Effect of Methods of Hydrolysis on the Composition of Prosopis Africana seed Hydrolysates

Abstract

Variations in plant or animal species, climatic conditions as well as processing methods affects the reproducibility, quality and quantity of natural or industrial raw materials. In the present study, Prosopis africana seed was hydrolysed using two distinct methods. In a separate study, the hydrolysates were found to be good sources of peptone for microbial cultures. The proximate analyses of contents of hydrolysates obtained from enzyme-hydrolysed or acid-hydrolysed seeds were determined. The seeds obtained from a local market were thoroughly cleaned and boiled until the seed coats were softened. The softened seed coats were manually removed to reveal the cotyledons, which were washed, dried and powdered. The powdered cotyledon was subjected to hydrolysis using the enzyme, papain, or hydrochloric acid. Proximate analysis of the hydrolysates was determined using standard methods. The results revealed that papain-hydrolysed seeds (PHP) and acidhydrolysed seeds (AHP) had moisture contents of 32.7 % and 83.3 %, respectively whereas the ash values were 3.05% and 0.15 %. Protein contents of PHP and AHP were 39.69 % and 12.78 % respectively. Crude fibre compositions were 2.01 % in PHP while AHP showed no presence of fibre. It was observed that methods of hydrolysis significantly affected the quality of Prosopis africana seed hydrolysates.