Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of Ceratonia siliqua L. leaves

Abstract

Ceratonia siliqua commonly known as carob belongs to the Fabaceae (Legumunosae). Its original habitats are the western parts of Asia, but after its domestication, it spread to all Mediterranean Basin and then to the western shores of the Americas, South Africa and southern regions of Australia. This review is devoted to health benefits of the carob leaf which are attributed in particular to its phytochemical constituents such as quercetin and gallic, coumaric, chlorogenic acids. Extracts from carob leaves (CLs) have been investigated for their biological activities including anti-cholestinerase, anti-inflammatory, Antidiarrhoeal, anti-tumor, anti-cancer, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, antidiabetic and antiobesity as well as phytochemical profile and nutritive value of the CLs. Hence, extracts from Ceratonia siliqua L. leaves, a huge source of bioactive compounds, exhibit a panoply of biological properties. Thus, leaves can be used as a functional food or as a phyto-pharmaceutical herbal-type product. However, it would be wise to undertake clinical trials to prove the efficacy of carob leaf extracts.

Exploring Carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.): A Comprehensive Assessment of Its Characteristics, Ethnomedicinal Uses, Phytochemical Aspects, and Pharmacological Activities

“…Carob leaves also have a balanced nutrient composition. A proximate analysis based on dry weight showed the presence of carbohydrates (16.62%), fat (4.60%), protein (22.25%), ash (4.255%), and dietary fibers (11.77%) [ 102 ].…”

Exploring the Multi-Faceted Potential of Carob (Ceratonia siliqua var. Rahma) Leaves from Morocco: A Comprehensive Analysis of Polyphenols Profile, Antimicrobial Activity, Cytotoxicity against Breast Cancer Cell Lines, and Genotoxicity

“…C. siliqua is a plant widely used in folk medicine for its bioactive properties, especially its polyphenols, which have been identified as having beneficial potential against human diseases such as cancer and metastasis [ 60 , 61 ]. Different extracts of C. siliqua have been tested in vitro against several tumor cells [ 21 , 62 , 63 , 64 ]. In our study, we investigated the cytotoxic power of CSEE against breast cancer (MCF-7) and the two metastatic adenocarcinoma lines (MDA-MB-231, and MDA-MB-436) using the MTT assay ( Figure 4 ).…”

“…Despite the value of carob pulp and seeds, the leaves of the carob tree are often neglected. Carob leaves contain a range of biologically active compounds, including polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannins, and have been traditionally used for medicinal purposes [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ]. However, there is limited research on the potential uses of carob leaves, and they are often considered a byproduct of carob production.…”