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Assessment of Proximate Chemical Composition,
Nutritional Status, Fatty Acid Composition and
Phenolic Compounds of Carob (Ceratonia Siliqua L.)

Research Abstract
The Carob is the fruit of an evergreen (Ceratonia Siliqua L.) cultivated in the Mediterranean area. The pulp represents 90% of the fruit. It has a high content of sugars and tannins and low contents of protein and fat. Carob powder or syrup is used as an ingredient in cakes and cookies and chocolate substitute. Carob powder contained high levels of carbohydrates (75.92%), (6.34% protein) and low level of fat (1.99%). The crude fiber content recorded 7.30%. Carob powder was rich source of Fe, Ca, Na, K, P and S as well as E, D, C, Niacin, B6 and folic acid. Carob powder consisted of 11 phenolic compound. Pyrogallol, catechol, chlorogenic and protocatechuic recorded the highest values, while coumarin, cinnamic, ferulic, gallic acid and vanillic recorded the least values of the phenolic compounds. Carob powder oil consisted of 17 fatty acids, but consisted mainly of four fatty acids namely: oleic, linolic, palmitic and stearic acids recording 40.45%, 23.19%, 11.01% and 3.08%, respectively. Carob powder is acclaimed ingredient with a marked nutritional value due to its high dietary fiber and phenol compounds. The soluble fibers exert a preventative role against heart disease and lowering serum cholesterol.
Research Authors
M. Kamal E. Youssef
Moshera M. El-Manfaloty
Hend M. Ali
Research Department
Research Journal
Food and Public Health
Research Pages
304-308
Research Publisher
Hend Mohamed Ali
Research Rank
1
Research Vol
Vol. 6(3)
Research Website
NULL
Research Year
2013