Cocoa bean husk: industrial source of antioxidant phenolic extract.

BACKGROUND: Cocoa bean husk (CBH) is the principal by-product of the cocoa industry and a significant agro-industrial residue. In this study, using different hydrothermal treatments of CBH, it is shown that CBH is an important source of bioactive compounds, including theobromine, epicatechin and catechin. RESULTS: Treatment over 150 °C significantly increased the yield of total and individual phenols and theobromine as well as the antioxidant capacity of the liquid fraction. A total of 52 different genotypes of CBH harvested in two seasons of production were analyzed. Overall, higher amounts of total phenols, theobromine and epigallocatechin were detected in samples from the 2015 season, while samples from 2014 had higher quantities of catechin and similar quantities of epicatechin. CONCLUSION: CBH treatment at 170 °C for 30 min produces an antioxidant-rich extract high in phenols (55 mg g-1 ), sugars (220 mg g-1 ) and theobromine (56 mg g-1 ) that is suitable for applications in the food, cosmetic and nutraceutical industries. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Impact assessment of mechanical harvest on fruit physiology and consequences on oil physicochemical and sensory quality from 'Manzanilla de Sevilla' and 'Manzanilla Cacereña' super-high-density hedgerows. A preliminary study.

BACKGROUND: Super-intensive cultivation facilitates olive mechanized harvesting, allowing substantial savings in the production cost of virgin olive oil (VOO). However, the number of varieties adapted to this type of cultivation is small. This study explores the impact that harvesting with a grape straddle harvester of 'Manzanilla de Sevilla' and 'Manzanilla Cacereña' olives grown in super-intensive cultivation has on the physiology of the fruit and the quality of the oil subsequently extracted. RESULTS: For both cultivars, fruits harvested mechanically showed higher respiration and ethylene production and lower firmness than fruits harvested by hand. Their oils exhibited lower phenol contents, lower oxidative stability and lower presence of positive sensory attributes. However, in these oils the values of parameters used to assess the level of quality of VOO remained within the limits required for the best commercial category. CONCLUSION: Mechanical harvesting of 'Manzanilla de Sevilla' and 'Manzanilla Cacereña' super-high-density hedgerows induced physiological alterations in the fruits and a reduction in the contents of natural antioxidants and flavour components in the oils, though it did not result in a loss of the 'Extra' level of quality.