Phytochemical profile of different anatomical parts of jambu (Acmella oleracea (L.) R.K. Jansen): A comparison between hydroponic and conventional cultivation using PCA and cluster analysis

Efficacy of spilanthol and Acmella oleracea (L.) R. K. Jansen (Asteraceae) extract against Schistosoma mansoni infection

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Acmella oleracea (L.) R. K. Jansen, commonly referred to as "Jambu", is a valuable medicinal plant native to the Amazon regions. Inflorescences of A. oleracea is utilized as local anesthetic properties and for its insecticidal, antiparasitic, and anthelmintic attributes.

AIMS OF THIS STUDY

This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo antiparasitic properties of A. oleracea extract and spilanthol (SPL) against Schistosoma mansoni.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The ethanolic extract of A. oleracea inflorescences (AoE) was prepared, analyzed by HPLC-DAD, and characterized by UHPLC-HRMS/MS. SPL was isolated from AoE by chromatographic fractionation. The antischistosomal properties of AoE and SPL were evaluated in vitro against adult schistosomes and in preclinical assays using murine models of patent S. mansoni infection.

RESULTS

Through UHPLC-HRMS/MS analysis, 14 alkamides were annotated in AoE. HPLC-DAD analysis of AoE revealed a peak with a substantial relative area of ∼85%, which was isolated and identified as SPL. AoE and SPL caused mortality of adult schistosomes ex vivo, showing EC50 values of 32.6 μg/mL and 27.8 μM, respectively, without affected Vero cells or Caenorhabditis elegans. In preclinical studies, the oral administration (400 mg/kg) of AoE and SPL resulted in significant reductions in worm burden of 28% and ∼42%, respectively. Additionally, SPL exhibits remarkable effects on oogram, decreasing egg burden and the number of immature eggs by over 80%, while also promoting significant reductions in hepato- and splenomegaly.

CONCLUSIONS

The research underscores the antischistosomal activity of A. oleracea highlighting the potential of SPL as a lead for the development of new schistosomicidal drugs and encouraging further studies to validate the traditional anthelmintic use of A. oleracea inflorescences.

Insights into the bioactive potential of the Amazonian species Acmella oleracea leaves extract: A focus on wound healing applications

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Acmella oleracea is traditionally used by Amazonian folks to treat skin and mucous wounds, influenza, cough, toothache, bacterial and fungal infections. Its phytoconstituents, such as alkylamides, phenolic compounds, and terpenes, are reported to produce therapeutic effects, which justify the medicinal use of A. oleracea extracts. However, the scientific evidence supporting the application A. oleracea bioactive products for wound treatment of remains unexplored so far.

OBJECTIVE

This work aimed to characterize the phytochemical composition of methanolic extract of A. oleracea leaves (AOM) and to investigate their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and healing potential focusing on its application for wound healing.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The dried leaves from A. oleracea submitted to static maceration in methanol for 40 days. The phytochemical constitution of AOM was analyzed based on the total phenolic dosage method and by UFLC-QTOF-MS analysis. Antioxidant activity was assessed by DPPH and NO scavenging activities, as well as MDA formation, evaluation of ROS levels, and phosphomolybdenum assays. In vitro anti-inflammatory activities were assessed by reduction of NO, IL-6, and TNF-α production and accumulation of LDs in peritoneal macrophages cells. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated by determining MIC and MBC/MFC values against P. aeruginosa, E. coli, S. epidermidis, S. aureus and C. albicans, bacterial killing assay, and biofilm adhesion assessment. In vitro wound healing activity was determined by means of the scratch assay with L929 fibroblasts.

