Comparative functional and spectroscopic analysis of spent hen meat hydrolysate by individual and combined treatment of microbial proteases.

Simultaneous (Sm) and sequential (Sq) use of microbial proteases for the hydrolysis of spent hen/chicken meat from antioxidant potential perspective is relatively unexplored and requires attention. In this work, meat was hydrolyzed using Flavourzyme (Fz) and Alcalase (Ac), each at 1, 2, and 3% for 6 h as well as using both enzymes (at 2% each) in Sm and Sq treatment. Maximum attained %DPPH-RSA (Fz:68.25; Ac:77.18; Sm:59.82; and Sq:65.97) and FRAP (mM TEAC/g) values (Fz:3.77; Ac:2.56; Sm:2.54; and Sq:3.37) were measured as a function of hydrolysis time. The highest (23.38%) and lowest (10.68%) degree of hydrolysis (DH) was obtained with 3% Ac and 1% Fz, respectively. FTIR spectroscopy clearly revealed changes in the secondary structure of proteins. SDS PAGE profiling of hydrolysates showed that Fz produces low molecular weight peptides (2-75 kDa) as compared to Ac or its combination with Ac. As per the results of this study, Sq enzyme treatment is recommended for preparing spent hen meat hydrolysate with higher functional attributes for possible use as functional food/nutraceutical.