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Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) have been used in many studies due to their inhibitory properties on microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses. In recent years, due to global problems such as environmental pollution, the green synthesis (biosynthesis) method is frequently preferred because it is simple and low cost and does not require the use of toxic substances. The aim of this study is to synthesize silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) from Ceratonia siliqua L. leaves and investigate their antioxidant and immunotoxic properties using Galleria mellonella last instar larvae. The UV spectrophotometer, TEM, XRD and FTIR measurements were used to characterize the Ag NPs. In this study, it was determined that the effects on antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, GPx, GST), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and total hemocyte count (THC) as well as phenoloxidase activity determine their effect on antioxidant defence and the immune system in model organism G. mellonella larvae. We observed that green synthesized Ag NPs accumulate in the midgut of the larvae and led to the increasing of CAT and SOD activities. GST and AChE activities were increased in the fat body of the larvae; otherwise, it was decreased in the midgut. Moreover, increases were found in THC and phenoloxidase activity. Consequently, green synthesized silver nanoparticles led to oxidative stress and immunotoxic effects on G. mellonella larvae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we synthesized a novel hydrogel based on poly(acrylamide) grafted Guar/locust bean gums, i.e. (GG/LBG-g-poly(AAm)) through free radical polymerization, aiming for the removal of malachite green (MG) dye from aqueous solutions. Response surface methodology and a full factorial rotatable central composite design were used to optimize various reaction parameters, enhancing the percentage swelling of the synthesized hydrogel. This optimization resulted in a notable increase in swelling capacity, reaching 1050%. The incorporation of acrylamide chains onto the guar/locust bean gum-based hybrid backbone, as well as crosslinking between different polymeric chains, was confirmed through various characterization techniques, including FTIR, TGA, XRD, FE-SEM, wettability studies, and zeta potential analysis. We evaluated the synthesized hydrogel adsorption performance for MG under specific conditions: pH (7.0), contact time (300 min), adsorbent dose (0.08 g), and dye concentration (50 mg/L). Under ambient conditions, GG/LBG-g-poly(AAm) demonstrated a maximum adsorption capacity of 52.96 mg g−1, achieving a removal efficiency of 98%. The Freundlich model best described the adsorption data and followed pseudo-second-order kinetics, indicating a consistent agreement. Furthermore, the Dubinin-Radeshkovich isotherm and Elovich model perfectly depicted the chemisorption nature of the adsorption process. The synthesized GG/LBG-g-poly(AAm) demonstrates significant potential for effectively removing toxic dyes from wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carob moth [Ectomyelois ceratoniae Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)] is a significant pest infesting pomegranate orchards. The management of the pest is mainly reliant on pesticides; however, their adverse impacts necessitate alternative management strategies. Therefore, this study determined the efficacy of kaolin (Ka), diatomaceous earth (DE—'Turco 00'), and calcium polysulfide (CP) in suppressing carob moth infestation in pomegranate. Three doses of DE (i.e., 2, 4, and 6 kg), Ka (3, 5, and 7 kg), and CP (0.5, 1, and 1.5 L) per 100-L water, positive control (emamectin benzoate), and untreated negative control were included in the study. The doses of the tested materials were regarded as low, medium, and high. Data relating to fruit infestation rate, efficacy of the treatments in suppressing carob moth infestation and economic returns were collected. The low, medium, and high doses of DE resulted in 7.8%, 6.8%, and 4.3% fruit infestation rate, respectively. Similarly, low, medium, and high doses of Ka resulted in 10.5%, 9.5%, and 8.8% infestation rate, respectively. In the same way, 21.5%, 13.3%, and 9.5% infestation rate was noted for low, medium, and high doses of CP, respectively. The positive and negative control resulted in 9.5% and 32.5% infestation rate, respectively. The efficacy of low, medium, and high doses was 75.80%, 78.72%, and 87.23, respectively for DE, 67.28%, 70.42%, and 72.65% for Ka, 33.64%, 58.11%, and 70.20% for CP, and 70.42% for positive control. The DE, Ka, and CP applied at all doses resulted in low infestation rates of carob moth compared to negative control. Similarly, the application of all doses of DE, Ka, and CP significantly improved net economic returns. Overall, all doses of DE and high dose of Ka proved more effective than positive control in lowering carob moth infestation. Economic analysis revealed that all doses of DE resulted in higher net economic returns compared to all other treatments included in the study. Hence, it is recommended to use high doses of DE to reduce infestation rate of carob moth and improve net economic returns of pomegranate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carob moth Ectomyelois ceratoniae Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is a cosmopolitan pest that affects many fruit crops under field and storage conditions. In Tunisia, carob moth is regarded as the main phytosanitary problem of pomegranate and date palm. Insecticides are often not a viable option to manage this pest due to the larval stage living inside the plant. This study evaluated the efficacy of an Integrated Pest Management approaches (IPM) including sanitation, mass trapping, inundative releases of Trichogramma cacoeciae and date bunch bagging for the control of carob moth on pomegranate and date palm in two oases located in southern Tunisia. Trials were conducted during 2017 and 2018. The findings revealed that an IPM approach to reduce carob moth infestation was quite promising. In both experimental years, fruit damage ranged below 4% on pomegranate and 3% on date palm; furthermore fruit yield was significantly increased on trees where an IPM approach had been applied. Ectomyelois ceratoniae egg parasitism reached a maximum of 47.31% (2017) and 52.45% (2018) in pomegranate fruits treated with T. cacoeciae. The carob moth population was significantly reduced by 82.68% (2017) and 92.29% (2018) in IPM plots in comparison to control plots. Therefore, the IPM approach proved to be an effective option for achieving sustainable management of carob moth on pomegranate and date palm in oases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The carob tree is a common tree throughout the world. It has received great attention due to its potent biological effects and diverse industrial applications resulting from its richness in phytochemicals, particularly polyphenols. The polyphenol content, the phenolic composition, and the antioxidant activity of carob were studied with variable results. Several factors are involved in this variability, such as gender, variety, cultivar, ripening stage, environmental conditions, and extraction techniques. Also, the bioaccessibility of carob polyphenols is strongly affected by several factors, such as the phenolic fraction, food matrix, structure of compounds, and particle size. As a result, the purpose of this paper is to discuss the various factors of variation as well as the extraction and encapsulation techniques used to improve their recovery and bioaccessibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pre-processes such as blanching, which cause time, labor and economic losses, are carried out to remove the peel bitterness during bitter orange (Citrus aurantium) jam production. During these processes, many flavonoids and tannins in the fruit peel are lost. In this study, it was aimed to mask the bitterness without blanching of the peel by using carob syrup in different concentrations (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%) instead of granulated sugar. Samples were examined in terms of compositional properties (pH, titratable acidity, Brixº, moisture, total sugar and crude fiber contents), total phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity, color (L*, a*, b*) and sensory properties (appearance, color, odor, texture, taste, bitterness, fluidity). The interaction of gallic acid and tannic acid with naringin was also analyzed sensorially and spectrophotometrically to determine the source masking the bitterness. As a result, the total sugar content of jams reduced and the crude fiber, total phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity increased with use of carob syrup. The use of carob syrup also improved the sensory properties of the jams such as brightness, texture, odor, taste and bitterness. In particular, no bitterness was detected in jams produced with 100% carob syrup. Thus, it was observed that the bitterness from the bitter orange peel could be masked by using only carob syrup without the need for blanching. It was determined that phenolic compounds (especially gallic acid) found in high amounts in carob syrup formed a complex with naringin, which causes bitterness, so naringin was suppressed and bitterness was masked. