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Alchemica

Theobroma cacao - MIMS entry

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Now this is just systems level sexiness... a work in progress, I'll edit as I get more to add and add more of my own words, just some notes for the moment. Such a turn on to a science person, the therapeutic potential of cacao! I just get turned on at a different level to chocolate than most...
 

The cocoa bean, as any bean, is rich in fat that represents 50% or even more of the total weight. The next most important ingredients are proteins or nitrogenous elements, including theobromine (1.0–2.5%) and caffeine (0.06–0.4%). Starches and sugars together form 20–25% of the weight of the bean. Most importantly, cocoa beans are a concentrated source of anti‐oxidants, in particular flavonoids, with the flavan‐3‐ols and their derivatives being present in high concentrations. The flavan‐3‐ol compounds are mostly present in the cocoa bean in the form of epicatechin and catechin
 

Cocoa butter contains both monounsaturated and saturated fatty acids. Oleic acid is the major monounsaturated FA that is present in similar amounts to those contained in the olive oil. Conversely, palmitic and stearic acids represent the main saturated FAs. However, stearic acid has been found to be anti-atherogenic, also accounting for one-third of the lipids contained in cocoa butter.
 

Fibers are present in the beans, and their consumption has been shown to improve the low density lipoprotein (LDL):high density lipoprotein (HDL) ratio, also reducing risk of type 2 diabetes.
 

Among minerals, magnesium, copper, potassium, and iron are present in significant amounts. Magnesium, copper, and potassium exert a cardio protective role, also CNS effects, while iron, mainly present in dark chocolate, contributes to the 25% of the U.S. recommended dietary allowance for middle-aged man, thus preventing anemia outcome
 

High cacao chocolate contain numerous substances among which there is a quite large percentage of antioxidant molecules, mainly flavonoids of the flavonol class, most abundantly found in the form of epicatechin. These substances display several beneficial actions on the brain.
 

"Flavonols enter the brain and induce widespread stimulation of brain perfusion. They also provoke angiogenesis, neurogenesis and changes in neuron morphology, mainly in regions involved in learning and memory. Epicatechin improves various aspects of cognition in animals and humans. Chocolate also induces positive effects on mood and is often consumed under emotional stress.Flavonoids preserve cognitive abilities during ageing in rats, lower the risk for developing Alzheimer's disease and decrease the risk of stroke in humans. In addition to their beneficial effects on the vascular system and on cerebral blood flow, flavonoids interact with signalization cascades involving protein and lipid kinases that lead to the inhibition of neuronal death by apoptosis induced by neurotoxicants such as oxygen radicals, and promote neuronal survival and synaptic plasticity."
 

"Research investigating the relations between cocoa and cognition shows dose-dependent improvements in general cognition, attention, processing speed, and working memory. Moreover, cocoa flavanols administration could also enhance normal cognitive functioning and exert a protective role on cognitive performance and cardiovascular function specifically impaired by sleep loss, in healthy subjects."
 

Polyphenols exert antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities switching on some important signaling pathways such as toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor κB/signal transducer and activator of transcription. In particular, polyphenols induce release of NO through activation of endothelial NO synthase which, in turn, accounts for vasodilation and cardioprotective effects. There are putative effects on cerebral NO and BDNF: flavonoids promote the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), that is crucial to adult neurogenesis, synaptic growth, and neuronal survival.

 

"Flavanol-rich cocoa has been shown to significantly increase cerebral blood flow (CBF) 1–2 h post-intervention in humans , suggesting that flavanols’ indirect, vasodilatatory actions could account for acute cognitive enhancement following a single administration. Conversely, cognitive benefits associated with long-term flavonoids intake are more likely to involve morphological changes induced by direct actions on neuronal signaling. However, indirect mechanisms of action can also contribute to long-term neuroprotective effects, as increases in NO levels can further impact on brain vascularization over time by promoting angiogenesis, thus resulting in better cerebrovascular communication."

 

Following cocoa and dark chocolate ingestion, the polyphenols also modulate intestinal microbiota, thus leading to the growth of bacteria that trigger a tolerogenic anti-inflammatory pathway in the host. This encourages the consumption of of such by aged people for the recovery of the neurovascular unit.

 

[1] The neuroprotective effects of cocoa flavanol and its influence on cognitive performance

https://dx.doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1365-2125.2012.04378.x

[2] Cocoa and Dark Chocolate Polyphenols: From Biology to Clinical Applications

https://dx.doi.org/10.3389%2Ffimmu.2017.00677

[3] Enhancing Human Cognition with Cocoa Flavonoids

https://dx.doi.org/10.3389%2Ffnut.2017.00019

Edited by Alchemica

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With regard to cacao alkaloids and sceletium extracts:
 

So yeah, the onus is on people to be responsible with plant spirit medicines. Consult a health care professional before using cacao alkaloids if you have cardiovascular issues, prominent anxiety or do not tolerate stimulants. The cacao alkaloids are metabolised, as a substrate, by CYP1A2 so like caffeine, there could be mild interactions with clomipramine, clozapine, cyclobenzaprine etc. Clearly this chocolate is super toxic to dogs, keep out of reach of our animal friends. There are some indications of potential changes to blood sugar levels?

Also, with theobromine in the cacao alks, high doses aren't better, they experimentally induce dysphoric reactions, elevations in heart-rate etc. Low doses enhance 'Feel' emotion dimensions etc. Up to 1g has been explored in the literature. I find 200mg ample!
 

While technically it is risky combining multiple serotonergics, or MAOIs with sceletium for the risk of serotonin syndrome there are preliminary reports in the literature of relative safety with SSRIs, it is suggested if you use any antidepressant or have mental health issues, you consult a health care professional. I haven't seen anything in depth on CYP450 metabolism of mesembrine-type alkaloids, I'm speculating it could be mainly CYP2D6 O-demethylation etc so there could be interactions at that level etc

Edited by Alchemica

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