In vitro Cytoprotective Activity Study of Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) Pod Husk Ethanolic Extract against Blue Light Irradiation

Background: Blue light exposure has been shown to induce ROS generation and subsequent inflammatory pathways that lead to cell death, in which antioxidants could counteract this effect. Although regarded as waste, cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) Pod Husk (CPH) possesses a high polyphenolic contents, which could serve as antioxidants. Objectives: To characterize CPH ethanolic extract based on its antioxidant capacity and observe the cytoprotective ability of CPH in vitro upon blue light exposure. Materials and Methods: CPH ethanolic extract was characterized through total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, and three antioxidant assays, then treated on HaCaT cells, in which cell viability was measured through MTS assay. Results: CPH extract showed high phenolic and flavonoid contents and high antioxidant capacity through DPPH and FRAP assay. CPH extract started to exert cytotoxicity from concentrations of 400 μg/mL and above, while 100 μg/mL and above in AA. Furthermore, CPH extract showed significant cytoprotective effect at 50 μg/mL at 11.92 ± 0.83% cell viability increase, wherein AA failed to protect HaCaT cells at the same concentration at 15.79 ± 0.72% cell viability decrease. Conclusion: CPH could serve as an alternative as blue light protection agent as it was safe to be used at higher concentrations and was able to protect HaCaT cells from blue light irradiation better than AA.