Biochemical Properties and Nutritional Applications of Carob (Ceratonia siliqua)
Summary
Carob (Ceratonia siliqua) is a Mediterranean legume whose pods and leaves are rich in polyphenols, dietary fibre, resistant carbohydrates and bioactive proteins. Its mature pods comprise a pulp high in soluble sugars (notably sucrose), non-starch polysaccharides (galactomannans) and a profile of phenolic acids and flavonoids. Among these, galloylated glucose derivatives, flavonol-glycosides and hydroxybenzoic acids confer substantial antioxidant capacity and inhibitory activity against carbohydrate-digesting enzymes. The seed endosperm yields locust bean gum, a galactomannan widely used as a food thickener and stabiliser, while residual pulp can be valorised as a source of dietary fibre and bioactive extracts. Nutritional applications span low-glycaemic food formulations, functional breads and pastas, nutraceutical supplements and topical antioxidant preparations. Moreover, carob’s low fat content, absence of caffeine and theobromine, and its capacity to modulate lipid and glucose metabolism have driven interest in its use in weight-management and cardiometabolic health. Sustainable utilisation of by-products via fermentation and novel delivery systems (e.g. liposomal encapsulation) further enhances its appeal in circular bioeconomy strategies.
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Biochemical Properties and Nutritional Applications of Carob (Ceratonia siliqua) publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in biochemical properties and nutritional applications of carob (ceratonia siliqua) across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Flavonol-glycoside: a flavonoid conjugated to one or more sugar residues, contributing to antioxidant and enzyme-inhibitory activities.
C-glycoside: a glycoside in which the sugar moiety is linked via a carbon–carbon bond to the aglycone, enhancing stability during processing.
α-Glucosidase: an intestinal enzyme that cleaves terminal glucose units from oligosaccharides, a target for glycaemic control.
α-Amylase: an enzyme that catalyses the breakdown of starch into maltose and glucose, influencing postprandial blood sugar.
Solid-state fermentation: microbial cultivation on solid substrates with minimal free water, used to enrich nutrient and bioactive content.
Galactomannan: a polysaccharide composed of galactose and mannose, known commercially as locust bean gum, employed as a thickener and dietary fibre.
UHPLC-DAD-HRMS/MS: ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection and high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry, for in-depth phytochemical analysis.
References
- Carob (Ceratonia siliqua) leaves: A comprehensive analysis of bioactive profile and health-promoting potential of an untapped resource. Food Chemistry (2024).
- Pasta fortified with C-glycosides-rich carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) seed germ flour: Inhibitory activity against carbohydrate digesting enzymes. Food Research International (2023).
- Ceratonia siliqua L. Pod Extract: From Phytochemical Characterization to Liposomal Formulation and Evaluation of Behaviour in Cells. Antioxidants (2023).
- Effect of solid-state fermentation with Pleurotus ostreatus on the protein content and other nutritional components of de-seeded carob fruits. Sustainable Food Technology (2024).
- Carob Extract (Ceratonia siliqua L.): Effects on Dyslipidemia and Obesity in a High-Fat Diet-Fed Rat Model. Pharmaceutics (2023).
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