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammation is interfaced with various metabolic disorders. Ceratonia siliqua (CS) has a higher pharmaceutical purpose. The research aimed to investigate the biofunction of CS pulp aqueous extract (CS-PAE) with an emphasis on its integrated computational approaches as opposed to different specific receptors contributing to inflammation. The extract was assessed for its chemical and phenolic components via GC–MS, LC–MS, HPLC, and total phenolic and flavonoid content. In vitro, bioactivities and molecular docking were analyzed. Findings indicate that CS-PAE demonstrated higher scavenging activities of nitric oxide, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical, superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide, and anti-lipid peroxidation (IC50 values were 5.29, 3.04, 0.63, 7.35 and 9.6 mg/dl, respectively). The extract revealed potent inhibition of RBCs hemolysis, acetylcholine esterase, monoamine oxidase-B, and α-glucosidase enzymes (IC50 was 13.44, 9.31, 2.45, and 1.5 mg/dl, respectively). The extract exhibited a cytotoxic effect against prostate cancer Pc3, liver cancer HepG2, colon cancer Caco2, and lung cancer A549 cell lines. Moreover, CS-PAE owned higher antiviral activity against virus A and some bacteria. When contrasting data from molecular docking, it was reported that both apigenin-7-glucoside and rutin in CS-PAE have a good affinity toward the Keap-1/Nrf2/ NF-ĸB pathway. In conclusion, CS-PAE showed promise in therapeutic activity in metabolic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Doxorubicin (DOX) is an anti-neoplastic therapy, but its use is limited by its deleterious toxic effects including nephrotoxicity and cardiotoxicity. This work aimed at assessing the potential protective effect of Ceratonia siliqua methanol extract (CME) on DOX-induced nephrotoxicity in 5 groups of Wistar rats. Nephrotoxicity was induced experimentally by intraperitoneal (IP) injection of DOX (15 mg/kg). DOX increased serum creatinine, urea, sodium, and potassium levels. It elevated MDA levels in the renal tissue but decreased the concentration of GSH and the activity of GST, CAT, and SOD. Meanwhile, it decreased the level of immunomodulatory anti-inflammatory mediators: IL-10 and TGF-β, as well as the activity of MPO but increased the level of IL-6, TNF-α, and caspase-3 in the renal tissue. DOX has upregulated COX-2, caspase-9, and Bax gene expression and downregulated the Bcl-2 gene expression. Immunolabeling of renal tubular epithelium in DOX-intoxicated rats was moderate to strong against Bax, COX-2, and NF-kβ and weak against Bcl-2. Treatment with CME significantly restored the levels of kidney function parameters and the levels of oxidative stress markers. It stimulated the production of IL-10 and TGF-β and decreased the level of IL-6 and TNF-α. CME reverted the gene expression of COX-2, caspase-9, and Bax. Microscopically, CME alleviated the DOX-induced renal damage. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of 26 compounds in the CME. No signs of acute toxicity were recorded by CME up to 4000 mg/kg b. wt. orally into mice. Finally, CME could effectively alleviate the deleterious effects of DOX on the kidney. The safety of carob extract encourages its use in the preparation of valuable therapeutic agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roasted carob powder is produced from the pulp of carob fruit (Ceratonia siliqua L.). In this study, the roasting process was optimized using a central composite design of the response surface methodology in order to maximize the product quality and minimize processing temperature (100–160 °C) and time (5–60 min). Analysis of variance qualified the effect of roasting with different types of models: first, linear models for dry matter, glucose, and ABTS scavenging activity; then, correlative models for proteins, total dietary fibers (TDF), and polyphenols; and last, quadratic models for total flavonoids, flavonols, and DPPH scavenging activity (all significant at p < 0.05). The process increased the antioxidant activity, TDF, and total polyphenol contents, while the concentration of the other components decreased. The optimal conditions for carob roasting were 100 °C for 37.32 min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parkia biglobosa seeds (African locust bean) play a crucial role in the diet and health of Western African populations. The seeds are spontaneously fermented to produce condiments used for food seasoning and stews preparation. Hence, to understand the health benefits of seed-based products from P. biglobosa, total polyphenol content, in vitro and ex vivo antioxidant properties, as well as antihypertensive activity, of fermented and non-fermented seeds were investigated. The Folin-Ciocalteu method was used to determine total polyphenol content; 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) tests were used to estimate the in vitro antioxidant activity. The ex vivo antioxidant and antihypertensive activities were evaluated by using cellular antioxidant activity in human red blood cells (CAA-RBC) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity assays, respectively. The fermented seeds showed a huge increase in polyphenol content and in vitro antioxidant activities compared to non-fermented ones. The fermented seeds showed a higher potency of biological antioxidant activity than non-fermented ones by exhibiting greater protection of erythrocytes from oxidative damage at a very low dose of extracts. Both fermented and non-fermented seeds have been shown to contain peptides with ACE-inhibitory activity; however, the non-fermented seeds exerted a higher ACE-inhibitory activity than fermented ones. In conclusion, traditional fermentation positively impacted the nutraceutical and health benefits of P. biglobosa seeds. However, the non-fermented seeds should not be ignored. Both fermented and non-fermented seeds can be used as valuable ingredients for the formulation of functional foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reforestation of degraded drylands calls for the selection of species with the capacity to withstand water scarcity. In this current study we have assessed, the physiological responses of three field-grown species (Ceratonia siliqua, Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Moringa oleifera) to water deficits in semi-arid regions in order to suggest a potential species for rehabilitation programs. The physiological behavior of the given species was studied in three irrigation schemes: subsurface drip irrigation (applied weekly), tank irrigation (applied monthly), and unirrigated plants. In a stressed state, an assessment of relative water content (RWC), water potential (pre-dawn water potential PWP and midday water potential MWP) and stomatal conductance revealed three contrasting physiological responses. First, C. siliqua stomata remained open with a high RWC at low water potentials. Consequently, this species tolerated water deficits by decreasing its leaf water potential, primarily associated with osmotic adjustment. On the other hand, E. camaldulensis was found to be a drought-avoider species, mutated to a water-saving strategy by complete stomatal closure. Finally, for the extreme case, M. oleifera showed leaf shedding under water deficit conditions. These different physiological responses allowed these species to survive water deficits, and consequently, could be considered suitable candidates for rehabilitating degraded semi-arid areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The carob moth, (Ectomyelois ceratoniae Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), is an important polyphagous and widely distributed pest of fruit trees in Iran and many other countries of the world. Intraspecific geographic variation is ubiquitous in many species. Geographic distance may lead to population diversity of each species which in turn affects the life history traits of each population. This study aims to investigate changes in the life table parameters of three Iranian populations of E. ceratoniae collected from Kerman, Yazd, and Arsanjan. The populations were treated in separate growth chambers under laboratory conditions on pistachio, (Pistacia vera L.) (Sapindale: Anacardiaceae) base-diet. Results showed that the intrinsic rate of increase (rm) ranged from a minimum of 0.076 (females/female/day) for Arsanjan population to a maximum of 0.094 (females/female/day) for Kerman population. The Kerman population obtained the highest net reproductive rate (122.34 females/female). These findings suggest that E. ceratoniae has better adaptation to habitat conditions of more annual sunny days, lower yearly rainfall, lower temperature, and lower relative humidity, yielding higher fecundity and fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Toxoplasmosis is a globally widespread parasitic disease which causes major health problems in human and animals. This research was conducted to assess the effect of some Egyptian herbal extracts against Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) tachyzoites in vitro. Methods: The methanol extracts of Withania somnifera, Cyper rotundus, Acacia nilotica,Chrysanthemum cinerariae folium, Anethum graveolens, Raphanus sativus, Ceratonia siliqua, Elettaria cardamomum and Cuminum cyminum were tested against T. gondii tachyzoites. Results: Among the tested plants, the extracts from Raphanus sativus, Cuminum cyminum, and Ceratonia siliqua exhibited high anti-Toxoplasma activities at 50 µg/ml, relative to sulfadiazine. They showed low IC50 values on T. gondii (7.92, 9.47 and 13.52 µg/ml, respectively) and high selectivity index values (100.79, 59.19, and 29.05, respectively). