Carob (Ceratonia siliqua)

Synonyms / Common Names / Related Terms

Alanine, algaroba, arobon, Caesalpinioideae (subfamily), carob bean gum, carob flour, carob gum,
carobel, caruba, cellulose, ceratonia gum,Ceratonia siliqua, cheshire gum, China-Eisenwein, cinnamic
acid, Fabaceae (family), flavonoids, free gallic acid, fructose, galactomannan, gallic acid, gallotannins,
glucose, glycine, goma de garrofn, gomme de caroube, gumilk, hemicellulose, Leguminosae (family),
leucine, locust bean, locust bean gum, maltose, methyl gallate, Pomana A, phenolic antioxidants,
phenylalanine, praline, St. John's bread, sucrose, tannins, Thiacyl au Caroube, tyrosine, valine.

Mechanism of Action
Pharmacology:

Constituents: The two main carob pod parts are (by weight): pulp (90%) and seed (10%).20 Chemical
composition of the pulp depends on cultivar, origin, and harvesting time. Carob pulp is high in total
sugar content (48-56%), mainly sucrose (32-38%), glucose (5-6%), fructose (5-7%) and maltose. In
addition it contains about 18% cellulose and hemicellulose. The mineral composition (in mg per 100g
of pulp) is: K=1100, Ca=307, Mg=42, Na=13, Cu=0.23, Fe=104, Mn=0.4, Zn=0.59. The lipids consist of
approximately equal proportions of saturated and unsaturated acids. Five amino acids were found in
pod extracts (alanine, glycine, leucine, praline, and valine), also tyrosine and phenylalanine. Ripe
carob pods contain a large amount of condensed tannins (16-20% of dry weight). Constituents of the
seed, or bean, are (by weight): coat (30-33%), endosperm (42-46%) and embryo or germ (23-25%).
The seed coat contains antioxidants. The endosperm is the galactomannan carob bean gum. It
consists of a polysaccharide composed of mannose and galactose sugar units (ratio 4:1) which is
highly viscous in water, over a wide range of temperature and pH. Carob seed oil has a very high
essential fatty acid content.21

Carob fiber contains 24 polyphenol compounds with a yield of 3.94g/kg (dry weight), including: free
gallic acid (42% of polyphenols by weight), gallotannins (29%), and methyl gallate (1%), while simple
phenols, mainly cinnamic acid, make up about 2% of the total.22Flavonoids represented 26% of the
polyphenols, and the glycosides myricetin- and quercetin-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnoside represented around
9% and 10%, respectively.

Carob pods contain 448mg/kg extractable polyphenols comprising gallic acid, hydrolyzable and
condensed tannins, flavonol-glycosides, and traces of isoflavonoids.23 Carob fiber (total polyphenol
content = 4142mg/kg) shows the highest concentrations in flavonol-glycosides and hydrolyzable
tannins, whereas roasted carob products contain the highest levels of gallic acid.

Anticancer effects: In an in vitro study using a mouse hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (T1), two
carob extracts showed a marked alteration of T1 cell proliferation in a dose-related fashion reaching
the maximum effect at 1mg/mL.24 Moreover, leaf and pod extracts were able to induce apoptosis in T1
cell lines after 24 hours of treatment, mediating a direct activation of the caspase 3 pathway. These

effects may be due to gallic acid, (-) epigallocatechin-3-gallate and (-) epicatechin-3-gallate in pod and
leaf extracts (concentration 6.28mg/g in carob leaf extract and 1.36mg/g in carob pod extract).

In an in vitro study, carob modulated the growth of both human colon carcinoma and colon adenoma
cells in a manner dependent on growth kinetics of the cell line.25 Highly proliferating cells were more
susceptible to the growth inhibitory properties than cells with a lower cell turn over, which may be due
to scavenging mechanisms or the induction of stress response enzymes. Evidence points to an
induction of the cellular defense systems.

Carob pods and leaves, especially the young leaves, have substances that can act on peripheral
benzodiazepine receptors in an in vitrostudy, suggesting the possible utilization of leaf extracts as
chemopreventive agents.19

Antidiabetes effects: In a rat study, addition of 2.5% carob bean gum to an oral glucose tolerance
test solution significantly reduced rebound hypoglycemia, dose dependently.10 In a clinical trial, locust
bean gum significantly (p<0.05) decreased the glucose response and glycemic index of subjects with
type 2 diabetes when eating a high glycemic index food.9 Locust bean gum decreased the subjects'
insulinemic response and insulinemic index, but not significantly. Carob bean gum had no significant
effect on glycemic response in subjects with type 2 diabetes and a BMI >30kg/m2, whereas
insulinemic response decreased.

However, in an in vitro study, a mixture of xanthan and carob bean gum (X/LBG = 1:1) had the
greatest viscosity at equivalent concentrations and shear rates and was more effective than guar gum,
xanthan, or carob bean gum at inhibiting glucose movement.11 However, it was not more efficient in
lowering postprandial blood glucose and plasma insulin in human subjects when incorporated in a
drink containing 50g glucose.

Antidiarrheal effects: In a laboratory study, 20 of 36 bacterial strains isolated from the duodenum of
infants with diarrhea showed adherence by all methods.7 The cell-free carbohydrate fraction of carrot
soup and a 2% solution of carob blocked hemagglutination and adherence of Escherichia coli on
isolated intestinal epithelial cells, and the active blocking agent was found in the oligosaccharide
fraction of the carob solution.

