Antioxidant activity, mineral and lignocellulosic profile of Theobroma cacao L. Carmelo variety cocoa pod husk, for their potential utilization

Introduction. Mexico is the thirteenth largest cocoa-producing country in the world, yielding 20 000 tons (0.4 % of world production). Cocoa pod husks (CPH) represent an opportunity for the extraction of value-added products due to their chemical properties. Objective. To determine the antioxidant activity, mineral profile and main chemical constituents of CPH Materials and Methods. The study quantified and determined the main organic and inorganic constituents of the CPH sample using analytical techniques (Technical Association for the Pulp and Paper Industries [TAPPI], American Society for Testing and Materials [ASTM] and other methods reported in the literature). Results and discussion. A 19.4 % extractable content in organic solvents was obtained. The cellulose content was 30.5 %, hemicellulose 19 %, lignin 23.3 %, and ash 7.7 %. The total phenolic content was 24.59 +/- 0.93 mg gallic acid equivalents center dot g-1, and the flavonoid content was 2.35 +/- 0.24 mg catechin equivalents center dot g-1. The antioxidant activity was determined as 304.84 +/- 57.59 mg trolox equivalents for ABTS (2,2 '-azino-bis[3ethylbenzothiazoline-6sulfonic acid]) and 145.80 +/- 3.84 mg trolox equivalents for FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power). Conclusions. CPH is a viable source of lignin, and its cellulose and hemicellulose contents have the potential to serve as a carbohydrate source for biofuel production. Additionally, its high polyphenol content and antioxidant capacity position it as a promising source for the food and/or pharmaceutical industry.