RESULTS

Vanillic acid, quercetin, and seven other alkamides, including spilanthol, were detected in the UFLC-QTOF-MS spectrum of AOM. Regarding the biocompatibility, AOM did not induce cytotoxicity in L929 fibroblasts and murine macrophages. The strong anti-inflammatory activity was evidenced by the fact that AOM reduced the cellular production of inflammatory mediators IL-6, TNF-α, NO, and LDs in macrophages by 100%, 96.66 ± 1.95%, 99.21 ± 3.82%, and 67.51 ± 0.72%, respectively. The antioxidant effects were confirmed, since AOM showed IC50 values of 44.50 ± 4.46 and 127.60 ± 14.42 μg/mL in the DPPH and NO radical inhibition assays, respectively. Additionally, AOM phosphomolybdenium reducing power was 63.56 ± 13.01 (RAA% of quercetin) and 104.01 ± 21.29 (RAA% of rutin). Finally, in the MDA quantification assay, AOM showed 63,69 ± 3.47% of lipid peroxidation inhibition. It was also observed that the production of ROS decreased by 69.03 ± 3.85%. The MIC values of AOM ranged from 1000 to 125 μg/mL. Adhesion of S. aureus, P. Aeruginosa, and mixed biofilms was significantly reduced by 44.71 ± 4.44%, 95.50 ± 6.37 %, and 51.83 ± 1.50%, respectively. AOM also significantly inhibited the growth of S. aureus (77.17 ± 1.50 %) and P. aeruginosa (62.36 ± 1.01%). Furthermore, AOM significantly enhanced the in vitro migration of L929 fibroblasts by 97.86 ± 0.82% compared to the control (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

This study is the first to report total antioxidant capacity and intracellular LD reduction by AOM. The results clearly demonstrated that AOM exerts potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and wound healing effects, encouraging its further investigation and promising application in wound treatment.

The potential of Acmella oleracea as a nutraceutical source for the symptomatic treatment of Burning Mouth Syndrome

This study analysed the phytochemical profile of Acmella oleracea extract and the molecular interactions of its main compounds with TRPV1 and CB2, target receptors in the Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS) pathogenesis. The phytochemical profile of A. oleracea's floral buds extract treated with activated charcoal (TCEE) was analysed by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) coupled to Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS). The quantification of spilanthol was analysed by HPLC coupled to a Diode-Array Detector (HPLC-DAD). The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of nine alkylamides and phenolic compounds. The TCEE showed a significant increase in spilanthol content compared to the crude extract (CEE), going from 28.33 mg/g to 117.96 mg/g. The molecular docking indicated a behaviour of the alkylamides as partial TRPV1 agonists and CB2 agonists and, for the first time, indicates the action of these compounds in the symptomatic management of BMS.

Unconventional Edible Plants of the Amazon: Bioactive Compounds, Health Benefits, Challenges, and Future Trends

The pursuit of an improved quality of life is a major trend in the food market. This is driving the reformulation of the industry's product portfolio, with the aim of providing nourishment while also contributing to beneficial health metabolic processes. In this context, the use of local biodiversity and the recovery of the traditional knowledge associated with the consumption of vegetables that grow spontaneously in nature emerge as more sustainable and nutritionally adequate concepts. The Amazon region is known for its abundant biodiversity, housing numerous unconventional food plants whose nutritional and biological properties remain unknown due to a lack of research. Among the different species are Xanthosoma sagittifolium, Acmella oleracea, Talinum triangulare, Pereskia bleo, Bidens bipinnata, and Costus spiralis. These species contain bioactive compounds such as apigenin, syringic acid, spilanthol, and lutein, which provide various health benefits. There are few reports on the biological effects, nutritional composition, bioactive compounds, and market prospects for these species. Therefore, this review provides an overview of their nutritional contribution, bioactive compounds, health benefits, and current market, as well as the use of new technologies that can contribute to the development of functional products/ingredients derived from them.

