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Antioxidant and apoptotic activity of cocoa bean husk extract on prostate cancer cells

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Abstract

Background

Although prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men, its incidence among Asians, who consume foods rich in phenols, is relatively low compared with that in other populations. Cocoa bean husk (CBH) is an important by-product of the cocoa industry; its polyphenol content (catechin, epicatechin, and procyanidin B) is as high as that of cocoa beans. However, there are no studies on the anticancer effect of CBH. Herein, we assessed the antioxidant and anticancer effects of CBH on prostate cancer cells.

Objectives

We fractionated CBH ethanol crude extract and compared the total polyphenol content, total flavonoid content, and DPPH and ABTS+ radical scavenging activities of the fractions. Catechin, epicatechin, and procyanidin B were analysed by HPLC in the ethyl acetate (EAF) and butanol (BF) fractions, which had the highest physiological content and antioxidant activity. PC3 and DU145 cells were treated with the two fractions, and annexin V/propidium iodide, and TUNEL assays were performed to assess apoptosis and DNA fragmentation, respectively.

Results

The highest phytochemical content and antioxidant activity were observed in EAF, followed by those in BF. HPLC analysis revealed high content of phenolic compounds in both these fractions. Notably, catechin (5.64 mg/g), epicatechin (20.47 mg/g), and procyanidin B (20.29 mg/g) were abundant in EAF. Both fractions induced apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner in PC3 and DU145 cells, and DNA fragmentation at a concentration of 200 μg/mL.

Conclusion

CBH, a by-product of cocoa processing, contains large amounts of phenolic compounds and exhibits high antioxidant activity and anticancer effects on prostate cancer cells. CBH has potential applications as a functional food material.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Research grant from Kongju National University in 2020.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Deparment of Food Service Management and Nutrition, Kongju National University, Yesan, 32439, Republic of Korea

    Jinhee Choi & Haeyeon Choi

  2. Institute of Animal Molecular Biotechnology and Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea

    Changwon Yang & Gwonhwa Song

  3. Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Science and Technology, Kookmin University, Seoul, 02707, Republic of Korea

    Whasun Lim

Authors
  1. Jinhee Choi
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  2. Changwon Yang
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  3. Whasun Lim
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  4. Gwonhwa Song
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  5. Haeyeon Choi
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Contributions

WL, GS and HC designed the study. JC and CY conducting experiments, analyzed the data, interpreted the data. WL, GS and HC provided reagents. JC, WL and HC prepared the manuscript for publication and reviewed the draft of the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Haeyeon Choi.

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Conflict of interest

JC states that there are no conflicts of interest to disclose. CY states that there are no conflicts of interest to disclose. WL states that there are no conflicts of interest to disclose. GS states that there are no conflicts of interest to disclose. HC states that there are no conflicts of interest to disclose.

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This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

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Choi, J., Yang, C., Lim, W. et al. Antioxidant and apoptotic activity of cocoa bean husk extract on prostate cancer cells. Mol. Cell. Toxicol. 18, 193–203 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13273-021-00187-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13273-021-00187-w

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