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) findings indicated evident morphological changes in tachyzoites treated with these three herbal extracts. Conclusion: Raphanus sativus, Ceratonia siliqua, and Cuminum cyminum methanol extracts could be promising sources of new medicament for toxoplasmosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to climatic, economic and social variables, women in cocoa and shea communities are gradually adopting alternative livelihood strategies, particularly off season, a period when there is light or no harvest at all. We explore the effect of such alternative livelihood sources on the physical environment using in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with 131 respondents, of whom 88.7% were women drawn from ten communities in three regions in five geographic districts in Ghana. Our results indicate that 18 alternative livelihood sources pursued by women were key in providing the needs of most households and their effect on the physical environment was negligible. The exceptions were vegetable cultivation, guinea fowl rearing, and dawadawa (locust bean) processing in some communities, which had appreciable negative effects largely due to poor management practices. We recommend the adoption of adequate waste disposal practices and the enforcement of policies and laws that prohibit the use of pesticides and other harmful chemicals used in alternative livelihood activities to avoid degradation of the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The by-product generated from carob molasses processing is considered as an excellent source of dietary fiber and may be used as a functional ingredient in food industry. However, it presents a high value of water activity (~ 0.98) which facilitates its microbiological contamination and rapid deterioration. So that, this study provides a solution for the valorization of this by-product and suggests the incorporation of the dried carob by-product into Halva to produce an added value product (Halva with carob powder). Thus, the present work focused on the characterization of carob powder and the optimisation of incorporation percentage of carob powder into Halva formulation. The characterization showed the absence of caffein in carob powder compared to cocoa's one. Besides, carob and cocoa powders had both a brown color. The former had lower fat and higher sugar contents compared to the latter. The optimization promoted the addition of 5% carob powder into Halva formulation according to the evaluation of hardness, sensory quality and exudative stability. Therefore, the new confectionary product could be considered as a promising nutritious and healthy foodstuff to consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carob fruit (edible part) and carob molasses contains high amount of nutritive components such as minerals (calcium, potassium, phosphorus, iron, etc.), carbohydrates (glucose, fructose and sucrose), polyphenolic compounds with an antioxidant activity and other beneficial components. The carob molasses pulp (CMP) left over from the production of molasses is not utilized properly though it contains important nutritive content such as phytochemicals, antioxidants and especially crude fiber. In this study, dried CMP flour was used instead of wheat flour in the ice cream cone formula. The formulations developed with this finding will make a significant contribution to the increase in the fibre content of ice cream cone. In this study, the chemical (moisture, ash, total sugar, crude fiber, total polyphenol and antioxidant activity) composition of CMP flour and the effects of 5–15% CMP flour addition on physical (crispness and color) and sensory properties (appearance, color, odor, taste, crispness, and overall acceptability) of the cones were investigated. As a result, it is noteworthy that CMP had high crude fiber (29.30%), total phenolic content (3.05% on dry basis) and antioxidant activity (0.91% on dry basis). The results showed that the addition of CMP flour up to 15% into the cone formula reduced L* value, enhanced the desired cacao color and the crispness of cones. The brown color of CMP flour added cones was more appreciated by the panelists significantly. CMP flour addition had no effect on the other sensory properties. Consequently, more nutritious and appreciated cone formulations were developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional agro-silvo-pastoral systems are becoming each day more important, representing multifunctional systems that can contribute to the preservation of agrobiodiversity and of traditional knowledge and associated culture, to the wellbeing of local communities and to sustainable development of rural areas, as testified by the increasing interest regarding the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) Programme of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Despite many researches on traditional agro-silvo-pastoral systems tend to focus only on land uses and land use changes, is also important to analyse the different features that characterize cultural landscapes, as well as to produce detailed spatial maps, in order to preserve and valorise these systems as a whole. The paper intends to compare two traditional silvopastoral systems in two different continents and environments: sabana de morro (El Salvador) and pastures with carob trees (Italy), considered as good example of biocultural diversity. Both these sites are characterized by extensive cattle breeding in a hot climate under the shade of trees, whose fruits can also integrate the animal diet. The study analyzed the traditional landscape structure, with particular attention to the presence of linear elements, that act as property divisions and as ecological corridors, contributing to biodiversity at landscape scale. Sabana de Morro is characterized by a complex system of hedges that enhances the variety of species, while an extensive network of dry-stone walls divides the Sicilian pastures with carob trees. These two different types of linear elements created thanks to the local farmers' knowledge are made of different materials but can play a similar ecological and social function, acting as a division between one pasture and another, as a delimitation of property boundaries, and are necessary to allow a correct pasture management. Despite the differences, these two traditional linear features deeply characterize the landscape structure and fragmentation, creating important microhabitat for many animal and vegetal species and a network of ecological corridors. For these reasons the conservation of linear features should be promoted at planning level, as well as their restoration. Thanks to the applied methodology, it was possible to identify peculiarities and vulnerabilities of linear features and of the systems as a whole, so that it will be possible to create effective management and conservation tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green synthesis of nanoparticles from plant extracts offers many advantages, such as simplicity, stability, and eco-friendliness. carob fruits (Ceratonia siliqua) are known for their countless health benefits due to their rich antioxidant, mineral, and nutrient contents, and have been used in various biomedical applications. This study aims to green synthesize and characterize carob (C)-mediated calcium hydroxide (CaOH2) nanoparticles (C-CaOH2 NPs), and investigate their cytotoxic activity on hTERT-20 and MG-63 cell lines. C-CaOH2 NPs were synthesized using a combination of carob extract and CaOH2 powder. Characterization was performed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), attenuated total reflection (ATR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Cytotoxic activity was studied using an Alamar Blue assay (AB) at different C-CaOH2 NPs' concentrations (5, 25, 50, 75, and 100 μg/mL) after 24 and 48 h of exposure, and morphological changes were observed. The SEM results of C-CaOH2 NPs showed a hexagonal shape and TEM result particle distribution size of 31.56–81.22 nm and average of 56.42 nm. The cell viability assay on hTERT-20 and MG-63 showed a dose-dependent effect with biocompatibility at a concentration of 100 μg/mL or less in both time intervals. The morphological changes observed were consistent with the cell viability results at each concentration, confirming the dose-dependent cytotoxicity. Therefore, this study presents a successful method to synthesize biocompatible C-CaOH2 NPs. They could serve numerous biomedical applications, such as scaffolds for tissue engineering, endodontic medicaments, and dental implant coatings in dentistry. Moreover, this is the first report of carob extract-mediated CaOH2 NPs according to the literature database. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Packaging of locust beans is done to prevent deterioration and promote its shelf-life. This research was carried out to develop and evaluate a cocoyam starch-banana peels nanocomposite film for locust beans packaging. The film was prepared by gelatinizing a mixture of 0.36 g banana peels nanoparticles (~ 1.14–1.64 nm), 18 g cocoyam starch, and 18 ml glycerol in 300 ml distilled water at 90 °C. The thermal, structural, mechanical and barrier properties of the film were determined using standard procedures. A 100 g of the locust beans condiment was packaged using the film and compared with packaging in a low-density polyethylene (LDPE) at 5.16–7.58 pH and 16.67–11.50% moisture ranges. Results: Results indicate approx. 