Alternative Substrates for the Development of Fermented Beverages Analogous to Kombucha: An Integrative Review

Kombucha is a fermented beverage that originated in China and is spread worldwide today. The infusion of Camellia sinensis leaves is mandatory as the substrate to produce kombucha but alternative plant infusions are expected to increase the opportunities to develop new fermented food products analogous to kombucha, with high technological potential and functional properties. This review gathers information regarding promising alternative substrates to produce kombucha-analogous beverages, focusing on plants available in the Amazonia biome. The data from the literature showed a wide range of alternative substrates in increasing expansion, with 37 new substrates being highlighted, of which ~29% are available in the Amazon region. Regarding the technological production of kombucha-analogous beverages, the following were the most frequent conditions: sucrose was the most used carbon/energy source; the infusions were mostly prepared at 90-100 °C, which allowed increased contents of phenolic compounds in the product; and 14 day-fermentation at 25-28 °C was typical. Furthermore, herbs with promising bioactive compound compositions and high antioxidant and antimicrobial properties are usually preferred. This review also brings up gaps in the literature, such as the lack of consistent information about chemical composition, sensory aspects, biological properties, and market strategies for fermented beverages analogous to kombucha produced with alternative substrates. Therefore, investigations aiming to overcome these gaps may stimulate the upscale of these beverages in reaching wide access to contribute to the modern consumers' quality of life.

Clovamide and Its Derivatives-Bioactive Components of Theobroma cacao and Other Plants in the Context of Human Health

Clovamide (N-caffeoyl-L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine, N-caffeoyldopamine, N-caffeoyl-L-DOPA) is a derivative of caffeic acid, belonging to phenolamides (hydroxycinnamic acid amides). Despite a growing interest in the biological activity of natural polyphenolic substances, studies on the properties of clovamide and related compounds, their significance as bioactive components of the diet, as well as their effects on human health are a relatively new research trend. On the other hand, in vitro and in vivo evidence indicates the considerable potential of these substances in the context of maintaining human health or using them as pharmacophores. The name "clovamide" directly derives from red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), being the first identified source of this compound. In the human diet, clovamides are mainly present in chocolate and other cocoa-containing products. Furthermore, their occurrence in some medicinal plants has also been confirmed. The literature reports deal with the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, antiplatelet/antithrombotic and anticancer properties of clovamide-type compounds. This narrative review summarizes the available data on the biological activity of clovamides and their potential health-supporting properties, including prospects for the use of these compounds for therapeutic purposes.

In Vitro and in Vivo Antimalarial Activity, Cytotoxicity and Phytochemical HRMS2 Profile of Plants from the Western Pará State, Brazilian Amazonia

Ethnopharmacology and botanical taxonomy are valid criteria used to selecting plants for antimalarial bioprospection purposes. Based on these two criteria, ethanol extracts of 11 plants from Santarém City vicinities, Western Pará State, Brazilian Amazonia, had their in vitro antiplasmodial activity against chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum (W2 clone) assessed by the PfLDH method, whereas their cytotoxicity to HepG2-A16 cells was assessed through MTT assay. Acmella oleracea, Siparuna krukovii and Trema micrantha extracts disclosed the highest rate of parasite growth inhibition (90 %) in screening tests. In vivo antimalarial assays were conducted with these extracts against Plasmodium berghei (NK 65 strain) infected mice. Inhibition rate of parasite multiplication ranged from 41.4 % to 60.9 % at the lowest extract dose (25 mg/kg). HPLC-ESI-HRMS2 analyses allowed the putative identification of alkylamides, fatty acids, flavonoid glycosides and alkaloids in ethanol extracts deriving from these three plant species. Results pointed towards A. oleracea flowers ethanol extract as the most promising potential candidate to preclinical studies aiming the development of antimalarial phytomedicine.

Study of Mono and Di-O-caffeoylquinic Acid Isomers in Acmella oleracea Extracts by HPLC-MS/MS and Application of Linear Equation of Deconvolution Analysis Algorithm for Their Characterization

Chlorogenic acids, the esters of caffeic and quinic acids, are the main phenolic acids detected in Acmella oleracea extracts and have gained increasing interest in recent years due to their important biological activities. Given their structural similarity and instability, the correct analysis and identification of these compounds in plants is challenging. This study aimed to propose a simple and rapid determination of the A. oleracea caffeoylquinic isomers, applying an HPLC-MS/MS method supported by a mathematical algorithm (Linear Equation of Deconvolution Analysis (LEDA)). The three mono- and the three di-caffeoylquinic acids in roots of Acmella plants were studied by an ion trap MS analyzer. A separation by a conventional chromatographic method was firstly performed and an MS/MS characterization by energetic dimension of collision-induced dissociation mechanism was carried out. The analyses were then replicated using a short HPLC column and a fast elution gradient (ten minutes). Each acquired MS/MS data were processed by LEDA algorithm which allowed to assign a relative abundance in the reference ion signal to each isomer present. Quantitative results showed no significant differences between the two chromatographic systems proposed, proving that the use of LEDA algorithm allowed the distinction of the six isomers in a quarter of the time.

