Proximal chemical evaluation, antioxidant content and fatty acids in fermented and dried cocoa beans, roasted cocoa beans and cocoa pulp bar (Theobroma cacao L. Criollo cultivar)

The objective of this work was to evaluate the proximal chemical composition, antioxidant activity assays with total phenol, 2,2-Diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl, 2'2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazolin-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt, iron reducing antioxidant power, and the fatty acid composition of fermented and dried cocoa beans, roasted cocoa beans and cocoa pulp bar. The fermented and dried cocoa beans were purchased, roasted (11.5 degrees C for 5 min) and homogenized. The mixture was brought to its melting point (58 degrees C for 5 min). In the cocoa pulp bar there was an increase in lipids (53.0%). The roasted affected the concentration of ashes (3.38 2.98%). Total phenol (1.8, 1.5 and 1.3 mg AEG kg(-1)), 2,2-Diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl (65.8, 64.4 and 65.0 mu mol ET kg(-1)), 2'2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazolin-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (3.60, 3.00 and 2.30 mu mol EAC kg(-1)) and iron reducing antioxidant power (0.09, 0.07 and 0.06 mg Fe2+ kg(-1)) presented significant differences (p<0.05) in the fermented and dried cocoa beans, roasted cocoa beans and cocoa pulp bar respectively, however, the changes were minimal. The cocoa pulp bar had a higher concentration of unsaturated fatty acid (89.2%), where oleic (48.6%) was predominated. Therefore, the cocoa pulp bar is a food with an important antioxidant content , moreover, it has a higher concentration of unsaturated fatty acid, which is desirable in the diet.