Vol. 9, Issue 1 (2020)

Author(s):
Shelly Jain, Sandeep Gupta, Aman Kumar, Yogesh Bangar and SS Ahlawat

Abstract:
Global increase in cheese production with decreased supply of calf rennet is leading to search for coagulant alternatives from available resources such as plant extracts. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to assess the suitability of enzyme extracted from oilseed cakes of Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) that can be used as a suitable milk clotting substitute. After extraction, the enzyme was partially purified and characterized. The samples from oilseed cakes of sunflower were powdered and extracts were prepared using 5% NaCl as buffer. The extracts were filtered and fractionated with ammonium sulphate (30-60%). This fraction was assumed to contain the Milk Clotting Enzyme (MCE) which was tested for its Milk Clotting Activity (MCA) and was found to be suitable for milk coagulation. The results revealed that concentrations of 5 ml of Sunflower Enzyme Extract (SFEE) per liter of milk at a pH- 4.5-5.0 and temperature- 45-55 °C were found optimum to coagulate milk. MCA of the SFEE was compared to that of Microbial Rennet (MR). MCA of SFEE indicated its potential as suitable rennet substitute in dairy industry.