Algerian Carob Tree Products: A Comprehensive Valorization Analysis and Future Prospects

Rosa Mahtout, Víctor Manuel Ortiz-Martínez, María José Salar-García, Isabel Gracia, Francisco José Hernández-Fernández, Antonia Pérez de los Ríos, Farid Zaidia, Sergio Sanchez-Segado and Luis Javier Lozano-Blanco
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Rosa Mahtout: Department of Food Science, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Life, Abderrahmane Mira University, Bejaia 06000, Algeria
Víctor Manuel Ortiz-Martínez: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Cartagena, Campus Muralla del Mar C/Doctor Fleming s/n, Cartagena, 30202 Murcia, Spain
María José Salar-García: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Cartagena, Campus Muralla del Mar C/Doctor Fleming s/n, Cartagena, 30202 Murcia, Spain
Isabel Gracia: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Cartagena, Campus Muralla del Mar C/Doctor Fleming s/n, Cartagena, 30202 Murcia, Spain
Francisco José Hernández-Fernández: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Cartagena, Campus Muralla del Mar C/Doctor Fleming s/n, Cartagena, 30202 Murcia, Spain
Antonia Pérez de los Ríos: Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Murcia, 30202 Murciax, Spain
Farid Zaidia: Department of Food Science, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Life, Abderrahmane Mira University, Bejaia 06000, Algeria
Sergio Sanchez-Segado: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Cartagena, Campus Muralla del Mar C/Doctor Fleming s/n, Cartagena, 30202 Murcia, Spain
Luis Javier Lozano-Blanco: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Cartagena, Campus Muralla del Mar C/Doctor Fleming s/n, Cartagena, 30202 Murcia, Spain

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: This research presents a thorough analysis of the nutrients and anti-nutrients contained in different products from Algerian carob tree, Ceratonia siliqua L. (pod, pulp, seeds and leaves). Other parameters such as moisture, ash content and calorific value were also determined. The main purpose was to characterize these products derived from carob tree and analyze their possible valorization in several fields such as chemical, energy or medical industries. The results show that these products contain low amount of crude lipids (2.4–4.5%), moderate amounts of protein (4–7.4%) and high levels of total sugar (up to 66.6%). The compositional analysis reveals high nutritional values but, at the same time, it is also worth underscoring their high content in anti-nutrients: (i) trypsin inhibitor (6.4–7.3 mg·g −1 ); and (ii) phytic acid (0.6–0.94 mg·g −1 ). This work quantifies these two secondary metabolites in carob tree products for the first time. Finally, based on the results obtained, a process scheme is proposed for the complete use of carob tree products, including the use of anti-nutrients (trypsin inhibitors and phytic acid) for bio-medical applications since many research studies support that these compounds have great potential in this field.

Keywords: carob tree; valorization; anti-nutrients; sugars; proteins; lipids; calorific value (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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