Abstract
The optimization of the enzymatic hydrolysis of rice protein was determined using an experimental design tool. The semi-purified protease of Bacillus licheniformis LBA 46 and commercial protease Alcalase 2.4 L were used to produce rice hydrolysates using pH values ranging from 6 to 10 and enzyme concentrations varying from 50 to 150 U/mL. The optimized conditions were validated, and using the chosen conditions (pH 10 and 100 U/mL of protease), it was possible to confirm that the model was predictive for oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) responses. The experimental values for the ORAC and FRAP responses were 940 and 18.78 TE µmol/g for the rice protein hydrolysates prepared with LBA protease and 1001.94 and 19.31 TE µmol/g for the rice protein hydrolysates prepared with Alcalase 2.4 L. After optimization of the enzymatic hydrolysis conditions, the antioxidant activity values increased when compared to the values for the intact rice protein: 324.97 TE µmol/g (ORAC) and 6.14 TE µmol/g (FRAP). It was also observed that the LBA protease had an action similar to the commercial protease, showing its potential for application in protein hydrolysis.