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Following a request from European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food ( ANS) provides a scientific opinion re-evaluating the safety of locust bean gum (E 410) as a food additive. Locust bean gum (E 410) is an authorised food additive in the EU. Locust bean gum (E 410) as specified in the Commission Regulation ( EU) No 231/2012 is derived from the ground endosperm of the seeds of the strains of carob tree, Ceratonia siliqua (L.) Taub. (Family Leguminosae). An acceptable daily intake ( ADI) 'not specified' was allocated by the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization Expert Committee on Food Additives ( JECFA) in 1981. Although not evaluated by the Scientific Committee for Food ( SCF), it was accepted by the SCF in 1991 for use in weaning food, and in 1994, in infant formulae for special medical purposes. Locust bean gum is practically undigested, not absorbed intact, but significantly fermented by enteric bacteria in humans. No adverse effects were reported in 90-day toxicity and carcinogenicity studies in rodents at the highest doses tested and there was no concern with respect to the genotoxicity and to reproductive and developmental toxicity of locust bean gum (E 410). The Panel concluded that there is no need for a numerical ADI for locust bean gum (E 410), and that there is no safety concern for the general population at the refined exposure assessment for its reported uses as a food additive. However, infants and young children consuming foods for special medical purposes may show a higher susceptibility to gastrointestinal effects of locust bean gum due to their underlying medical condition. The Panel concluded that the available data do not allow an adequate assessment of the safety of locust bean gum (E 410) in these foods for infants and young children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Locust bean gum (LBG) is a galactomannan polysaccharide used as thickener in infant formulas with the therapeutic aim to treat uncomplicated gastroesophageal reflux (GER). Since its use in young infants below 12 weeks of age is not explicitly covered by the current scientific concept of the derivation of health based guidance values, the present integrated safety review aimed to compile all the relevant preclinical toxicological studies and to combine them with substantial evidence gathered from the clinical paediatric use as part of the weight of evidence supporting the safety in young infants below 12 weeks of age. LBG was demonstrated to have very low toxicity in preclinical studies mainly resulting from its indigestible nature leading to negligible systemic bioavailability and only possibly influencing tolerance. A standard therapeutic level of 0.5 g/100 mL in thickened infant formula is shown to confer a sufficiently protective Margin of Safety. LBG was not associated with any adverse toxic or nutritional effects in healthy term infants, while there are limited case-reports of possible adverse effects in preterms receiving the thickener inappropriately. Altogether, it can be concluded that LBG is safe for its intended therapeutic use in term-born infants to treat uncomplicated regurgitation from birth onwards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Locust bean gum or carob gum is a galactomannan obtained from seed endosperm of carob tree i.e. Ceratonia siliqua. It is widely utilized as an additive in various industries such as food, pharmaceuticals, paper, textile, oil well drilling and cosmetics. Industrial applications of locust bean gum are due to its ability to form hydrogen bonding with water molecule. It is also beneficial in the control of many health problems like diabetes, bowel movements, heart disease and colon cancer due to its dietary fiber action. This article focuses on production, processing, composition, properties, food applications and health benefits of locust bean gum. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Biopolymers or natural polymers are an attractive class of biodegradable polymers since they are derived from natural sources, easily available, relatively cheap and can be modified by suitable reagent. Locust bean gum is one of them that have a wide potentiality in drug formulations due to its extensive application as food additive and its recognized lack of toxicity. It can be tailored to suit its demands of applicants in both the pharmaceutical and biomedical areas. Locust bean gum has a wide application either in the field of novel drug delivery system as rate controlling excipients or in tissue engineering as scaffold formation. Through keen references of reported literature on locust bean gum, in this review, we have described critical aspects of locust bean gum, its manufacturing process, physicochemical properties and applications in various drug delivery systems. