**4. Conclusions**

In this study, experimental conditions to inhibit the action of PPO enzyme in terms of the specific activity of PPO measurement and total polyphenol content were optimized. Our study has reported, for the first time, an equation that correlates both high recovery of total polyphenols and high inhibition of PPO enzyme in cocoa beans. Confirmation of heat denaturation during the inactivation process by SEM images, and the high affinity of PPO for small *o*-diphenols, especially for catechol, followed by (−)-epicatechin, have also been studied. This work provides a promising, robust, easier, and food-safe procedure for obtaining enriched polyphenol extract with longer oxidative enzyme stability.

**Supplementary Materials:** The following are available online at http://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/9/6/458/s1, Figure S1: Relationship between specific activity of PPO and total polyphenol content on cocoa beans. Figure S2: Correlation Γ (See Equation (5) as a function a) PPO inhibition (%), and (b) Total polyphenol (%) on cocoa beans.

**Author Contributions:** Conceptualization, S.T.-U., J.G.-C., A.R.V.-J., M.d.J.P.-F. and L.J.L.-G.; methodology, S.T.-U.; formal analysis S.T.-U., J.G.-C., M.d.J.P.-F. and L.J.L.-G.; investigation, S.T.-U., J.G.-C., M.d.J.P.-F. and L.J.L.-G.; writing—original draft preparation, S.T.-U.; writing—review and editing, S.T.-U. and L.J.L.-G. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

**Funding:** This research was funded by Universidad Industrial de Santander, grant numbers 2341 and 2511, in addition to the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (COLCIENCIAS-Colombia), grant number 567 of 2012.

**Acknowledgments:** Said Toro wants to thank COLCIENCIAS (Colombia) for a financial scholarship. Said also gratefully acknowledges the analysis support and insightful comments of María Ximena Quintanilla. The authors are grateful to FEDECACAO (especially Nubia Martinez) for their technical support and thank Vicerrectoría de Investigación y Extensión from Universidad Industrial de Santander for their financial support that made this work possible.

**Conflicts of Interest:** The authors declare no conflict of interest.
