Comparative Study of the Physicochemical, Phenolic, Mineral, and Antioxidant Profiles of Wild and Cultivated Carob (Ceratonia siliqua) Pulp from Morocco

Background. The carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.) is an emblematic and ecologically significant woody species of the Mediterranean basin that has attracted increasing scientific and industrial interest, owing to the considerable nutritional value and versatile functional properties of its fruit.

Aims: The present study aimed to evaluate and comparatively characterize the nutritional and functional attributes of wild and cultivated carob varieties sourced from Morocco.

Materials and Methods: Carob Pulp Samples were collected from two geographically distinct sites within the Guelmim-Oued Noun region of southern Morocco. The following analytical parameters were assessed: physicochemical properties (ash, moisture, total sugars, and crude protein content), mineral composition (macro- and microelements), bioactive compound content comprising total polyphenols, flavonoids, and condensed tannins, and antioxidant activity, evaluated employing three complementary assays—the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay, the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, and the β-carotene antioxidant activity test (CAT assay).

Results. Cultivated carob pulp exhibited significantly higher (p < 0.05) total sugar content (65.85 ± 0.07 vs. 58.40 ± 0.26%), crude protein content (3.47 ± 0.22 vs. 2.35 ± 0.29%), potassium concentration (9351.0 ± 4.4 vs. 6812.0 ± 3.8 mg/kg), and calcium concentrqtion (2564.0 ± 1.2 vs. 1339.0 ± 2.0 mg/kg) relative to wild carob pulp. Conversely, wild carob pulp displayed significantly lower IC₅₀ values (p < 0.05) across all three antioxidant assays — DPPH (127.09 ± 0.41 vs. 162.17 ± 0.06 μg/mL), FRAP (9.08 ± 0.18 vs. 12.61 ± 0.33 μg/mL), and CAT (62.19 ± 0.56 vs. 78.94 ± 0.80 μg/mL) assays, indicating superior radical scavenging and reducing capacity relative to the cultivated variety.

Conclusion. The findings reveal complementary and distinct nutritional and functional characteristics between wild and cultivated Moroccan carob pulp, with both botanical forms representing valuable sources of nutrients and bioactive compounds for food and nutraceutical applications. The cultivated form demonstrated a superior macronutrient and mineral profile, whilst the wild form exhibited greater antioxidant potency, suggesting differential valorization potential according to intended application. Further systematic characterization of individual phytochemical constituents is recommended to deepen understanding of their functional properties and support their potential applications in functional food product development and sustainable agroforestry systems.