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Salmonella is presently one of the microorganisms of higher concern for food safety in poultry products. The present study examined the effect of feeding galactomannans from carob bean gum on nutrient digestibility and performance in chickens, and on the prevalence of Salmonella enterica var. Enteritidis in challenged animals. Four experiments were performed with either broiler or leghorn chickens, challenged with 106 CFU (colony-forming units) of S. Enteritidis at 1day of life, and feeding carob bean gum at different concentrations (25, 50 or 100g/kg, depending on the experiment), alone or in combination with β-mannanase, cellulase or α-galactosidase at 8.3U/g; or feeding D-mannose at 25g/kg, or depolymerized carob bean gum or guar gum at 100mg/kg. Trials lasted 3or 4weeks. Body weight and feed intake were determined and feed conversion ratio calculated (feed:gain). Faeces were collected during the last week on trial for evaluation of nutrient balance (energy, lipids and protein), using chromium oxide as inert marker. Viscosity of the ileal content was also determined at the end of the second experiment. Salmonella presence in caeca was determined two and 3weeks after challenge. Performance and nutritive value of diets were impaired in birds fed carob bean gum, with higher effect at higher inclusion rates. D-mannose impaired performance variables only whereas depolymerized gums did not affect bird performance or nutritive value of the diets. Of the enzymes tested, only β-mannanase significantly decreased the viscosity of the intestinal contents of birds fed carob bean gum and partly counteracted the impairment in bird performance and the reduction in the nutritive value of the diets. The number of Salmonella-positive birds varied among experiments and was lower in the third week post-challenge compared to the second week post-challenge. However, the reduction in the number of Salmonella-positive birds was more constant and marked when carob bean gum was present in the diet. The inclusion of carob bean gum in the diet of chickens at the high concentrations used in the present experiment reduced the presence of Salmonella in challenged birds, but it also impaired performance and nutrient digestibility. These impairments were partially counteracted by the addition of β-mannanase to the diet. Carob bean gum might be used to reduce the incidence of Salmonella in chickens, while its negative effects on performance and nutrient digestibility could be counteracted by β-mannanase. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Thickening agents, such as carob bean gum or galactomannan, have been successfully administered for the treatment of gastro esophageal reflux in infants. To study the effect of carob bean gum on gastric emptying and to symptoms of regurgitation, we recruited 20 full term Thai infants (mean age 13.4 ± 7 week; mean body weight = 4943 ± 1272gm) without pathological gastroesophageal reflux. Initially, we determined halftime gastric emptying (T 1/2 GET) by Tc99m radioscintigraphy method (mean T 1/2 GET = 116.1 ±72 mm) in infants consuming standard infant cow's milk formula for 2 weeks. Afterwards, carob bean infant formula was given for 2-4 weeks and weight gain, vomiting symptoms, night cough, colic, flatus, defaecation character and T 1/2 GET were assessed. There were statistically significant improvements in symptoms of vomiting (a smaller quantity P<0.00l and frequency of vomiting P < 0.0001) and improvements in weight gain per week (W1 = 121.2 + 106.9gm, W2 221.3 + 136.1gm; P = 0.005) when infants consumed the carob bean formula. However, there was no significance difference in gastric emptying half time (GET1 = 116.1 + 72, GET2 = 148.5 + 130.9; P= 0.154). In conclusion, carob bean gum, as a thickening agent, improves the clinical symptoms of regurgitating infants, but does not significantly alter the gastric emptying physiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polysaccharides in carob fruit, including carob bean gum (also known as carob gum, locust bean gum) and carob fiber, are widely used in industries such as food, pharmaceuticals, paper, textile, oil well drilling and cosmetics. Carob bean gum is a galactomannan obtained from the seed endosperm of carob tree and the fiber is obtained by removing most of soluble carbohydrates in carob pulp by water extraction. Both the gum and fiber are beneficial to health for many diseases such as diabetes, bowel movements, heart disease and colon cancer. This article reviewed the composition, properties, food applications and health benefits of polysaccharides from carob fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]