Impact of Solvent Polarity on the Phenolic Profile of <i>Ceratonia siliqua Pulp</i> Assessed by HPLC-UV-MS

Abstract

Carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua) is a nutritious and medicinal plant native to the Mediterranean basin and widely used in Morocco. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of different extraction methods on the phenolic profile of carob pulp. Two types of extraction were applied: methanolic and aqueous. The phenolic profile was determined using HPLC coupled with UV detection and mass spectrometry within 0-15min Retention time window in order to target early eluting phenolic compounds typically abundant in carob pulp. Based on retention times and MS fragmentation, the main compounds detected were: gallic acid (m/z 169), dihydroxybenzoic acid (m/z 153), citric acid (m/z 191), malic acid (m/z 133), methyl gallate (m/z 183), and simple galloyl derivatives. Gallic acid and organic acids predominated in the aqueous extract, which had a lower signal intensity and less distinguishable phenolic structures. These findings demonstrate the significant influence of solvent polarity on the effectiveness of phenolic extraction and offer guidance for the valuation of carob-based functional constituents.