Cocoa butter API Manufacturers

General Description:

Cocoa butter, identified by CAS number 8002-31-1, is a notable compound with significant therapeutic applications. Cocoa butter is an edible natural fat obtained from the _Theobroma cocoa_ seeds that is predominantly found in dark chocolate . It is a rich source of monounsaturated and saturated fatty acids that mainly contains approximately 33% , 25% , and 33% but does not contain caffeine or theobromine. Fat cocoa solids, including cocoa butter, have lower phenolic content than non-fat cocoa solids but may contain some polyphenols of different structures of flavonoids with antioxidant properties . Cocoa butter is included in chocolate and other food products, and can also be found in over-the-counter skin products such as lotions, creams, and bars intended to maintain skin softness. While cocoa butter has skin moisturizing properties, it was not shown to reduce the likelihood of developing of striae gravidarum, or stretch marks, in a double-blind, randomized clinical trial of women in the first trimester . Still, it is a common active ingredient for prevention of skin dryness in cosmetic and skincare products. Oftentimes cocoa butter is used in over-the-counter pharmaceutical products and suppositories. The lipid-lowering effects of cocoa butter have been studied and investigated, as fatty acid constituents of cocoa butter are known to exhibit lipid-lowering properties. Dyslipidemia is characterized by elevated levels of plasma triglyceride and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol due to overproduction of large triglyceride-enriched VLDL cholesterol particles . Cocoa butter has shown to reduce VLDL cholesterol levels in animal studies, suggesting its potential use in lipid disorders.

Indications:

This drug is primarily indicated for: Indicated for topical use in over-the-counter skin products for the treatment of skin dryness and reduction of striae gravidarum (stretch marks). Its use in specific medical scenarios underscores its importance in the therapeutic landscape.

Metabolism:

Cocoa butter undergoes metabolic processing primarily in: No pharmacokinetic data available. This metabolic pathway ensures efficient processing of the drug, helping to minimize potential toxicity and side effects.

Absorption:

The absorption characteristics of Cocoa butter are crucial for its therapeutic efficacy: Cocoa butter displays poor bioavailability and low absorption compared to other oils . The drug's ability to rapidly penetrate into cells ensures quick onset of action.

Half-life:

The half-life of Cocoa butter is an important consideration for its dosing schedule: No pharmacokinetic data available. This determines the duration of action and helps in formulating effective dosing regimens.

Protein Binding:

Cocoa butter exhibits a strong affinity for binding with plasma proteins: No pharmacokinetic data available. This property plays a key role in the drug's pharmacokinetics and distribution within the body.

Route of Elimination:

The elimination of Cocoa butter from the body primarily occurs through: No pharmacokinetic data available. Understanding this pathway is essential for assessing potential drug accumulation and toxicity risks.

Volume of Distribution:

Cocoa butter is distributed throughout the body with a volume of distribution of: No pharmacokinetic data available. This metric indicates how extensively the drug permeates into body tissues.

Clearance:

The clearance rate of Cocoa butter is a critical factor in determining its safe and effective dosage: No pharmacokinetic data available. It reflects the efficiency with which the drug is removed from the systemic circulation.

Pharmacodynamics:

Cocoa butter exerts its therapeutic effects through: In a rat study, treatment with 10% cocoa butter has been shown to lower liver cholesterol and triglyceride levels without affecting the serum cholesterol levels . Supplementation of cocoa butter reduced the level of creatinine _in vitro_, suggesting that cocoa butter may also beneficial to renal function via antioxidant effects . The drug's ability to modulate various physiological processes underscores its efficacy in treating specific conditions.

Mechanism of Action:

Cocoa butter functions by: Cocoa butter is comprised of saturated fatty acids that exert a neutral cholesterolemic response in humans . is one of the major constituent in cocoa butter that is a non-atherogenic type of dietary saturated fat . Although it is a saturated fatty acid known to elevate plasma lipids and lipoproteins, stearic acid from plant sources differs from animal-derived sources of stearic acid . Possible explanations for this unique property may include chain length, inefficient absorption, metabolism kinetics, and hepatic desaturation of stearic into oleic acid . Apart from its lipid-lowering actions, stearic acid may also mediate actions on hemostasis and thrombosis which still remain inconclusive . _In vitro_, stearic acid was demonstrated to promote platelet aggregation and factor VII coagulant activity; however _in vivo_ preliminary studies mixed results . Cocoa butter may contain flavonoids that elicit antioxidant, anti-platelet, anti-inflammatory effects, as well as possibly increasing HDL, lowering blood pressure, and improving endothelial function . They inhibit lipid peroxidation, scavenge reactive oxygen species, and attenuate photochemical overproduction of ROS thus minimize UV-induced photodamage and signs of aging on the skin . This mechanism highlights the drug's role in inhibiting or promoting specific biological pathways, contributing to its therapeutic effects.

Toxicity:

Categories:

Cocoa butter is categorized under the following therapeutic classes: Antipruritics and Local Anesthetics, Diet, Food, and Nutrition, Fats, Food, Lipids, Physiological Phenomena. These classifications highlight the drug's diverse therapeutic applications and its importance in treating various conditions.