Isolation, structural characterization and biological activity evaluation of melanoidins from thermally processed cocoa beans, carob kibbles and acorns as potential cytotoxic agents

• Published in: Food chemistry 2024-06, Vol.442, p.138423-138423, Article 138423
• Main Authors: Oracz, Joanna, Lewandowska, Urszula, Owczarek, Katarzyna, Caban, Miłosz, Rosicka-Kaczmarek, Justyna, Żyżelewicz, Dorota
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anti-inflammatory; Ceratonia siliqua L; Cytotoxic properties; In vitro antioxidant; In vitro gastrointestinal digestion; Melanoidins; Phenolic compounds; Quercus rubra L; Theobroma cacao L; Thermal processing
• ISSN: 0308-8146; 1873-7072
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.138423

[Display omitted] •A novel sources of bioactive melanoidins have been revealed.•Chemical, structural, and bioactive properties of melanoidins were characterized.•Melanoidins from roasted carob kibbles exhibit excellent antioxidant activity.•Cocoa, carob and acorn melanoidins decrease in vitro lipoxygenase activity.•Acorn melanoidins show notable in vitro cytotoxic activity on colon cancer cells. The aim of this study was to determine the chemical structure and biological activity of melanoidin fractions derived from cocoa beans, carob kibbles, and acorns roasted at different temperature-time conditions. The results showed that plant origin and roasting conditions had significant effects on the chemical composition, structural features, and morphology of melanoidins. All tested melanoidins exhibited significant antioxidant properties in three in vitro assays. In addition, they show significant in vitro anti-inflammatory activity by reducing lipoxygenase. The results from MTT assay showed that the all studied melanoidins had a cytotoxic effect against SW-480 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Furthermore, the most pronounced activity was observed for acorn melanoidins. This is a unique finding, as the specific cytotoxic effect has not been reported for cocoa, carob and acorn melanoidins, and opens up a great opportunity to develop a potential novel cytotoxic agent against deadly colon cancer in the future.