Dear Thomas Fungenzi

Have a look at these published papers about biochemical composition of cocoa leaves:

https://www.alice.cnptia.embrapa.br/bitstream/doc/397810/1/v9n2p135.pdf

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf00011a009?journalCode=jafcau

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9201607

Please see on this link https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.icco.org/faq/61-physical-and-chemical-information-on-cocoa/106-physical-and-chemical-information-on-cocoa-beans-butter-mass-and-powder.html&ved=2ahUKEwikspbn5_PfAhUTeisKHe73BH0QFjALegQIAxAB&usg=AOvVaw39wfqRBc6TSKkjpYnoaOm9

@ Thomas, it depends on the plant age , cultivars as well as soil and environmental conditions. In general Cocoa leaves contains 30-45% Cellulose, 55-70% hemicellulose, 7-14% lignin, 2-3% solubles, 1-4% ash/minerals. The leaves has higher Ca, Co, Mg, P, K, Na and Zn concentration. It also contains on an average 3-4% methylxanthines, , 1-3% theobromine .

Dear Thomas Fungenzi

Have a look at these published papers about biochemical composition of cocoa leaves:

https://www.alice.cnptia.embrapa.br/bitstream/doc/397810/1/v9n2p135.pdf

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf00011a009?journalCode=jafcau

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9201607

Mohammad Mehdizadeh : Be careful with the NCBI one, it talks about coca, not cocoa.

J. C. Tarafdar : Could you provide a reference for this?

Thank you for these valuable links.

A study of the chemical composition of Erythroxylum coca var. coca leaves collected in two ecological regions of Bolivia.

Sauvain M1, Rerat C, Moretti C, Saravia E, Arrazola S, Gutierrez E, Lema AM, Muñoz V.

Author information

1Institut Français de Recherche Scientifique pour le Développement en Coopération (ORSTOM), Département Santé, Paris, France.