Chemical compositions of Souliea vaginata (Maxim) Franch rhizome and their potential therapeutic effects on collagen-induced arthritis in rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL REVEVANCE

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a global prevalent chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease and acceptable safety drugs are lack for its treatment. The rhizomes of Souliea vaginata (Maxim) Franch (SV) possess anti-inflammatory functions and are used as substitution of Coptis chinensis Franch. SV is also traditional Chinese medicine and Tibetan medicine for the treatment of conjunctivitis, enteritis and rheumatic. For searching complementary and alternative anti-RA drugs, it is necessary to characterize the potential anti-arthritic activity of SV and underlying mechanism involved.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of the study was to test the chemical compositions, evaluate the anti-arthritic effects and underlying mechanisms of SV.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The chemical compositions of SV were analyzed using liquid chromatography-ion trap-time of flight tandem mass spectrometry (LCMS-IT-TOF). From day 11 to day 31, SV (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 g/kg body weight) and Tripterygium glycosidorum (TG, 10 mg/kg body weight) were administered orally to the CIA model rats once a day. Thickness of paw and body weights were measured once every two days from day 1 to day 31. Histopathological changes were measured using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Effects of SV on the levels of IL-2, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-10 in serum of CIA rats were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺ and CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells populations were measured using flow cytometric analysis. To evaluate the possible hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity, the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), blood urea (UREA) and creatinine (CREA) in CIA rats were also tested using blood auto analyzer.

RESULTS

34 compounds were identified from SV based on LCMS-IT-TOF, and triterpenoids are major anti-arthritic compositions. SV significantly relieved CIA rats' paw swelling without obvious influence on the body weight growth. SV decreased the serum levels of IL-2, TNF-α and IFN-γ in CIA rat, and increased the serum levels of IL-4 and IL-10. SV significantly increased and decreased the percentages of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺, with no significant effects on CD3⁺ in lymphocytes of CIA model rats. Moreover, SV simultaneously decreased thymus and spleen indexes and no hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity was observed after short-term treatment.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that SV possesses preventive and therapeutic effect on RA by modulating the inflammatory cytokines, T-lymphocyte, thymus and spleen indexes and shows no hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity.

A Review of the Chemistry and Biological Activities of Acmella oleracea ("jambù", Asteraceae), with a View to the Development of Bioinsecticides and Acaricides

Human pathologies, environmental pollution, and resistance phenomena caused by the intensive use of chemical pesticides have shifted the attention of the agrochemical industries towards eco-friendly insecticides and acaricides. Acmella oleracea (L.) R. K. Jansen (jambù) is a plant native to South America, widely distributed and cultivated in many countries due to its numerous pharmacological properties. This review analyzes literature about the plant, its uses, and current knowledge regarding insecticidal and acaricidal activity. Acmella oleracea has proven to be a potential pesticide candidate against several key arthropod pest and vector species. This property is inherent to its essential oil and plant extract, which contain spilanthol, the main representative of N-alkylamides. As a result, there is a scientific basis for the industrial exploitation of jambù in the preparation of green insecticides. However, studies related to its toxicity towards non-target species and those aimed at formulating and developing marketable products are lacking.

