In vitro approach for evaluation of carob by-products as source bioactive ingredients with potential to attenuate metabolic syndrome (MetS)

Abstract

The potential bioactivities for alleviating Metabolic Syndrome associated risk factors were evaluated in carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) fruit by-products, i.e. seed peel, germ and pod. Carob germ and seed peel showed higher phenolic content than pod (99.72, 80.24 and 47.06 μmol GAE g−1, respectively). Pod mostly contained gallic acid and gallotannins; seed peel and germ's showed as most abundant polyphenols quercetin and apigenin derivatives. Carob pod and seed peel revealed stronger antioxidant capacities compared to germ. The strongest antihypertensive activity was found in seed peel, followed by pod and germ. Anti-inflammatory activity showed inhibition of NO production in LPS-induced macrophages, although only pod was able of reducing pro-inflammatory mediators (TNF-α andPGD2). Finally, fat accumulation on mature adipocytes was reduced by carob seed peel and pod extracts. This work shows the potential use of pod carob by-products as food ingredients with special relevance of carob pod for attenuating metabolic syndrome.

Supplementation with a Carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) Fruit Extract Attenuates the Cardiometabolic Alterations Associated with Metabolic Syndrome in Mice

“…Like in AT, we also found a lower gene expression of MCP-1 and decreased macrophage infiltration in gastrocnemius explants from CSAT+ ® -supplemented mice, although the mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines were unchanged among experimental groups. However, we found a significant increase in the gene expression of the antioxidant enzymes SOD-1 and GSR which is in agreement with the antioxidant capacity shown in previous studies with carob pod extracts [31] and with extracts from other parts of carob fruit and tree [48].…”

“…In visceral adipose tissue, the improved insulin resistance was associated with a decreased expression of pro-inflammatory markers such as IL-1β, TNF-α, and MCP-1 and with a decreased macrophage infiltration. Likewise, other authors have reported a direct anti-inflammatory effect of carob pod in LPS-stimulated macrophages [27,31]. Like in AT, we also found a lower gene expression of MCP-1 and decreased macrophage infiltration in gastrocnemius explants from CSAT+ ® -supplemented mice, although the mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines were unchanged among experimental groups.…”

“…Likewise, other authors have reported that treatment with carob pod affects neither body weight, nor fat mass in vivo [27]. However, it exerts a strong delipidating effect in vitro on adipocyte cultures [31] and in vivo reduces liver triacylglycerol levels in obese rats [45] and in rabbits with hypercholesterolemia [28].…”

“…Although carob pulp is reported to exert several biological effects mainly because of the presence of phenolic compounds [26,30]. In this study we have focused in analyzing the effects of supplementation with a carob pod and seeds extract, since it is reported that these parts contain higher amounts of galactomanns, gallic acid, and gallotannins and exert a stronger antioxidant capacity as well as anti-hypertensive effects in vitro [31]. Thus, the aim of this study is to analyze the possible beneficial effects of supplementation with a carob pod and seed extract (CSAT+ ® ) in the cardiometabolic alterations associated to MetS in mice.…”

The Aqueous Extract from Ceratonia siliqua Leaves Protects against 6-Hydroxydopamine in Zebrafish: Understanding the Underlying Mechanism

“…Recent studies have identified many physiological effects of C. siliqua fruit and its by-products due to the existence of bioactive compounds that may be important to the promotion of human health and chronic disease prevention [68,90]. It has been demonstrated that C. siliqua is a source of bioactive ingredients with antioxidant, anti-hypertensive, and anti-inflammatory potential [91]. Our results are in line with those reported by Alzoubi et al [92], who demonstrated that the methanolic extract from C. siliqua prevented short-term memory deficit induced by chronic stress in rats, probably as a result of avoiding reduction in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in the hippocampus.…”