Barros Tiburcio Patrick, de Carvalho Neto Dão Pedro, Soccol Carlos Ricardo, Medeiros Adriane Bianchi Pedroni
Department of Bioprocess Engineering and Biotechnology, Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba 82590-300, Brazil.
Department of Biotechnology, Federal Institute of Paraná (IFPR), Londrina 86077-080, Brazil.
Microorganisms. 2025 Mar 22;13(4):716. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms13040716.
Cocoa pod husk (CPH), a significant agricultural byproduct of cocoa production, presents an opportunity for sustainable valorization through biotechnological methods. This study aimed to enhance the nutritional, antioxidant, and therapeutic properties of CPH using solid-state fermentation (SSF) with . Physicochemical characterization confirmed CPH's suitability for SSF, providing a nutrient-rich and favorable environment for fungal growth. The fermentation process significantly improved protein recovery (11.327 ± 0.859 mg g) and antioxidant activity, with ORAC (51.68 ± 0.35 mmol TE g) and DPPH (7.09 ± 0.05 µmol TE g) assays demonstrating marked increases in redox potential, particularly at 144 h and 96 h of fermentation, respectively. GC-MS analysis revealed the generation of bioactive compounds in fermented CPH (CPHF), including methyl 3-hydroxybutyrate, 10,12-Tricosadiynoic acid, and palmitic acid, which are known for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and therapeutic properties. Additionally, phenolic compounds are biotransformed into more bioavailable forms, further enhancing the functional value of the material. This work demonstrates that SSF can effectively transform CPH from an agricultural waste product into a high-value biomaterial with potential applications in functional food, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical industries. By addressing waste management challenges and promoting the development of innovative bio-based products, this study highlights the promising role of SSF in advancing sustainable and circular biotechnological solutions.
可可豆荚壳（CPH）是可可生产的一种重要农业副产品，通过生物技术方法实现可持续增值提供了契机。本研究旨在利用[具体菌种]进行固态发酵（SSF）来提高CPH的营养、抗氧化和治疗特性。物理化学表征证实CPH适合进行固态发酵，为真菌生长提供了营养丰富且适宜的环境。发酵过程显著提高了蛋白质回收率（11.327±0.859毫克/克）和抗氧化活性，氧自由基吸收能力（ORAC）（51.68±0.35毫摩尔TE/克）和二苯基苦味酰基自由基（DPPH）（7.09±0.05微摩尔TE/克）分析表明氧化还原电位显著增加，特别是分别在发酵144小时和96小时时。气相色谱-质谱联用（GC-MS）分析揭示了发酵后的CPH（CPHF）中生成了生物活性化合物，包括3-羟基丁酸甲酯、10,12-二十三碳二炔酸和棕榈酸，这些化合物以其抗氧化、抗炎和治疗特性而闻名。此外，酚类化合物被生物转化为更具生物利用性的形式，进一步提高了该材料的功能价值。这项工作表明，固态发酵可以有效地将CPH从农业废弃物转化为具有在功能性食品、营养保健品和制药行业潜在应用价值的高价值生物材料。通过应对废物管理挑战和促进创新生物基产品的开发，本研究突出了固态发酵在推进可持续和循环生物技术解决方案方面的重要作用。
