Biomedical Importance of Cocoa (Theobroma cacao): Significance and Potential for the Maintenance of Human Health

Theobroma cacao, Cocoa, Biomedical importance, Cocoa and human health. Plants and herbs have been the source of medication for man from centuries ago. Many compounds have been extracted from them for treatment of chronic diseases such as cocaine from cocoa. The Cocoa tree belongs to the family Theobroma, present in South and Central America. It has been found to be associated with cardiovascular health, lowering of blood pressure, platelet activities. Its anti-malarial, anti-oxidant, anticough, anti-influenza, anti-diabetic, anti-hypertensive activities have also been reported. Cocoa contains elevated amounts of various flavonoids, for example, catechin, epicatechin enantiomers, and procyanidin B2 and methylxanthines. As it has been used since very late in human medication and has a great ethnopharmacological importance, hence, it can be used as a medicine in future for the treatment of many chronic diseases