Nutritional Benefits and Antihyperglycemic Potential of Carob Fruit (Ceratonia siliqua L.) - An Overview
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Agri-food Technologies and Quality Laboratory, Regional Center of Agricultural Research of Tadla, National Institute of Agricultural Research, Avenue Ennasr, BP 415 Rabat Principal, Rabat 10090, Morocco
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Environmental, Ecological, and Agro-Industrial Engineering Laboratory, Faculty of Science and Technology, Beni Mellal, Moulay Slimane University, Beni Mellal, Morocco
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Institute of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Sargodha, Sargodha 41000, Pakistan
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Vegetable and Microbial Biotechnology, Biodiversity and Environment, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Rabat 10000, Morocco
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National Institute of Agricultural Research, Avenue Ennasr, BP 415 Rabat principal, Rabat 10090, Morocco
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Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi, 44000, Pakistan
Corresponding author
Kaoutar Elfazazi
Agri-food Technologies and Quality Laboratory, Regional Center of Agricultural Research of Tadla, National Institute of Agricultural Research, Avenue Ennasr, BP 415 Rabat Principal, Rabat 10090, Morocco
Ecol. Eng. Environ. Technol. 2024; 3:124-132
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ABSTRACT
Carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.), a plant native to the Mediterranean, is a member of the legume family and its fruit is called a pod. The flesh of the pod (pulp) is very rich in sugar, while the seeds are high in fat. The pod is also a good source of minerals such as potassium, calcium and phosphorus. It is rich in polyphenols and antioxidants. Due to its nutritional composition, it is suitable for improving human well-being.
This article reviews the chemical composition of locust bean fruit and its biological effects on human health. Understanding the traditional uses of locust bean fruit in relation to its potential as an anti-diabetic agent is important in view of the numerous recent scientific studies on its pharmacological properties. The study focuses on in vivo and in vitro antihyperglycemic research, as well as the nutritional profile and potential food applications of this natural product for food formulation and fortification.
Based on its chemical and pharmacological properties, this species is believed to have beneficial preventive and therapeutic effects, particularly in hyperglycemia. Researchers can further extract and isolate bioactive compounds from different carob fractions to develop pharmaceutical products and functional foods for the food and pharmaceutical industries.