Topical Antioxidant Cocoa Polyphenol Skin Penetration

Area of Science:

• Dermatology and Cosmeceuticals
• Natural Product Chemistry
• Skin Barrier Function

Background:

• Cocoa powder from Theobroma cacao is rich in antioxidant polyphenols like catechin and epicatechin.
• While orally consumed polyphenols offer antioxidant benefits, their topical skin penetration, specifically into the stratum corneum, remained unproven.
• This study addresses the knowledge gap regarding the topical efficacy of cocoa polyphenols on skin.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the deposition of catechin and epicatechin in the stratum corneum.
• To quantify polyphenol levels 1 and 2 hours after topical application of cocoa powder.
• To investigate the potential of cocoa powder as a source of topical antioxidants for the skin.

Main Methods:

• Five healthy female subjects applied a 6% aqueous cocoa powder solution to their forearms.
• Stratum corneum samples were collected using tape stripping at 1 and 2 hours post-application.
• Catechin and epicatechin levels were analyzed using Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS).

Main Results:

• Both catechin and epicatechin were detected in the stratum corneum at 1 and 2 hours after application.
• Higher concentrations of epicatechin compared to catechin were observed, consistent with cocoa powder composition.
• While levels increased from 1 to 2 hours, the difference was not statistically significant.

Conclusions:

• Topical application of 6% aqueous cocoa powder successfully delivers catechin and epicatechin to the stratum corneum.
• The findings support the potential use of cocoa-derived compounds as topical antioxidants for skin health.
• Further research can explore optimized formulations for enhanced skin penetration and efficacy.