Powdered sweet pumpkin hydrolysate preparation in high yield

摘要

Preparation of high yields of a powdered hydrolysate (I) of sweet pumpkin, obtained from a variety of Okaido cucurmis selected by successive hybridisation, involves: (a) mixing the lyophilised plant and water in a ratio of 10:90 at 80 deg C; (b) maintaining the mixture at this temperature for a time sufficient to ensure hydration of the molecules to be lysed; (c) adjusting the pH and temperature to give optimal expression of hydrolysing enzymes; (d) completing the hydrolysis with addition of excess enzymes having amylase, pectinolytic and cellulase activity, while maintaining at temperature and pH as above; (e) inactivating the enzymes; (f) separating the residue and the supernatant by centrifugation of the mixture; (g) concentrating the supernatant to give a paste; (h) mixing with the centrifugation pellet; and (i) drying and grinding to give a powder. (I) is claimed per se, in the form of a dry extract (I') comprising 17-21.5 % proteins, 3.5-4.5 % lipids and 38-43 % total carbohydrates, the fatty acids comprising 9-13% palmitic, 31-37% linolenic acid, 33-37.5% oleic acid and 3-5% stearic acid, where 100 g of the powder contains 500-1000 IU retinol and 15-17 mg beta -carotene.