Antioxidant (free radical scavenging) effects: In an in vitro antioxidant study, the crude polyphenol
fraction from carob showed a stronger inhibitory effect against the discoloration of beta-carotene than
other polyphenol compounds, such as catechins and procyanidins.26 he crude polyphenol fraction had
weaker antioxidant activity in the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging,
erythrocyte ghost, and microsomal systems than authentic polyphenol compounds at the same
concentrations. In an in vitro study using ultraviolet irradiation-induced lipid peroxidation, locust bean
gum showed antioxidative effects.27

Antiviral effects: In an in vitro study in Vero cells, carob bean gum polysaccharides seemed to block
a step in rubella virus replication subsequent to virus attachment, such as internalization and/or
uncoating.18 The polysaccharides had no effect on infection initiated by transfection of cells with
RVRNA.

Digestive effects: In a clinical Lundh test, a carob bean flour-supplemented diet significantly (<0.01)
reduced the duodenal content aspirated for 90 minutes, compared to a control.28 Based on an animal
study, carob protein plus essential amino acids does not significantly influence peripheral glutamine
status.29

Gastroesophageal reflux effects (in infants): Literature on gastroesophageal reflux in infants can be
divided into studies addressing clinically apparent reflux (vomiting or regurgitation) and reflux as
measured by pH probe or other methods. Carob bean gum used as a formula thickener decreases
reflux as measured by intraluminal impedance but not as measured by pH probe. 30 There is very
limited evidence or expert opinion regarding breastfed infants, particularly with regard to preservation
of breastfeeding during therapy.31,32,33Although thickened formulas do not appear to reduce measurable
reflux, they may reduce vomiting.34

Gastrointestinal effects: Carob bean gum has been shown to alter food structure, texture, and
viscosity, and hence the rate of starch degradation during digestion.35 The effect of carob bean gum on
bowel transit time is uncertain. In one clinical trial, bowel transit time was not significantly affected by
the carob bean gum; however, total dry fecal weight was significantly increased after the refined fibers
compared with that after the basal diet.36 This finding was supported by another clinical study in
infants.17 However, in another a clinical trial, addition of locust bean gum to a nutrient semisolid meal
strongly delayed the emptying rate in healthy subjects.16 This result is supported by a rat study, in
which the addition of carob bean gum to test diets reduced the rate of gastric emptying and thus
slowed down the passage of food from the stomach into the upper small intestine. 10 Although carob
bean gum's effect on gastric emptying is uncertain, it does affect mineral absorption of, fecal weight,
and urinary nitrogen. In a rat study, a 10% carob bean gum diet significantly decreased urinary
nitrogen, and significantly increased fecal dry matter and fecal nitrogen loss, resulting in a marked
reduction of apparent protein digestibility.5 In another rat study, a 3% (weight/weight) yeast RNA and a
5% (weight/weight) viscous carob bean gum diet significantly decreased serum uric acid concentration,
which may be accomplished by the inhibition of digestion for dietary RNA and/or absorption of the
hydrolyzed compounds.6Carob bean gum interfered with the absorption of zinc, chromium, copper and
cobalt1,2,3,4, and may reduce absorption of iron2,3,4. Insoluble high polyphenol content natural carob fiber
increased intake and fecal weight, but did not significantly affect fat digestibility. 8

Hyperlipidemia effects: The lipid-lowering effect of an insoluble dietary fiber from carob pulp has
been investigated in various clinical studies. Carob bean gum alone or with other dietary fibers
appears to be an effective, safe approach to controlling hyperlipidemia and a useful adjunct to the
dietary management of elevated plasma cholesterol in adults12 and LDL cholesterol levels in children
and adolescents with elevated plasma LDL cholesterol levels13. These findings are also supported in
animal studies. In rats, the increased liver cholesterol and liver total lipid induced by cholesterol
feeding was largely counteracted by concurrent feeding of carob bean gum.14 In one day-old chicks,
there was a dose-dependent cholesterol on 6 and 10% locust bean gum diets.15

Weight loss effects: In a clinical trial, consumption of a carob pulp preparation decreased
postprandial responses of acylated ghrelin, triglycerides, and nonesterified fatty acids and altered
respiratory quotient, suggesting a change toward increased fatty acid oxidation.37Ingestion of carob
bean gum in rats on a cocoa butter diet reduced glycogen accumulation in the liver.38

Pharmacodynamics/Kinetics:

Absorption: In a bioavailable calorie assay in rats, comparison of the carcass weight gain showed that
carob bean gum was not a source of bioavailable calories.39

Locust bean gum has a capacity to form very viscous stable solutions in high dilution (1% and lower)
and its potential interaction with other polysaccharides, having a synergistic effect.20

Metabolism: Rat large gut microflora partially hydrolyzed carob bean gum in vitro.40 This finding was
supported by a rat study, in which a considerable portion of carob bean gum ingested was
metabolized, presumably due to the action of intestinal bacteria.1

Although the biological value and net protein utilization assays for the unsupplemented carob germ
isolate were low in a rat study, (biological value 0.36 0.016, net protein utilization 0.35 0.015),
supplementation with amino acids resulted in a positive increase with values of 0.66 0.013 and 0.64
0.013 for biological value and net protein utilization, respectively.41

Based on an animal study, carob protein plus essential amino acids is believed to be extensively
metabolized by the splanchnic tissues and does not significantly influence peripheral glutamine
status.29

In a clinical trial, glutamine bound to carob protein increases peak plasma glutamine concentration by
between 18% and 23% from basal values.42

Excretion: A digestibility study in rats 85-100% of mannose fed as 1% carob bean gum was excreted
in the feces over a total of 30 hours.43Some decrease in chain length of galactomannan may have
occurred, probably through the action of the microflora as mammals are not known to possess
mannosidase. Liberation of galactose units was not determined.

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