Science and Education Publishing American Journal of Food and Nutrition 1 3 2013 12 24 Adding Value to Cacao Pod Husks as a Potential Antioxidant-Dietary Fiber Source 38 46 EN Beda M. Yapo Subunit of Pedagogy in Biochemistry and Microbiology, Unit of Training and Research in Agroforestry, University of Jean Lorougnon Guédé (UJLoG), BP 150 Daloa, Côte d’Ivoire V. Besson Benoit B. Koubala Kouassi L. Koffi AJFN2013134 10.12691/ajfn-1-3-4 2013 08 20 2013 12 11 2013 12 24 Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) is the world's largest cocoa producer with about 1.2-1.6 million tons per year. This co-generates approximately ten times of fresh cacao pod husks, which are hitherto left unutilized to decompose in plantations. This study aims at evaluating the cacao pod husks potential for antioxidant-dietary fiber compounds. Cacao pod husk product was used for the extraction of dietary fiber and phenolic compounds. The results showed that the cacao pod husk product contained 60.0% of total dietary fiber, of which non-starchy polysaccharides accounted for > 70.0%, and a total phenolic content of 69.0 mg Gallic acid equivalent/g, thereby indicating that it was an antioxidant dietary fiber-rich product. It also exhibited interesting antioxidant properties, as judged by 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (85.0% inhibition percentage and EC50 = 25.0 g/g), 2,2'-Azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) diammonium salt (52.0 µmol Trolox equivalent/g), and Ferric reducing antioxidant power (130.0 µmol Trolox equivalent/g) assays. The total antioxidant capacity of the cacao pod husk product was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than the total antioxidant capacity of fermented-and-roasted cocoa hull and kernel products. The total antioxidant capacity seemed to result from synergistic interactions among various compounds endowed with antioxidant capacity, including soluble phenolics, condensed tannins, and possibly pectic substances. Cacao pod husks therefore appeared to be a valuable source of antioxidant dietary fiber-rich food materials which may be used to significantly reduce the risk of development of miscellaneous free radical-induced diseases.