Abstract
Carob, Ceratonia siliqua, is cultivated for ornamental and industrial purposes in many Mediterranean countries. This study assessed carob pulp and syrup, a rich source of carbohydrates and sugars, by evaluating content of reducing sugars and total sugars in carob pulp before extraction of syrups. We identified the sugar content before and after treatment by using thin-layer (TLC) and high performance liquid chromatography with refractive index detection (HPLC-RID). It was established that total sugars increased with extraction and heat treatment. Sucrose (34.2 g/100 g dry weight; dw), glucose (11.1 g/100 g dw) and fructose (6.5 g/100 g dw) were the major sugars identified and quantified in pulp of the Turkish carob. Ceratonia siliqua pods of Turkish origin produced higher levels of total and of reducing sugars (fructose and sucrose) than did the pods from Bulgaria. The carbohydrate content in the syrup prepared from Turkish carob pods was highest, with the sucrose content especially reaching up to 45 g/100 g dw. The data are discussed in terms of nutritional and energy value of the carob pod. The carob and obtained products (flour or syrup) are identified as highly caloric and as a prospective energy source alternative to cocoa and its products.
Highlights
Carob is mainly cultivated in the Mediterranean and Aegean regions of Turkey, while growing naturally in various parts of Bulgaria, including the coast of Black Sea, North-East Bulgaria, and the Balkan Mountains
Detailed information about carbohydrate profiles of Turkish and Bulgarian carobs and their syrup products were obtained after Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) analysis of obtained extracts (Figure 1)
The TLC analysis showed that all investigated carob samples were characterized by a presence of monosaccharide fructose (Rf = 0.50) and disaccharide sucrose (Rf = 0.44)
Summary
Carob is mainly cultivated in the Mediterranean and Aegean regions of Turkey, while growing naturally in various parts of Bulgaria, including the coast of Black Sea, North-East Bulgaria, and the Balkan Mountains. The carob species, Ceratonia siliqua, belongs to the Fabaceae family, and grows well in varying climatic conditions, including high temperature and subtropical areas. This plant tolerates hot and humid coastal conditions and could adapt to regions with average 250 to 500 mm of rainfall per year (Santos, Rodrigus, & Teixeira, 2005). Turkey is considered one of the smallest producers of carob, with an annual production of 15 000 tons per year, while Bulgaria has no manufacturing related to this cultivar. Minimal cultivation management is required and the adaptability of this plant to various climatic and geographical conditions makes it a preferable cultivar (Hills, 1980)
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