3% weight loss with an increase in temperature (≤ 250 °C). The heat of decomposition in the process was 4.64 J/g, which depended on the transition temperature. Also, the film has high stiffness and creep along the line of topography in the atomic force imaging. The material permeates more to CO2 (27%) and H2 (67%) but has a low O2 (4%) and N2 (1%) gas permeabilities. The size of particles in the film was in the range of 3.52–3.92 nm, which is distributed across its matrix to create the pores needed to balance the gases in the micro-atmosphere. The microbial load of the locust beans decreased with pH and increased with moisture, but this was generally lower compared to those packaged in the LDPE at p < 0.05. Conclusions: The film was a better packaging material than the LDPE since it recorded lower counts of the microbes throughout the storage. Thus, the nanocomposite film was effective in controlling the microbial growth of the locust beans irrespective of the sample moisture and pH over the 30 days packaging duration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.) is one of the most iconic tree species of the Mediterranean region, with valuable economic, ecological and cultural value. Carob has been exploited around the Mediterranean region since antiquity and has been regarded as an important component of natural habitats and traditional agroecosystems. Several studies have focused on its morphological, biochemical, and genetic diversity. However, less is known about the intraspecific variation of seed traits. In this regard, and as an overall objective, we intend to evaluate the amplitude and the expression of intraspecific variations of carob seed traits at different ecological scales ranging from individual trees to different geographical landscapes. In addition, we investigated how the climate along the study area affects the extent of carob seed variability. Using image analysis techniques, we measured seven traits related to the size and the shape of 1740 seeds collected from 18 populations of spontaneous C. siliqua distributed along a latitudinal transect in Morocco under different bioclimatic conditions. Results: The morphometric analysis of carob seed showed the effectiveness of adopted approach to highlight the amount and the amplitude of intraspecific variation according to geographic and climatic factors. Seed trait analysis revealed high intraspecific variability, explained by differences between and among carob populations and geographic zones. Seed area, perimeter, length, and width showed the largest variability between geographic zones. However, circularity, aspect ratio, and seed roundness showed higher variability at the tree level. Finally, our results show that seed traits vary depending on altitude and climate condition. Conclusions: Revealing the amount and the structure of intraspecific traits variability of carob seed provides interesting insights to understand the mechanisms underlying trees adaptation to various environmental and ecological conditions. Therefore, intraspecific variation of seed traits should be integrated into trait-based functional ecology to assess plant species responses to environmental changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research in nanotechnology has evolved recently, and it is worthwhile to elaborate on the applications of biogenic and biocompatible nanoparticles in general and their anticancer properties in particular. The present study aimed to investigate the cytotoxic effects of biogenic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) compared with silver-pectin (Ag-PC) nanocomposites on the human breast cancer cell line, MDA-MB-231, in vitro. The AgNPs were obtained from dried carob pods (Ceratonia siliqua) and further characterised using a range of techniques like scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. The characteristic SPR band was very precise at 425 nm for AgNPs and 435 nm for Ag-PC nanocomposites. AgNPs had an average diameter of 80 nm and nanocomposites had an average diameter of 108 nm. The AgNPs and Ag-PC nanocomposites had remarkable antioxidant activity compared according to the DPPH scavenging assay. Testing for antimicrobial effects suggested that AgNPs had a lower MIC and MBC than the Ag-PC nanocomposites regarding the tested microorganisms. However, the zone of inhibition in Petri dishes was larger for the Ag-PC nanocomposites. This indicates that Ag-PC nanocomposites have the potency to inhibit or kill pathogenic bacteria at lower concentrations, whether Gram-negative or Gram-positive. The Ag-PC nanocomposites efficiently arrested the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cancer cells and could prove to be worthy candidates for biomedical anticancer applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The drying process is a fundamental operation in the industry that demands much energy and time, this method is used in order to increase the shelf life of the products as well as the mass and volume during the storage and the transportation. The moisture content permits the deterioration of quality through the microorganisms and the enzymatic reactions. This work aims to study the carob seeds (Ceratonia Siliqua L.) solar drying using a convective solar dryer in order to study and understand the drying kinetics and obtain the characteristic drying curve in different temperatures (50, 60, 70 and 80 °C) and drying air velocities (0.18 and 0.10 m s−1). It was concluded that the increase in the drying temperature reduces the drying time. Six mathematical models were used to appropriately interpret the experimental data; it was found that Verna was the perfect model to represent the drying curves of the carob seeds. The variation of the diffusivity coefficient was found in a range of 1.1968 10−9–4.1482 10−9 m2 s−1, an increase in this coefficient is noticed with the increase in the drying temperature. In order to evaluate the activation energy of the studied product, the Arrhenius relation was called and the average activation energy was found to be 41.46 kJ mol−1. An energy analysis has conducted in order to evaluate the performances of the studied solar dryer. The energy efficiency of the convective dryer was varied in a range of 2.6–4.2%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current study, an eco-friendly management technology to improve young carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) tree tolerance to water deficit was set up by using single or combined treatments of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and/or compost (C). Two groups of young carob have been installed: (i) carob cultivated under well-watered conditions (WW; 70% field capacity (FC)) and (ii) where the plants were drought-stressed (DS; 35% FC) during 2, 4, 6, and 8 months. The effect of used biofertilizers on the course of growth, physiological (photosynthetic traits, water status, osmolytes, and mineral content), and biochemical (hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), oxidative damage to lipids (malondialdehyde (MDA), and membrane stability (MS)) traits in response to short- and long-term droughts were assessed. The dual application of AMF and C (C + AMF) boosted growth, physiological and biochemical parameters, and nutrient uptake in carob under WW and DS. After eight months, C + AMF significantly enhanced stomatal conductance by 20%, maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII by 7%, leaf water potential by 23%, chlorophyll and carotenoid by 40%, plant uptake of mineral nutrients (P by 75%, N by 46%, K+ by 35%, and Ca2+ by 40%), concentrations of soluble sugar by 40%, and protein content by 44% than controls under DS conditions. Notably, C + AMF reduced the accumulation of H2O2 and MDA content to a greater degree and increased MS. In contrast, enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, and polyphenoloxidase) significantly increased in C + AMF plants under DS. Overall, our findings suggest that the pairing of C + AMF can mediate superior drought tolerance in young carob trees by increasing leaf stomatal conductance, cellular water content, higher solute concentration, and defense response against oxidative damage during the prolonged period of DS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) is a relevant element of the Mediterranean spontaneous vegetation. Moreover, it is useful in reforestation, and it is currently re-valued for sustainable agriculture in dryland areas. However, the difficulties tied to carob propagation (mainly seed dormancy) hamper its large-scale cultivation. In this paper, the effects of four seed treatments (no treatment [control], soaking at 70 °C and 90 °C in water, or in 96% sulphuric acid) on five carob genotypes germination were studied. As compared to the very low germination of untreated seeds (0–13% germination), sulphuric acid (93–100% germination) and 90 °C water soaking (from 72 to > 90% germination in four out the five genotypes) were effective in promoting germination. Soaking at 90 °C resulted in the leaching of a higher amount of total polyphenols from the genotypes seed coat as compared to soaking at 70 °C. A significant correlation (0.75**) was ascertained between polyphenol leaching of the different genotypes and germination. These results suggest that dormancy in this species is not primarily associated with seed coat hardness, as it is generally thought, but also with the release of polyphenols. Polyphenols determination of the dormant and the few non-dormant seeds of the different genotypes also seem to confirm this hypothesis since these last showed an almost halved total polyphenols content (on average 17.0) as compared to dormant ones (34.8 mg g−1 of seed FW). Further studies may determine the polyphenols involved, but also assess new, easier to carry out, seed treatments. The important role of the galactomannans on seed germination of carob is also discussed. Finally, similar studies may enhance the knowledge of dormancy processes in other Fabaceae species whose germination is positively affected by hot water treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between mistletoes and their host trees constitutes one of the unique host–parasite interactions in ecosystems. Most West African studies have reported on the parasitic nature of the relationship between Tapinanthus dodoneifolius mistletoes and Parkia biglobosa