Optimization of Extraction of D-pinitol and Phenolics from Cultivated and Wild Types of Carob Pods Using Response Surface Methodology

The carob pod, an important fruit of the food industry in the production of concentrated syrup, is rich in potentially health-promoting phenolic compounds and sugars. Moreover, one of the important bioactive components of carob is D-pinitol, and it has some beneficial effects on human metabolism. The optimum conditions for extraction of D-pinitol and total phenolic compounds (TPC) from cultivated and wild types of carob pods were determined using response surface methodology (RSM). The Box-Behnken Design (BBD) was used to investigate the effects of three independent variables; extraction temperature (degrees C), dilution rate (w/v), and extraction time (h) on the response, D-pinitol and the total phenolic compounds. The optimum extraction conditions obtained using the response optimizer were an extraction temperature of 80 degrees C, a dilution rate of 1:4, and an extraction time of 2h. Under the mentioned above conditions, the maximum D-pinitol and TPC concentrations were 9.67 g/L and 5916.55 mg/L in wild carob pod extract, respectively.