Table 2.
In vitro studies on cocoa polyphenol CVD-related anti-inflammatory activities. Ref. = Reference.
| Model | Treatment (dose) | Outcomes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leukotrienes | |||
| (a) Isolated rabbit 15-LOX-1 | (a) Cocoa procyanidins: monomers to decamers (2.9 mg/mL) | Dose-dependent: (a) ↓15-LOX-1 activity | [215] |
| (b) Recombinant human platelet 12-LOX | (b) Epicatechin & procyanidin decamers | (b) ↓12-LOX activity | |
| Recombinant human 5-LOX | Cocoa epicatechin & procyanidins | ↓5-LOX activity | [216] |
| (10 μmol/L) | ↓Pro-inflammatory mediators (LTB4, LTC4, LTD4) | ||
| Pro-Inflammatory and Anti-Inflammatory Cytokines | |||
| PHA-stimulated PBMC | Cocoa procyanidins: monomers through decamers (25 μg/mL) | ↓IL-1β secretion (monomer to tetramer) | [217] |
| ↑IL-1β secretion (pentamer to decamer) | |||
| ↓IL-2 expression (pentamer to heptamer) | |||
| ↓IL-4 expression & secretion (pentamer to decamer) | |||
| Human PBMC | Cocoa procyanidins: monomers through decamers (25 μg/mL) | ↑IL-1β transcription & secretion (pentamers-decamers) | [218] |
| ↓IL-1β transcription & secretion (monomers-tetramers) | |||
| Resting and (PHA)-stimulated human PBMC | Cocoa procyanidins: monomers through decamers (25 μg/mL) | Resting PBMCs: | [219] |
| ↑IL-4 secretion (hexamer-decamer fraction) | |||
| PHA-stimulated PBMCs: | |||
| ↑IL-4 secretion (monomeric fraction) | |||
| ↓IL-4 secretion (hexamer-decamer fraction) | |||
| Resting and (PHA)-stimulated human PBMC | CFP fractions: monomers through decamers (25 μg/mL) | ↓ TNF-α (monomers and dimers) | [220] |
| ↑ TNF-α (tetramers through octamers) | |||
| PHA-stimulated PBMC | Cocoa flavanols and their related oligomers (25 μg/mL) | ↓ IL-5 release (oligomeric fractions: hexamers to decamers) | [221] |
| Rat NR8383 macrophages | Cocoa polyphenol extract (10–50 μg/mL tot. PPh) vs. epicatechin (30–60 μg/mL tot. PPh) | ↓ TNF-α, MCP-1, IL-1α, IL-6) | [222] |
| Murine EL4BOU6 lymphocytes | Cocoa extract (5–80 μg/mL tot. PPh) vs. epicatechin (60–120 μg/mL tot. PPh) | ↓IL-2 secretion | [223] |
| ↑IL-4 secretion | |||
| ↓T lymphocyte activation | |||
| Human PBMC | Cocoa flavanol fractions: Short (monomers-pentamers) | ↑IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α (long-chain fraction) | [224] |
| Long-chain (hexamers-decamers) (20 μg/mL) | |||
| LPS-stimulated human PBMC | Cocoa phenolic acids: (3,4-DHPPA, 3-HPA, | ↓TNF-α | [225] |
| 3,4-DHPAA, 3-HPAA, | ↓IL-6 | ||
| 4-HBA) (1 µM) | ↑IL-1β | ||
| NF-κB Activity | |||
| Jurkat T cells | Purified cocoa: [(−)-epicatechin (EC) and | ↓NF-κB | [226] |
| (+)-catechin (CT)] and a B dimeric procyanidin (DP-B) (1.7–17.2 µM) | ↓IL-2 transactivation | ||
4-DHPAA—3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid; 3,4-DHPPA—3,4 dihydroxyphenylpropionic acid; 3-HPA—3-hydroxyphenylpropionic acid; 3-HPAA—3-hydroxyphenylacetic acid; 4-HBA—4-hydroxybenzoic acid; CFP—Cocoa flavanols preparation; LOX—lipoxygenase; MCP-1—monocyte chemoattractant protein-1; PBMC—peripheral blood mononuclear cells; PHA—phytohemagglutinin; VSMC—vascular smooth muscle cells.