trees. However, there is little on bird species' use and subsequent dispersal of the mistletoe on P. biglobosa, and consequently, we investigated aspects of this relationship in the present study. We conducted our study in Amurum Forest Reserve, located in the central part of Nigeria, from May to September 2017. The study area consists of a mosaic of savanna, gallery forest, and rocky outcrops. Of the bird community in this area, the yellow-fronted Tinkerbird Pogoniulus chrysoconus had the highest number of visits to T. dodoneifolius fruits, while the Senegal Eremomela Eremomela pusilla spent the most time foraging on the fruits. Four sunbird species were recorded feeding on T. dodoneifolius flowers for nectar; all but the Copper Sunbird Cinnyris cupreus were observed opening the flowers of T. dodoneifolius. Other bird species were recorded foraging on insects on T. dodoneifolius, and some simply perching on twigs or pecking on mistletoe fruits. This was a mutualistic relationship between the respective bird species and the mistletoe. This indirectly benefitted the parasitised host by attracting potential pollinators, seed dispersers, and insectivores for the host, hence, improving the rate of visitation to the host. These patterns of visitation behaviours highlighted the ecological importance of T. dodoneifolius within the reserve, particularly in enhancing the survival of other taxa within the reserve. Findings from this study contribute to developing more-nuanced conservation strategies for mixed high savannah habitat types across the tropics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The measurement of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) indicating the cooperative action of all antioxidants in a complex sample is an important analytical challenge. A novel green silver nanoparticle-based antioxidant capacity (GSNP-AC) method using carob extract was designed for TAC measurement. Green synthesis of nanoparticles has various advantages such as environmentally friendliness, reliability, sustainability and fast production. In the presence of silver seeds formed with carob extract, Ag+ is reduced to spherical silver nanoparticles (SNPs) with antioxidants, resulting in enlarged particles with a symmetric surface plasmon resonance (SPR) absorption band at 434 nm. The SPR of SNPs allowed quantification of antioxidants (i.e., increase in SPR absorbance being correlated to antioxidant concentration), and the GSNP-AC method gave a linear response over a wide concentration range of antioxidants. The molar absorptivity and LOD for trolox were 11700 L mol−1 cm−1 and 0.31 µM, respectively. The proposed method was validated in terms of concentration-dependent linear response, additivity of absorbances, precision and accuracy. The results obtained with the proposed method for standard antioxidants, synthetic mixtures and real sample extracts were correlated with those of the traditional CUPRAC method. This green synthesized silver nanoparticle-based TAC method showed simple, rapid, cost-effective, and eco-friendly superiorities over similar other nanoparticle-based assays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rheological behavior of dough supplemented with sugar beet fibers (SBF) and carob (pod) flour (CF), as fiber-rich by-products of the agricultural industry, was investigated using the standard Brabender extensograph and the Kieffer micro method. The addition of CF (0–20%) and SBF (0–6%) to the wheat dough formulation increased resistance to extension to about 75% and 55% respectively, while the combined effect of CF and SBF addition increased the dough resistance by up to 100%. The extensibility of the dough decreased in almost identical ranges (up to 40%), while the combined effect of CF and SBF addition had a stronger influence on the decrease in dough extensibility (75%). The evaluation of the correlation between the extensographic and the Kieffer micro method showed a high compatibility with regard to the results of the dough extensibility (r = 0.89, p < 0.05), but did not confirm the agreement of the results obtained in the resistance measurements (r = 0.13, p < 0.05). Considering that the absolute correlation between the two rheological methods used was not confirmed in this study, it is clear that the precise and complete definition of rheological properties requires the use of other methods, not only empirical but also fundamental. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wild carob (WC), an abundant and unused lignocellulosic waste in Algeria, has been used as an inexpensive biosorbent for the elimination of methylene blue (MB) from the aqueous solution and as a precursor for the preparation of a new activated carbon by chemical activation with ZnCl2 (ACWC). The adsorbent materials were characterized by N2 physisorption, SEM/EDX, FTIR spectroscopy and isoelectric point (pHpzc) measurements. The adsorption performance of WC and ACWC was estimated for MB at different adsorption variables, such as solution pH (2–11), MB initial concentrations (25–200 mg L−1), time (0–1500 min), adsorbent dose (0.25–2.00 g L−1), temperature (10–40 °C) and NaCl concentration (0.0–0.5 M). The obtained results indicate that WC has an acidic surface due to the presence of carboxyl and phenol groups that play an important role in the fixation of cationic dye molecules, obtaining a maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of 84 mg g−1 at natural pH (7.5) and 40 °C. However, this adsorption performance was much higher in the case of the ACWC sample (218 mg g−1). From the equilibrium data, the Freundlich, Langmuir, Sips and Redlich–Peterson isotherms parameters of both samples were calculated and compared. For WC, the experimental data fitted well with Redlich–Peterson, Langmuir and Sips isotherm models, while in the case of ACWC they were best represented by the Redlich–Peterson and Sips isotherms. The adsorption kinetics data were found to follow the pseudo-second-order model for WC and the pseudo-first-order model for ACWC. The thermodynamic parameters suggest that, for both materials, the process was endothermic and spontaneous in the range of temperatures studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cobalt (Co) is widely used in many industrial fields such as batteries and paints. Cobalt, a dangerous heavy metal, can be found in high concentrations in natural and human habitats. Although cobalt is an important micronutrient, it is toxic to living organisms when exposed to high amounts. Carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) is a tree native to The Mediterranean region. Carob bean, which has high nutritional and economic value, is used against cardiovascular and gastrointestinal diseases. In addition, the antioxidant properties of carob are gaining importance in recent years. In this study, the protective effects of carob extract against the toxicity of cobalt on Allium cepa L. were investigated. For this purpose, 150 mg/L and 300 mg/L carob extract solutions and 5.5 mg/kg cobalt solutions were applied to A. cepa L. bulbs. Root emergence, weight gain, root elongation, and mitotic index (MI) decreased, while the frequency of chromosomal abnormalities (CAs) and micronucleus (MN) increased as a result of Co application. Furthermore, Co treatment triggered a noticeable rise in the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) enzymes as well as the malondialdehyde (MDA) amount and the abnormalities in the meristematic cells. On the other hand, applications of carob extracts mitigated cobalt-induced damages in a dose-dependent manner in all parameters. Therefore, the current study showed that the strong preventive potential of carob extract against phytotoxicity and genotoxicity is caused by Co in a model plant. The protective effects of carob extract on Co-induced toxicity were demonstrated for the first time in terms of reducing genotoxicity and oxidative stress response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, effective and fast removal efficiency of carob powder (as an absorbent material from liquid phase) was investigated by focusing on the dangerous paint methylene blue mixture. The surface texture developed adsorbent was revealed to be porous by characterizing done thanks to scanning through electron microscope. Experiment parameters of pH, ultrasonic frequency, particle size, contact time, temperature and initial concentration of dissolved methylene blue dye were investigated accordingly. Thereafter, Box–Behnken design experiment was applied for adsorption experiments. Regression analysis findings demonstrated that the experimental data is good for to the non-linear model with correlation coefficients of correction value at 0.8899 and 0.9830. The maximum adsorption value was determined as around 256.44 mg/g thanks to the Electro-Search Algorithm, a recent Artificial Intelligence based intelligent optimization technique. Additionally, some alternative intelligent optimization algorithms were also used for determining optimum values. According to the results of the study, the carob bean can be used as an alternative adsorbent and the found optimum values can be employed for that purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fodder trees are commonly used as food supplements during periods of food shortage for animal feed, because their a reasonable amounts of proteins, oils, fatty acids and carbohydrates. Resulted secondary compounds such as phenolics, saponins, flavonoids and essential oils play an important role as antibacterial and antioxidant activities. Oils from Moringa oleifera seeds and fruits of Cassia fistula and Ceratonia siliqua were extracted using n-hexane. Good physicochemical properties were observed in M. oleifera oil. High essential fatty acids in C. fistula