title: Phytochemical profile, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of the carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.) germ flour extracts.
abstract: This work aimed to evaluate the phytochemical content and to determine the antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of methanol extracts of the carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.) germ flour. The extracts were rich in phenolic compounds, had considerable antioxidant activity, and reduced the viability of cervical (HeLa) cancer cells. The chemical content and the biological activities of the extracts were significantly affected by gender and cultivar. Female cultivar Galhosa had the highest levels of phenolic compounds, and the highest antioxidant activity. Extracts from the hermaphrodite trees and from the female cultivars Galhosa and Costela/Canela exhibited the highest cytotoxic activity. The most abundant compound was theophylline. The phenolic content was correlated to both antioxidant and cytotoxic activities. Our findings provide new knowledge about the health implications of consuming food supplemented with carob germ flour.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Centre of Genomics and Biotechnology (IBB/CGB), Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal. lcustodio@ualg.pt
authors.forename: Luísa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Custódio
authors.forename: Ana Luísa
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Escapa
authors.forename: Eliana
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Alba
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fajardo
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aligué
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Alberício
authors.forename: Nuno
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Neng
authors.forename: José Manuel Florêncio
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Nogueira
authors.forename: Anabela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romano
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D005685:Galactans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D008351:Mannans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053149:Plant Gums / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013806:Theophylline / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D005685:Galactans; D008351:Mannans; D010636:Phenols; D010936:Plant Extracts; D053149:Plant Gums; D013806:Theophylline; C017471:locust bean gum