Total solubilisation of the chicken feathers by fermentation with a keratinolytic bacterium, Bacillus pumilus Al, and the production of protein hydrolysate with high antioxidative activity

摘要

A feather protein hydrolysate was effectively produced using the keratinolytic bacterium Bacillus pumilus strain Al. In fact, complete feather degradation was achieved in medium containing up to 50g/l of raw feathers. Cultivation of 50g/l of feathers for two days, at 45 Cand at initial pH of 10.0. resulted in maximum production of amino acids and peptides (42.4g/1). The feather protein hydrolysate (FPH) presents a very high in vitro digestibility (98%) compared with that of the untreated feathers {2%). Furthermore, the antioxidant activities of FPH were evaluated using in vitro antioxidant assays, such as 1,1 -diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity and reducing power. Interestingly, FPH presents an important antioxidant potential with an IC5n value of 0.3 ±0.01 mg/ml. These results indicate that FPH may be useful as supplementary protein and antioxidants in animal feed formulations.