Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XIX
Written by Hafize FIDAN, Tana SAPUNDZHIEVA
Carob pods are the fruits of the carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L. Fabaceae). They are used for various purposes, including pharmaceutical industry, decoration, for human nutrition and for animal feed. Grafted carob fruits and one of the traditional products, produced from it- carob flour, were evaluated for their mineral composition. The carob consists of two parts, including pulp and seeds. The pulp represents 90% of the fruit. Carob powder is used as an ingredient in cakes and cookies and as cocoa substitute. Among the analyzed major minerals, Mg (859.0 mg/kg dry weight) was the most abundant element, and the pulp and seeds were also rich in Fe and Zn. Carob flour contained these elements in high amounts. This study has corroborated the notion that carob fruit and flour are rich sources of minerals and the seeds generally have higher amount of macro and micro minerals than the pulp.
[Read full article] [Citation]
carob
