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Received Jun 8, 2017; Revised Jul 28, 2017; Accepted Aug 17, 2017
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1. Introduction
Ceratonia siliqua L. (carob) is an evergreen tree belonging to the Caesalpinioideae subfamily of Leguminosae family [1–6]. The scientific name of carob tree derives from Greek keras, horn and Latin siliqua, indicating the hardness and shape of the pod. It is also known as St. John’s bread with reference to its presumed use by St. John the Baptist [7]. The centre of origin of C. siliqua carob pod powder was recognized in the eastern Mediterranean region (Turkey and Syria). The Greeks introduced carob in some European countries, like Greece and Italy, and the Arabs spread it along the North African coast and north into Spain and Portugal [8].
Carob was spread in recent times to other Mediterranean-like regions such as California, Arizona, Mexico, Chile, and Argentina by Spaniards, to parts of Australia by Mediterranean emigrants and to South Africa and India [9, 10]. Carob has been used for over 4000 years as feed and food, especially in times of food shortage, mainly due to its sugary pulp [11–13]. Carob kibbles are traditionally used to make a boiled juice product, named “pekmez,” which is mainly consumed in Turkey [14–17]. About 8 percent of the high cholesterol sufferers know and use carob in Turkey. They usually mash the carob kibbles and eat it either with yogurt or raw, in order to lower their cholesterol [18]. In the Middle East, carob is usually well known among people as purgative, antidiarrheal, and antiulcer. It is also used to treat mouth inflammation and tonic in this area (Jaradat) [19]. Lev and Amar [20] reported that, in Kingdom of Jordan, the carob kibble is known as stomach strengthener and phlegm clearer; the carob jam is also used for tongue sores and stomachache treatments and the seed is usually used as purgative and toothache calmative. Some researchers have also reported carob uses for its therapeutic virtues as diuretic, antidiarrheal, antitussive, and warts remover [21–23]. Today, the world carob fruit production is estimated at 315000 tons per...