Acmella oleracea (L.) R.K. Jansen: Alkylamides and phenolic compounds in aerial parts and roots of in vitro seedlings

Acmella oleracea L. is an edible and medicinal plant commonly known for its local anaesthetic effect induced by the alkylamide spilanthol. It is also rich of secondary metabolites of biological interest, mainly phenolic acids and glycosylated flavonoids. This study evaluated for the first time alkylamides and phenolic compounds in aerial parts and roots of seedlings grown in vitro and produced from single seed and from regenerating lines. The extracts obtained showed similar chemical profiles and the caffeic acid derivatives were the most abundant phenolic compounds. Spilanthol was prevalent in the aerial parts, especially in samples of seedlings obtained from regenerating lines, in which reached maximum value of 1.72 mg/g dried matter (DM). The roots contained a lower content of alkylamides, while showing twice as much total phenols (11.19 mg/g DM) as the aerial parts. A hexane fractionation step allowed to recover spilanthol and its derivatives in a concentrated extract, which reached a value of 63.4 mg/g dried extract in the aerial parts from seedlings from regenerating lines. Hydroalcoholic dried extracts showed high yields (30-45 % on dried matter) and those obtained from aerial parts contained up to 5.69 mg/g of spilanthol.

The antioxidant activity, α-glucosidase and acetylcholinesterase inhibition activity, and chemical composition of Paeonia delavayi petal

Objectives

This study aimed to evaluate the functional activity and phytochemical compositions in the flower petals of Paeonia delavayi with different colors.

Materials and Methods

P. delavayi petal extracts were prepared by maceration in methanol, including purple petal extract (PPE), red petal extract (RPE) and yellow petal extract (YPE), and their antioxidant activity, α-glucosidase and acetylcholinesterase inhibition activities were evaluated. To correlate these measured activities to phytochemicals in the petals, UPLC-MS/MS-based metabolomics method was applied to profile the compositions in the petals of different colors. Finally, the KEGG metabolic pathways database was used to identify the related metabolic pathways that are responsible for the production of these polyphenolic phytochemicals in the petals.

Results

The results showed that PPE had the highest total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and the strongest ABTS· + scavenging ability, ferric reducing antioxidant power, and acetylcholinesterase inhibition ability in all three samples, while YPE showed the strongest DPPH· scavenging activity and α-glucosidase inhibition ability. A total of 232 metabolites were detected in the metabolomic analysis, 198 of which were flavonoids, chalcones, flavonols, and anthocyanins. Correlation analysis indicated that Peonidin-3-O-arabinoside and cyanidin-3-O-arabinoside were the major contributors to their antioxidant activity. Principal component analysis showed a clear separation between these three petals. In addition, a total of 38, 98, and 96 differential metabolites were identified in PPE, RPE, and YPE, respectively. Pathway enrichment revealed 6 KEGG pathways displayed significant enrichment differences, of which the anthocyanin biosynthesis, flavone and flavonol biosynthesis were the most enriched signaling pathways. It revealed the potential reason for the differences in metabolic and functional levels between different colors of P. delavayi petals.

Conclusions

P. delavayi petals of different colors have different metabolite contents and functional activities, of which the anthocyanin, flavone, and flavonol metabolites are critical in its functional activities, suggesting the anthocyanin biosynthesis, flavone and flavonol biosynthesis pathways be the key pathways responsible for both the petal color and bioactive phytochemicals in P. delavayi flowers.

A comprehensive investigation on the chemical diversity and efficacy of different parts of Ligusticum chuanxiong

Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. (CX) is a medicinal and edible plant with a wide range of constituents of biological interest. Since the biomass of the non-medicinal parts of CX is huge, discarding them will cause a waste of resources. To expand the medicinal uses of CX, we comprehensively investigated the chemical diversity and efficacy of its different parts (rhizomes, fibrous roots, stems and leaves). 75 compounds in the volatile oil and 243 compounds in the methanol extracts (including 95 phthalides) obtained from CX were characterized by GC-MS and UHPLC/Q-Orbitrap MS analysis, respectively. Of 95 phthalides, 14 potential new compounds and 5 phthalide trimers were identified from CX for the first time. Phthalide monomers were more abundant in rhizomes and fibrous roots, and phthalide dimers or even phthalide trimers mainly in stems and leaves. By multivariate and univariate analyses, 22 and 24 different compounds were found in the volatile oils and the methanol extracts, respectively. In the bioactivity evaluation of different parts, stems and leaves showed the best antioxidant activity, fibrous roots showed the strongest vasodilator activity, and rhizomes showed the most significant anticoagulant activity, which was related to the different metabolites in different parts. Ultimately, this work revealed the similarities and differences of phytochemicals and bioactivities in different anatomical parts of CX. It might provide helpful evidence for the rational application of non-medicinal resources.

