Pressure Induced Inactivation of Selected Food Enzymes

Pectinesterase, lipase, polyphenol oxidase, lipoxygenase, peroxidase, lactoperoxidase, phosphatase and catalase have been examined at distinct conditions within a pressure range of 0.1 to 900 MPa, temperatures from 25°C to 60°C, pH 3 to 7, and time of treatment of 2 min to 45 min. Results in model buffers made it possible to rank the enzymes according to their pressure induced inactivation in the following order : lipoxygenase, lactoperoxidase, pectinesterase, lipase, phosphatase, catalase, polyphenol oxidase, peroxidase. A combination of pressure with moderate temperature increased the degree of enzyme inactivation. Pressure treatment of real food systems showed a protective effect of food ingredients on the pressure inactivation of most enzymes evaluated. For example sucrose protected pectinesterase from inactivation by pressure while lactoperoxidase and lipoxigenase were as stable in milk as in buffer.