Determination of process parameters and precipitation methods for potential large-scale production of sugar beet leaf protein concentrate

BACKGROUND

Sugar beet is one of the most produced industrial plants in the world, and during manufacturing it produces a large quantity of leaf waste. Because this waste is rich in protein, this study aimed to identify an efficient method for producing large-scale protein concentrate from sugar beet leaves.

RESULTS

Results showed that protein extraction from fresh leaves was more effective than from dried leaves. Maximum protein extraction was achieved at pH 9, compared with pH 7 or 8. Blanching as a pretreatment reduced protein yield during isoelectric precipitation, with a yield of 2.31% compared to 20.20% without blanching. Consequently, blanching was excluded from the extraction process. After extraction, isoelectric precipitation, heat coagulation, and isoelectric-ammonium sulfate precipitation were compared. Although the latter resulted in the highest protein yield, Fourier transform infrared analysis revealed that excessive salt was not removed during dialysis, making it unsuitable for scale-up due to its additional cost and complexity. Therefore, isoelectric precipitation was selected as the appropriate method for protein precipitation from sugar beet leaves. To increase yield, extractions were assisted by ultrasound or enzyme addition. Ultrasound-assisted extraction resulted in an increased protein yield from 20.20% to 28.60%, while Pectinex Ultra SP-L-assisted extraction was the most effective, increasing protein yield from 20.20% to 38.09%.

CONCLUSION

Proteins were extracted from fresh sugar beet leaves using optimum conditions (50 °C, 30 min, pH 9) and precipitated at isoelectric point, with enzymatic-assisted extraction yielding the maximum protein recovery. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Potentiating effect of Bay K 8644 on agonist-induced ileal contractions

The effects of Bay K 8644 on agonist-induced ileal contractions were investigated. Histamine, serotonin and a acetylcholine (10(-8)-10(-4) M) produced a dose-dependent contraction. Maximum contraction was obtained by 10(-5) M serotonin. Its value was 1076 mg. Bay K 8644 (10(-6) M) increased the potency of histamine and serotonin-induced ileal contractions, but acetylcholine induced responses were not increased. All responses of agonists were inhibited by nifedipine (10(-6) M). This inhibition was decreased with increasing acetylcholine concentrations. These results suggest that histamine and serotonin induced/mediated contractions in guinea-pig ileum are independent of calcium influx through voltage operated channels.