oil contained Omega 6/omega 3 (WHO 5:10) (9.83%). In terms of oil bioactivity, positive antibacterial activity was found against the growth of Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, but Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed resistance to the oils. Moderate antioxidant activity was observed against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay comparing with two reference standards (butylated hydroxy toluene BHT, and Vitamin C). The phytochemical compounds identified in the oils, especially in the agroforestry tree M. oleifera, are recommended as commercial ingredient formulations for human and animal feed additive and healthy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceratonia siliqua L. is quite popular for the sweetness of its fruit ("natural chocolate") and the strong, persistent, characteristic odor that associates not only carob fruit, but also its traditional food products. This is due to the emission of an array of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The released odor is a complex mixture, and therefore, needs to be separated prior detected, especially when its origin varies and is engaged. Therefore, Headspace–Solid-Phase Microextraction–Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (HS–SPME–GC–MS) analysis was performed in ground carob pods from three different European countries to decode their released aroma. The method was applied to Cypriot (Kountourka, Koumpota, Tilliria), Spanish (Negra, Rojal, Matalafera) and Italian (Saccarata, Racemosa, Gibiliana) cultivars, and the released volatile species were further processed with multivariate data analysis (MDA). The chromatographic separation highlighted 54 common VOCs in the grounded carob pods; the most abundant appeared to be propanoic acid 2-methyl (isobutyric acid), acetic acid, butanoic acid, hexanoic acid, and propanoic acid 2-methyl-methyl ester. The quantitative results for acetic acid, propanoic acid 2-methyl, butanoic acid, furfural and pentanoic acid revealed their emission in the low ppbv levels. The engage of MDA on the obtained results showed a clear differentiation of the carobs based on their geographical and botanical origin. The combination of HS–SPME–GC–MS and chemometrics contributes to the quality characterization of carobs and highlights their authenticity markers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of microwave pretreatment on physicochemical characteristics of carob flour and rice starch–based nanofibers produced by electrospinning. The effects of microwave heating on production of nanofibers by electrospinning have not been studied before. Another aim of the study was to fabricate and characterize nanofibers by using different carob flour concentrations (3%, 5% w/v) and rice starch (0.5% w/v). Films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, water vapor permeability, X-ray diffraction, mechanical test, differential scanning calorimeter, and Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer. Homogenous and bead-free fibers were obtained when microwave heating was used. Nanofibers originated from microwave-heated solution presented better characteristics in terms of water vapor permeability and mechanical properties as compared with conventionally heated ones. Microwave-heated solution had higher viscosity and available amino group amount as compared with conventionally heated solution. This study showed that microwave heating can be considered as a promising pretreatment method for electrospinning rather than conventional heating to be used in food packaging area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel magnetic adsorbent Fe3O4/Ni/NixB nanocomposite was synthesised and used for the removal of Pb(II) from water. The nanocomposite effectively absorbs Pb(II), and because the adsorbent is magnetic, it is easily separated from the solution. In addition, carob and grape seeds, which are sustainable materials, are also used for the removal of Pb(II) for the first time in the literature. Characterisation of the adsorbents was performed using scanning electron microscopy combined with energy dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy (SEM−EDX). The effect of pH on the adsorption efficiency of Pb(II) was investigated. The optimum adsorbent doses were determined as 2.0 g/L for the Fe3O4/Ni/NixB nanocomposite and 4.0 g/L for the carob and the grape seeds. Three commonly used isotherm models: Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin–Radushkevich were applied to the experimental data. The batch adsorption equilibrium data of the three adsorbents fitted well to Langmuir isotherms. The maximum capacities for the adsorption of Pb(II) were determined to be 119.0, 25.3 and 24.4 mg/g for the Fe3O4/Ni/NixB nanocomposite, the carob and the grape seeds, respectively. The dimensionless separation factor (RL) values calculated from the Langmuir isotherm were varied from 0.08 to 1 for three adsorbents. These results demonstrate that the adsorption of Pb(II) on all the adsorbents is favourable. The pseudo-first order, the pseudo-second order and the Weber−Morris intraparticle diffusion kinetic models were used for the identification of the adsorption kinetics of Pb(II) and the correlations of adsorbed Pb(II) with time. The kinetic data is well described with the pseudo-second order kinetic model for all the adsorbents, which indicates that chemisorption plays a dominant role. The adsorption study using a column was successfully applied to real tap water and waste water samples. Also a spiked study (1, 10, 100 mg/L Pb(II)) was also conducted on water samples. As a result, Fe3O4/Ni/NixB nanocomposite, the carob and the grape seeds are efficient adsorbents for the removal of Pb(II) from the water samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the effects of temperature (50–80 °C), time (10–60 min), carob-to-solvent ratio (2–8 g/40 mL), and solvent concentration (0–50 ethanol/water%, v/v) on microwave-assisted extraction of d-pinitol compound from carob fruit with optimization using Box–Behnken design. The optimal conditions for maximum d-pinitol yield (64.16 g/kg dry sample) include 50 °C temperature, 5.6 g carob/40 mL solvent, water used as a solvent, and an extraction time of 10 min. The fitness of the model was determined by ANOVA analysis with a high coefficient (R2 = 0.9057). Extraction was performed under optimum conditions for model validation, and 63.89 g/kg dry sample of d-pinitol extraction was achieved. In addition, the effects of the same variables on the total phenolic (TP) content of MEA extraction of carob were also investigated. Extraction efficiency of 426 g/kg was obtained under the optimum conditions determined for TP (80 °C, 8 g of carob, 50% ethanol, and 10 min), but it was observed that TP content decreased to 49.7 g/kg under optimum conditions determined for d-pinitol. Sucrose, glucose, and fructose sugar contents of the extract were determined only for optimum conditions for d-pinitol, and the fructose content was found to be the lowest. Determining the d-pinitol, TP, and sugar contents of the extract in optimum condition confirms the direct usability of the extract, because only water is used as a solvent. Conventional extraction method was carried out at 50 °C for control purposes, yielding 42.83 g/kg of d-pinitol, thereby supporting the effect of the microwave on extraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current study, in vitro neuroprotective effect of carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) pulp (wild and cultivated varieties) at the unripe and ripe stage was investigated through testing against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), linked to Alzheimer's disease (AD). As neurodegenerative disorders are strongly related to oxidative damage and metal accumulation, the antioxidant activity of carob extracts was determined by DPPH, ABTS, ferric reducing power (FRP), CUPRAC and ferrous iron chelating (FIC) assays at both ripening stages. Total phenolic (TPC), total flavonoids (TFC) and total condensed tannin contents (CTC) were also assessed. At the unripe stage, the samples of both varieties exhibited an interesting inhibitory effect against AChE and BChE with a strong antioxidant activity by scavenging free radicals and by acting as reducing agents. The result showed that the concentrations of TPC, TFC, and CTC were decreased significantly (P < 0.05) during ripening. The same observations were found for antioxidant activities. The results suggested that the extract of unripe carob may provide a substantial source of secondary metabolites, which act as natural antioxidants and as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors that may be beneficial in the treatment of AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carob molasses is widely consumed in many Mediterranean countries, including Tunisia where it is known as 'Rub El Kharroub'. The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the physicochemical properties and biological activities of both commercial and homemade Tunisian carob molasses. The physicochemical characterization revealed that the main parameters (color and HMF concentration) were related to non-enzymatic browning reactions occurring during juice concentration. The phytochemical analysis proved that the presence of bioactive compounds (volatile compounds, phenolic substances and products of non-enzymatic browning reactions) in carob molasses samples justify their biological effects (antioxidant and antibacterial activities). Accordingly, such characteristics may qualify Tunisian carob molasses (both homemade and commercial) as nutritious and healthy food that could be directly consumed or used a functional ingredient in food and pharmaceutical industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biogenic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) contribute to the communication, growth, breeding, and defense of plant; their role in plant kingdom is vital. Carob tree is cultivated mainly in Middle East and eastern European countries (e.g., Spain, Italy, Greece, Cyprus) and lately in Australia, the USA, and South Africa. Therefore, it is examined as a case study for its volatile emissions in the environment. Apart from the VOCs emitted from carob flowers and fruit, carob is considered of great interest for the food industry (carob powder), not only for its health benefits but also due to its characteristic strong aroma, which can be maintained even after processing (roasting). Solid-phase microextraction/gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME/GC-MS) analyses of carob flowers, fruit, and powder (commercial samples) were performed and the detected VOCs are presented and discussed. The most prominent chemical classes emitted from carob fruit and powder appeared to be acids followed by esters and aldehydes/ketones, whereas from carob flowers the terpenoids. The strongest VOCs both in carob fruits and powder were propanoic acid, 2-methyl (isobutyric acid) and in flowers ethanol. The uniqueness of carob benefits is well known in the agriculture, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food sector and is closely related to the agro-economy and long history of eastern Mediterranean countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This experiment was carried out in pots in a greenhouse to evaluate the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Funneliformis mosseae, Rhizophagus intraradices and Rhizophagus fasciculatus) on carob plant performance under different levels of phosphate fertilization. Non-mycorrhizal (NMyc) and mycorrhizal (Myc) carob plants were subjected to three levels of phosphate fertilization, L1 (0 mg P kg−1 soil), L2 (25 mg P kg−1 soil) and L3 (100 mg P kg−1 soil). Results showed that under L1 and L2 P-fertilization levels, arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis significantly improved growth and biomass production of carob plants. Moreover, mineral nutrient (P, K, Na and Ca) acquisition, photosynthetic activity (Fv/Fm), stomatal conductance, total chlorophyll content, and soluble sugar accumulation were also strongly improved in Myc plants in comparison with NMyc ones. Under L1 P-fertilization level, Myc plants showed strongly increased acid phosphatase activity in roots and in the rhizospheric soil than NMyc plants. Furthermore, Myc plants maintained high membrane integrity (over 80%) and low hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents, associated with increased activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), guaiacol peroxidase (G-POD), and catalase (CAT) compared to NMyc plants. However, high phosphorus input (L3) negatively affected root colonization and mycorrhizal plant performance. Thus, carob plants associated with Funneliformis mosseae performed best under phosphorus deficiency and were the least sensitive to the variations of phosphorus input levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An overview on the bio-ecology, natural enemies and pest contol tools of the main pests infesting carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.), pods and seeds in the Mediterranean region is provided herein. Most of the species are occasionally present on host carobs where they did not cause serious damage. In particular, the occurrence of mealybugs, soft and armored scales and also mites is usually sporadic. This is also the case for dipteran and lepidopteran pests, except for the most damaging and economic species, the carob moth Ectomyelois ceratoniae (Zeller), a highly polyphagous insect that can infest carob either in open-field or in storage. Cause of wounding are bark and wood-boring coleopteran insects, which can induce severe wilting and/or death of carob branches and trunk. The recent introduction in Europe of two species of Xylosandrus spp. (X. compactus and X. crassiusculus) is of increasing importance, due to their proven initial aggressiveness in Italy. Brief details regarding moth and rodent populations residing inside the storage buildings are also emphasized. Obviously, one aspect warranting special attention concerns the introduction and rapid spread in the Mediterranean region of invasive alien insect species such as some ambrosia beetles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new basal culture medium was developed and tested using a rapid and efficient protocol of in vitro axillary shoot bud proliferation of Ceratonia siliqua L., an important Mediterranean Fabaceae plant species. In a first experiment, the new formulated 'LA' mineral composition significantly improved shoot growth and proliferation as compared with Murashige and Skoog medium (MS, 1962) in both solid and liquid culture media. However, the liquid culture system proved to be the most suitable for shoot induction, shoot length (about fourfold higher), and multiplication rate (about two-fold higher), the difference being significant. The measured growth and proliferation parameters were further improved when LA mineral composition was optimized, in a second experiment. The highest multiplication rate (6.3) was achieved during the second subculture using the optimized 'LAC' medium. Noticeably, hyperhydricity and shoot-tip necrosis symptoms were absent in both formulated LA and LAC compositions when using the liquid culture system. In vitro rooting in solid medium showed 41.7 to 46.3% response on a solid medium which was more suitable than the liquid culture system, the difference being significant. In contrast, pretreated microcuttings with 3 μM IBA (indole-3-butyric acid) were successfully rooted ex vitro, showing significantly higher response (91.7%), average root number (8.3), and root length (31.5 mm). The plantlets were successfully acclimatized showing more than 90% survivability and normal morphology. The present study is a first cost-effective protocol for carob micropropagation combining the use of the newly formulated LAC basal medium, a liquid culture system, and ex vitro rooting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the result of a laboratory study carried out on an expansive tropical black clay (also known as black cotton soil because the cotton plant thrives well on it) treated with locust bean waste ash (LBWA) using cement kiln dust (CKD) as an activator. Compaction was carried out using British Standard light energy. Results of index properties, compaction characteristics (maximum dry density, MDD and optimum moisture content, OMC) and strength characteristics (California bearing ratio, CBR and unconfined compressive strength, UCS) of black cotton soil treated with a maximum 8% CKD/10% LBWA blend by dry weight of soil is presented. Test results show that the strength properties of the treated soil generally increased with higher additive contents and peak values were recorded at 6% CKD/6% LBWA content. Based on strength criterion, an optimal 6% CKD/6% LBWA is recommended for treatment of black cotton soil for use as sub base material in road construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential anti-eimerial effect of tannin containing resources such as sainfoin and carob in rabbits was tested on does at pre-weaning and to growing rabbits in their feed. The trial began at parturition (D0), when 24 does and their litters were assigned into three groups. They were fed either with a control (Group CO), a carob (containing 10% carob pods meal) (Group CP) or a sainfoin diet (containing 34% dehydrated sainfoin pellets) (Group SA). All diets were made isoproteic and isoenergetic and also balanced for crude fibre but differed by their tannin content. Weaning occurred at D37, and growing rabbits remained in the same cage until D51. Then, they were transferred to fattening cages until the end of the trial (D104) and slaughtering. Weight gain of young rabbits among the three groups (mean = 31.2 g/day) did not differ statistically. The mortality rates were 10% (SA), 15% (CP) and 20% (CO), respectively, but the differences were not statistically significant. Post-weaning economical feed conversion ratio (FCR) was reduced between rabbits of group SA compared to CO and CP groups. Faecal oocyst count (FOC) in group SA was 60% lower than in CO and CP groups. Areas under the curve (AUCs) calculated between sampling days and FOC, after transfer to fattening cages, was 62% lower in group SA than in CO and CP groups. The main Eimeria species identified (from D59 to D83) was Eimeria magna (53% of oocysts). AUCs for E. magna did not differ according to diet. In conclusion, the diet containing sainfoin reduced oocyst excretion of Eimeria spp. by 60%, and improved the economical FCR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term exposure to stressful conditions could impair the normal brain structure and function, specifically the hippocampus-dependent memory. This impairment could be attributed to a decrease in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels during chronic stress. Knowing that carob [Ceratonia siliqua L. (Fabaceae)] is rich in a wide variety of polyphenols with a high antioxidant value, we hypothesized that the methanolic carob extract (C. siliqua) pods will prevent stress-induced memory impairment. Hence, the methanolic extract of carob pods was investigated for its ability to enhance learning and memory as well as to protect from memory impairment in normal stressed animals. Rats were chronically stressed for 7 weeks via the intruder stress model. Carob extract was administered to animals via intraperitoneal (i.p.) route