This bibliometric analysis, based on data retrieved from the Scopus database, aims to provide a comprehensive overview of global scientific production related to carob seeds over the period 2000-2025. The search strategy was deliberately designed to encompass a wide range of research themes, including chemical and phytochemical composition, biological activities, nutritional value, and biochemical characteristics of Ceratonia siliqua seeds and their derived oils. Over the investigated period, a total of 262 documents were identified (Figure 1-A). Scientific production remained relatively limited until 2008, followed by a phase of moderate and somewhat irregular growth extending to 2016. From 2017 onward, however, a clear shift can be observed, characterized by a marked and sustained increase in annual publications. This trend reflects not only a growing scientific interest in carob seeds but also the progressive consolidation and maturation of this research area. Regarding individual scientific contributions, ten authors emerged as the most prolific, each having published four articles within the dataset: Amri, M., Christou, A., Elfazazi, K., Kapnissi-Christodoulou, C.P., Marzouki, L., Rico, D., Rtibi, K., Sebai, H., Selmi, S., and Stavrou, I.J. (Figure 1-B). This pattern suggests the presence of a relatively stable core of researchers who have played a central role in shaping the field. Analysis of the geographical distribution of publications reveals a clear leadership of Mediterranean countries, with Morocco (33 documents) and Spain (30) occupying the top positions. Italy (25), Algeria (20), and France (19) form a second tier of major contributors, closely followed by Tunisia and Turkey, each with 18 publications. Additional countries, including Egypt, Portugal, India, and Iran, also demonstrate sustained research activity (Figure 1-C). This distribution highlights the strong regional relevance of carob, which is closely linked to its traditional cultivation and use in these areas. In terms of document types, research articles constitute the vast majority of publications (75.2%, n = 197), indicating a strong emphasis on original experimental and analytical work. Review articles represent 11.8% (n = 31) of the corpus, while conference papers (5.7%, n = 15) and book chapters (3.8%, n = 10) account for smaller proportions (Figure 1-D). Finally, a semantic analysis of author keywords was conducted using VOSviewer on a total of 3,569 terms, with a minimum occurrence threshold set at five. This analysis identified four major thematic clusters: Cluster 1 (red, 55 items), mainly related to phytochemical composition and biological activities of seed extracts; Cluster 2 (green, 50 items), focusing on nutritional, chemical, and polysaccharide-related aspects; Cluster 3 (blue, 40 items), specifically addressing carob polyphenols; and Cluster 4 (yellow, 36 items), linking carob seed applications to public health considerations. Overall, this thematic mapping underscores the multidimensional nature of carob seed research and highlights the interdisciplinary interactions that structure the field (Figure 1-E).

This bibliometric analysis examined global scientific research on carob seeds from 2000-2025 using the Scopus database, identifying 262 relevant documents. The research field showed limited activity until 2008, followed by moderate growth through 2016, and then experienced marked acceleration from 2017 onward, indicating growing scientific interest and field maturation. Ten authors emerged as the most prolific contributors with four publications each, suggesting a stable core of researchers driving the field. Geographically, Mediterranean countries dominated the research landscape, with Morocco (33 documents) and Spain (30) leading, followed by Italy, Algeria, and France, reflecting carob's traditional cultivation in these regions. Research articles comprised 75.2% of publications, emphasizing original experimental work, while reviews accounted for 11.8%. A semantic analysis of 3,569 author keywords revealed four major research clusters: phytochemical composition and biological activities, nutritional and chemical aspects, carob polyphenols, and public health applications. This thematic mapping demonstrates the multidimensional and interdisciplinary nature of carob seed research, spanning from basic chemical characterization to practical health applications.