The current study denotes the prediction of activity coefficients of fifteen natural phenols (tyrosol, hydroxytyrosol, oleuropein, caffeic, cinnamic, p-coumaric, ferulic, gallic, p-hydroxybenzoic, p-hydroxyphenyl acetic, protocatechuic, rosmarinic, sinapic, syringic, and vanillic acid) in seven solvents (water, ethanol, methanol, acetone, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and diethyl ether), and three extraction temperatures (298.15, 313.15, and 333.15 K), using the universal functional-group activity coefficient model. Solvents were classified for their ability to dissolve phenols and were compared with experimental data of the literature in order to observe if the solvent extraction of phenols in practice matches with the authors’ theoretical approach. Results indicated the superiority of alcohols and acetone for the recovery of phenols in line with experimental data of previous studies. Furthermore, activity coefficients’ values were found to increase with the increase of temperature. This study provided a knowledge base for the selection of the most appropriate solvents for a given phenolic compound.

The contribution of natural products to the drug-discovery pipeline has been remarkable since they have served as a rich source for drug development and discovery. Natural products have adapted, during the course of evolution, optimum chemical scaffolds against a wide variety of diseases, including cancer and diabetes. Advances in high-throughput screening assays, assisted by the continuous development on the instrumentation’s capabilities and omics, have resulted in charting a large chemical and biological space of drug-like compounds, originating from natural sources. Herein, we attempt to integrate the information on the chemical composition and the associated biological impact of carob fruit in regards to human health. The beneficial and health-promoting effects of carob along with the clinical trials and the drug formulations derived from carob’s natural components are presented in this review.

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