Improving the color and functional properties of seabuckthorn seed protein with phytase treatment combined with alkaline solubilization and isoelectric precipitation.

BACKGROUND Reducing anti-nutritional factors like phytates in seed protein products requires an ongoing effort. This study was the first to investigate the phytic acid content in seabuckthorn seed protein (SSP) and its reduction by an exogenous phytase during protein isolation from seabuckthorn seed meal through the common alkaline solubilization-isoelectric precipitation process. RESULTS The additional phytase treatment could reduce the content of phytic acid from 22.46 to 13.27 g kg-1 , leading to SSP products with lighter color (lower ΔE* ), higher protein solubility, higher in vitro digestibility, but lower phenolic antioxidant content (including flavonoids and procyanidins) and some beneficial ions like Ca, Fe, Mg, and Zn. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) results indicated that the secondary structure of protein changed under the treatment with phytase. Correlation analysis showed that L* was significantly negatively correlated with TP, TPC and TF (P < 0.001), while a* and b* were significantly positively correlated with them (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS There may be a trade-off between protein functionalities and other health-promoting components when a phytase treatment is included in SSP isolation. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.