An Efficient Method for the Genetic Transformation of Acmella oleracea L. (Spilanthes acmella Linn.) with Agrobacterium tumefaciens

Acmella oleracea L. is an important medicinal plant, commonly known as the toothache plant. It is a rich source of secondary metabolites used for the treatment of different human disorders. The demand for Acmella oleracea L. has increased due to its putative health benefits (in terms of both biomass quantity and bioactive compound purification). In vitro plant cultures have allowed the rapid increase of raw material availability through the use of suitable regeneration and multiplication systems. On the other hand, there is a general lack of methods for Acmella genetic transformation as a promising new technological approach for the improvement of secondary metabolites. In this work, an efficient transformation protocol has been established using the Agrobacterium tumefaciens LBA4404 strain bearing the binary vector pBI121 containing the NPTII gene for the resistance to kanamycin. Plant genetic transformation has been verified by direct polymerase chain reaction and GUS assay on regenerants. Transformation efficiency has been affected by the high level of the selection agent kanamycin. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the genetic transformation of A. oleracea, paving the way to further studies to improve in vitro plant growth and secondary metabolite production.

Identification and photostability of N-alkylamides from Acmella oleracea extract

The identification of N-alkylamides from commercial Acmella oleracea extract, their UV-B photostability in different solvents, and identification of degradation products were the main goals of this study. By UHPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS method the presence of nine N-alkylamides was identified. Investigation of UV-B irradiation effect on identified N-alkylamides from Acmella oleracea extract was monitored in various the most commonly used solvents (methanol, ethanol, saline solution, and water) during 120 min. The results obtained indicated that spilanthol and homospilanthol were the most stable N-alkylamides presented in Acmella oleracea extract, while the photostability of identified N-alkylamides in whole in tested extract solutions decreased as follows: methanol>ethanol>saline solution>water. As the main degradation products in all investigated solutions 6,9-dihydroxy-deca-2,7-dienoic acid isobutyl-amide and 8,9-dihydroxy-deca-2,6-dienoic acid isobutyl-amide were identified.

Clovamide, a Hydroxycinnamic Acid Amide, Is a Resistance Factor Against Phytophthora spp. in Theobroma cacao

The hydroxycinnamic acid amides (HCAAs) are a diverse group of plant-specialized phenylpropanoid metabolites distributed widely in the plant kingdom and are known to be involved in tolerance to abiotic and biotic stress. The HCAA clovamide is reported in a small number of distantly related species. To explore the contribution of specialized metabolites to disease resistance in cacao (Theobroma cacao L., chocolate tree), we performed untargeted metabolomics using liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and compared the basal metabolite profiles in leaves of two cacao genotypes with contrasting levels of susceptibility to Phytophthora spp. Leaves of the tolerant genotype 'Scavina 6' ('Sca6') were found to accumulate dramatically higher levels of clovamide and several other HCAAs compared to the susceptible 'Imperial College Selection 1' ('ICS1'). Clovamide was the most abundant metabolite in 'Sca6' leaf extracts based on MS signal, and was up to 58-fold higher in 'Sca6' than in 'ICS1'. In vitro assays demonstrated that clovamide inhibits growth of three pathogens of cacao in the genus Phytophthora, is a substrate for cacao polyphenol oxidase, and is a contributor to enzymatic browning. Furthermore, clovamide inhibited proteinase and pectinase in vitro, activities associated with defense in plant-pathogen interactions. Fruit epidermal peels from both genotypes contained substantial amounts of clovamide, but two sulfated HCAAs were present at high abundance exclusively in 'Sca6' suggesting a potential functional role of these compounds. The potential to breed cacao with increased HCAAs for improved agricultural performance is discussed.