Phytochemical, Nutritional and Pharmacological Potentialities of Carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.,): A Review

Carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.) belongs to the leguminosae family and it is manly cultivated in Mediterranean regions. It is well accepted by the people for its nutritional, pharmacological, phytochemical and therapeutic functions in the human body. Seeds and pulp of Ceratonia siliqua are eaten by humans or to animals, which contain carbohydrates, fibers, polyphenol, minerals and many other phytochemicals. This review aims to represent the nutritional and pharmacological activities of Ceratonia siliqua L. To have a better understanding, we have discussed the nutritional status of Ceratonia siliqua L., its available phytochemicals and their functional properties. The availability of various important phytochemicals along with their functional properties makes Ceratonia siliqua L. valuable for pharmaceuticals and industry.