhibition at 0.03 mM and inhibited on the glucosyltransferase noncompetitively. The hydroxyl group of flavan-3-ol was supposed to be the essential element for inhibition on the glucosyltransferase.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.571-582
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• 2022

Cacao, a major ingredient for making chocolate, has been shown to have potent antioxidant effects. The consumption of raw cacao has beneficial effects on health. This study determined the fermentation properties of yoghurt that was manufactured with cacao nibs (Theobroma cacao L.). The pH of the yogurt containing the cacao nibs was lower than that of the control, and this reduction was both concentration and fermentation time-dependent. Furthermore, the number of lactic acid bacteria in the yogurt made with cacao and its viscosity increased in a cacao nibs dependent manner. In particular, the yoghurt with 5% cacao nibs added had the highest number of lactic acid bacteria at 48 hours at the end point of the fermentation. Whey protein degradation in yogurt containing cacao nibs increased with the fermentation time, and the organic acid production, especially lactic acid, in the yogurt containing cacao nibs increased significantly after 16 hours of fermentation. In addition, the total polyphenol content of the yogurt containing cacao nibs increased, which was proportional to the amount added. Sensory evaluations of the yogurts indicated that overall taste was less desirable as cacao nib loadings increased from 1 to 5% compared with controls. This result is due to the excessive acidity, which was strongly perceived in the absence of added sugar. The development of yogurts with cacao nibs is expected to contribute much to the appeal of fermented milk.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.583-593
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• 2022

Cacao is recognized not only as a raw material for making chocolate but also as an excellent functional food with a high antioxidant effect. The consumption of raw cacao and its processed form of cacao has a beneficial effect on health. The aim of this study was to reveal the possible biological functions of yoghurt that was prepared with added cacao nibs (Theobroma cacao L.). The 2,2-anziobis (3-ehtylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic aicd (ABTS) radical scavenging ability of yogurt containing Cacao nibs from 1 to 5% was higher than that of the control group, and the ABTS radical scavenging ability was similar in all the test groups after 12 hours of fermentation. The antibacterial activity of the control and yogurt with the cacao nibs was shown to be very strong against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus 1631, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Salmonella Typhimurium M-15 in fermented milk for 16, 24, and 48 hours, but the fermentation times at 0, 4, and 8 hours showed no activity. The Cacao nibs powder inhibited IκBα-phosphorylation in a concentration-dependent manner. The yogurt containing the cacao nibs significantly inhibited the expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-1ß and IL-6 in a concentration-dependent manner. Our development of yogurt that combines milk as a complete food and cacao nibs, which has several physiological functions, is expected to greatly contribute to research on new functional fermented milk.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.71-76
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• 2002

In order to achieve repetitive somatic embryogenesis in cacao (Theobroma cacao L.), callus derived from floral tissues were continuously cultured in a medium containing 2,4-D. In 5% of the explants, repetitive somatic embryogenesis was observed after 8 weeks and maintained in a globular stage for several weeks. This is the first report showing repetitive somatic embryogenesis in cacao. The calli were bombarded with a plasmid containing $\beta$-glucuronidase (gus) as reporter gene. Two week old calli showed the high average number of cells expressing the us gene. The effect of osmotic agents (mannitol, sorbitol and sucrose) on gene expression was evaluated. Pre-treatment during 16 h with 0.25 M mannitol revealed an improvement in gene expression. The potential utilization of the repetitive embryogenesis, combined with osmotic treatment, is discussed as an alternative to achieve stable transgenic cacao plants.

• Proceedings of the Zoological Society Korea Conference
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• 2003.08a
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• pp.159.1-159
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• 2003

No Abstract, See Full Text

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2004.04a
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• pp.160-161
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• 2004

• Mycobiology
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.180-186
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• 2016

Trichoderma species are able to persist on living sapwood and leaves of cacao (Theobroma cacao) in an endophytic relationship. In this research, we evaluated the ability of Trichodema asperellum introduced at the incision site in the bark for side grafting with the concentration of 4 g/10 mL, 4 g/100 mL, and 4 g/1,000 mL (suspended in water) in suppressing vascular streak dieback (VSD) incidence and promoting growth of side grafts in the field. The incidence of VSD in two local clones of cacao, MCC1 and M04, without application of T. asperellum was 71.2% and 70.1% at 21 wk after grafting, respectively. However, when the two clones were treated with a concentration of 4 g/10 mL T. asperellum, the incidence was 20.6% and 21.7%, respectively, compared to 29.1% and 20.9% at 4 g/100 mL and 18.2% and 15.6% at 4 g/1,000 mL. By comparing to the control, the treatment with the same concentrations of T. asperellum listed above, the total number of stomata in MCC1 decreased by 41.9%, 30.2%, and 14.0% and in M04 by 30.5%, 21.9%, and -2.5% (exception), respectively. Otherwise, the total area of stomata opening increased by 91.4%, 99.7%, and 28.6% in MCC1 and by 203.8%, 253.5%, and 35.9% in M04, respectively. Furthermore, the number of buds and branches treated with a mixture concentration on the the two clones increased by 90.7% and 21.7%, respectively. These data showed that the application of T. asperellum to cacao scions while grafting can decrease VSD incidence in side grafts and increase growth of grafts in addition to decreasing total number of stomata, increasing total area of opened stomata, and increasing number of buds and branches.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.535-541
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• 2017

In this study, methanol (CAMe) and ethanol (CAEt) extract of Theobroma cacao L. were tested to see possibility as natural functional cosmetic agent. Cacao extract and cacao extract loaded gel were evaluated for various properties such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, cell viability, anti-inflammatory. Inhibition of nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccaride (LPS) stimulated raw 264.7cells, at concentration of $0.125{\sim}1{\mu}g/ml$ a dose-dependent manner. Gel formulation (3% extract) were stable for 60day in both extract. In conclusion, gel containing extract of Theobroma cacao L. indicated strong possibility for functional cosmetic ingredient.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.1330-1338
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• 2012

Solvent extracts of Theobroma cacao L. (TCL) were investigated for anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects in order to consider TCL as a functional ingredient for cosmetic products. TCL(A) extract was fractioned according to polarity with $CHCl_3$, EtOAc, n-BuOH, and water. Following TCL(A) fractionation, the electron-donating ability of the n-BuOH and EtOAc solvent fractions (each 100 ${\mu}g/ml$) was about 76.2% and 53.9%, respectively. The superoxide anion radical inhibitory effect of the n-BuOH and EtOAc solvent fractions (each 50 ${\mu}g/ml$) was about 76.09% and 51.4%, respectively. Results of lipid oxidation showed that $Fe^{2+}$ had a greater chelating effect than $Cu^{2+}$. The $Fe^{2+}$ chelating effect of the EtOAc solvent fraction (50 ${\mu}g/ml$) was about 64%. Hyaluronidase inhibition related to the anti-inflammatory effect was 53.0% with EtOAc at 100 ${\mu}g/ml$, while the lipoxygenase inhibitory effect was about 51.32% at 10 ${\mu}g/ml$. The anti-inflammatory activity in the EtOAc fraction inhibited the generation of nitric oxide. Results also showed that iNOS protein expression increased in RAW264.7 cells. In contrast, at 100 ${\mu}g/ml$ EtOAc, iNOS and COX-2 protein expression significantly decreased in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells.