Assessment of cocoa powder changes during the alkalization process using untargeted metabolomics

This work is focused on the study of metabolomic changes that occur in cocoa powder throughout alkalization process by using an untargeted ultra high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF-MS) metabolomics approach. With this aim, samples submitted different degrees (light, medium, and strong) were analyzed. Metabolite extraction was performed 75% MeOH water since it provided highest number molecular features. After data processing, non-supervised supervised methods applied carry out statistical analysis. Thus, most significant metabolites allow establishing differences among processes pointed out. 43 30 positive negative ionization modes, respectively, demonstrated be relevant. Among them, 9 compounds unequivocally identified 22 tentatively identified. Most them amino acids, alkaloids, organic acids or polyphenols, others.