at a daily dose of 50 mg/kg. Radial arm water maze (RAWM) was utilized to test for spatial learning and memory. In addition, brain tissues were dissected to determine BDNF levels. Chronic stress (CS) impaired short-term spatial memory (number of committed errors: P < 0.05, days to criterion (DTC): P < 0.001). Animal treatment with carob pod extract prevented the short-term memory impairment induced by CS (P < 0.05), while such treatment showed no effect on memory functions of unstressed rats. Moreover, carob pod extract prevented the reduction in the hippocampal BDNF (P < 0.05) induced by chronic stress exposure. In conclusion, CS impaired short-term memory function, while methanolic extract of carob pods prevented this impairment, probably as a result of preventing reduction in BDNF levels in the hippocampus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing demand for cocoa and search for ingredients rich in bioactive compounds encouraged us to investigate the possibility of replacing it by carob powder in the muffins containing soy beans, sesame oil and flaxseeds. There was 5% addition of carob or cocoa powder to the individual doughs. The muffins with the addition of carob were characterized by improved antiradical activity (by 36% - 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) method, by 83% - 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method), higher content of genistein (18%) and total phytosterols (17%) in the dry mass. The color differences in the carob muffins crusts were not perceptible by consumers (ΔE = 0.70 for crust, ΔE = 5.6 for crumb) and their taste was found to be less bitter and sweeter than the taste of cocoa muffins. Moreover, the addition of carob powder as well as cocoa powder resulted in good sensory quality. The high content of phytosterols, genistein and improved antiradical properties proved carob to be a source of bioactive compounds. The results show that carob powder may be used as valuable alternative muffin ingredient to cocoa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cocoa originates from the beans of the cocoa tree (Theobroma cacao L.). It is an important commodity and the main ingredient in chocolate manufacture. Its value and quality are related to complex flavors and to its distinct sensory properties. The increasing demand for cocoa and its rising price urges the research for cocoa substitutes. A potential substitute for cocoa is carob. Carob is the fruit of an evergreen tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.) cultivated in the Mediterranean area, well known for its valuable locust bean gum and also for carob powder and syrup that are obtained from carob pulp. Cocoa beans and carob pods contain various phytochemicals including polyphenols, proteins and amino acids, fatty acids, carbohydrates and fiber. Phytochemicals represent an important source of nutrients and compounds that are beneficial to human health. In this review, phytochemicals in cocoa beans and carob pods and their impact on human health are reviewed. The bioactive compounds that are present in carob, in conjunction with the cocoa-like flavors and unique sensory properties that are enhanced by carob powder roasting, underline carob’s potential to substitute cocoa in various food products. These food applications are discussed in this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A FORTRAN based first-order reliability program (FORM) was used to assess the suitability of tropical black clay (known as black cotton soil) treated with locust bean waste ash (LBWA) mixtures as road pavement sub-base material. Soil was treated with up to 10% LBWA and compacted with British Standard light, BSL; West African Standard (WAS) and British Standard Heavy (BSH), energy. Laboratory results were used to generate a regression model for the reliability analysis using optimum moisture content of compaction (OMC) as dependent variable and the relevant soil parameters; LBWA; gravel content (GR); specific gravity (Gs); plasticity index (PI); sand content (Sa) and percentage fine (PF) as independent variables to compute reliability/safety indices. The results indicate that for the laboratory-based model, reliability index is sensitive to variability in all the soil parameters with the exception of PF which have constant safety index values. Results showed that locust bean waste ash, LBWA; GR; Gs, PI and Sa are greatly influenced by the coefficient of variation and therefore must be strictly controlled in LBWA treated black cotton soil for use as sub-base material in road pavement. Safety indices of −1.29 to −0.58, −0.041 to −0.415 and 1.33 to −0.224 were recorded for the effect of OMC on the reliability indices of BSL, WAS and BSH compaction energy respectively. Stochastically, results obtained did not produce acceptable safety index value of 1.0 as recommended by the Nordic Committee on Building Regulations. Therefore, more potent additives such as cement or lime are recommended to model optimum moisture content of compaction for black cotton soil-LBWA mixtures for use as sub-base material for road pavement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many different raw materials have been proposed for producing nutritious gluten-free breads, but rarely, there is a parallel analysis of the effect of physical treatment on those ingredients. The aim of this study was to incorporate carob flour fractions of varying particle size on rice gluten-free breads prepared with carob/rice (15:85) flour blends. Carob flour particle size was controlled by fractionation or jet milling application. Quality features of gluten-free breads containing carob flour and commercially available gluten-free breads were compared. Carob flour addition led to breads with improved colour parameters, crumb structure, retarded firming and lower moisture loss compared to rice bread. Further improvement in specific volume, crumb hardness, protein and ash content and estimated glycaemic index ( eGI) could be obtained by a careful selection of the particle size distribution of the carob flour. Carob breads prepared either with the coarsest or the finest fraction prepared using jet milling led to end products with the highest specific volume (≈2.2 g/cm) and the lowest crumb hardness (≈5.5 N), although they had lower specific volume and harder crumbs than breads from commercial blends (≈3-4 g/cm, 0.6-3.8 N). Nevertheless, rice-based bread made with the finest carob flour was superior considering its slower firming, protein content and lower eGI. The incorporation of carob flour obtained by jet milling in rice-based gluten-free breads led to end products with quality characteristics and sensory acceptance resembling commercial breads and high nutritional value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, bioethanol production is one of the most important technologies by the necessity to identify alternative energy resources, principally when based on inexpensive renewable resources. However, the costs of 2nd-generation bioethanol production using current biotechnologies are still high compared to fossil fuels. The feasibility of bioethanol production, by obtaining high yields and concentrations of ethanol, using low-cost medium, is the primary goal, leading the research done today. Batch Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation of high-density sugar from carob residues with different organic (yeast extract, peptone, urea) and inorganic nitrogen sources (ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate) was performed for evaluating a cost-effective ethanol production, with high ethanol yield and productivity. In STR batch fermentation, urea has proved to be a very promising nitrogen source in large-scale production of bioethanol, reaching an ethanol yield of 44 % ( w/ w), close to theoretical maximum yield value and an ethanol production of 115 g/l. Urea at 3 g/l as nitrogen source could be an economical alternative with a great advantage in the sustainability of ethanol production from carbohydrates extracted from carob. Simulation studies, with experimental data using SuperPro Design software, have shown that the bioethanol production biorefinery from carob wastes could be a very promising way to the valorization of an endogenous resource, with a competitive cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoparticles are among the particular materials produced by industrial activities; the release of these nanoparticles in natural ecosystems interacts with living organisms. Aquatic environment is the most common estuary waste medium for industrial and all human activities, the consequences may be highly effective on sea food species. Moreover, the potential in situ reduction of metallic ions by preexistent agents leads to nanoparticles which may cause hazardous effects. Many organisms become at risk especially those that use gills during respiration process such as bivalves. The study undertaken investigates the potential effect of silver nanoparticles obtained by green synthesis method on the gills of Ruditapes decussatus as a model. Nanoparticles have been synthesized using Ceratonia siliqua fruit extract as a reducing agent. The organisms have been chronically exposed to silver nanoparticles and the effects were biochemically evaluated. The tests performed show a typical behavior of catalase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione S-transferase activities that give information about the oxidative stress-induced malondialdehyde quantification, which reveals a possible membranous deterioration of the gills. Acetylcholinesterase expression has been qualified to be at a safe rate which implies the capacity of the animal to protect the cholinergic system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]