Role of raw Material Conditions and Extraction in Bromelain Production.

Abstract

Bromelain activity in pineapple stem of different maturities, sources and storage conditions was investigated. Extraction method was comparatively studied between two roller press and blending. The brome lain activity was expressed as CDU (Casein Digesting Unit) per gram of peeled stem. The result showed that, the three years old stem contains 25,671.85 CDU per gram of stem which account for 43.7%, which those of the second and the first year contain only 32.0 and 19.3% respectively. The pineapple stem from Cholburi and Prachaubkirikhan contain 25,479.1 and 31,030.1 CDU bromclain activity per gram of stem respectively, and only 14,000 CDU/gm of stem was found in those from I ampang. Pineapple stem could be stored at least for 2 weeks in cold room (5ºC) or 3 days at room temperature, without considerable loss of bromelain activity. Under experimental condition, better yield of enzyme extration was obtained from blending with water than two roll-press method.