Algerian wild green carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.): Physicochemical characteristics and antioxidant potency

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to determine the proximate composition and physicochemical properties of Algerian wild green carob collected from three separate locations in Jijel province (northeast of Algeria), as well as to investigate its antioxidant potency. The results showed that the three samples were substantially comparable in terms of proximate compositions and physicochemical attributes. They have an acidic pH range and a very low fat content. In terms of phytochemical properties, Texenna green pods had the highest levels of polyphenols, flavonoids, and flavonols, with concentrations of 87.10 ± 0.07 μg GAE/mg DM, 4.90 ± 0.06 μg QE/mg DM, and 37.0 ± 0.19 μg QE/mg DM, respectively. Furthermore, the total antioxidant capacity of the methanolic extracts was determined using the phosphomolybdate method and found to be 154.62 µg AAE/mg DM. These promising findings revealed that unripe Ceratonia siliqua L. from the Texenna region is a rich source of natural antioxidants that could be employed more broadly in functional food formulations. KEY WORDS: Ceratonia siliqua L., Unripe pods, Proximate composition, Physicochemical properties, Bioactive compounds, Antioxidant potency Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2024, 38(1), 187-198. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v38i1.14