Activity of β-Amylase in Some Fungi Strains Isolated from Forest Soil in South-Western Nigeria.

Aims: The aim of this study was to isolate fungi species from Omo natural forest soil in Ogun State of Nigeria and study the amylases from the fungi species which are digestive enzymes that hydrolyze glycosidic bonds in starch to glucose, maltose, maltotriose and dextrin; and in particular determine the activities of β-amylase from the forest soil. Study Design: Nine different species of fungi were isolated from the Omo natural forest reserve soil (Gonatobotrrys simplex, Aspergillus niger, Spiromyces minutus, Aspergillus flavus, Articulospora inflata, Botrytis cenera, Penicillium italicum, Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus). Four species of the fungi (Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus and Penicillum italicum) exhibited amylolytic activities maximally were obtained and screened for the production of beta-amylase (1,4-α-D-glucan maltohydrolase) for five days in liquid medium using 2% starch as carbon source. All the strains of fungi produced β-amylase optimally within the first 24 hours with progressive decreased production as the days gone by. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria, between February 2010 and March 2011. Methodology: We isolated many fungi species from forest reserve soil, four species (Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigantus and Penicillum itallicum) were identified and assayed for β-amylase activity. Results: All the organisms produced β-amylase activity favorably at 40ºC; all were observed to be thermally stable at between 30ºC and 40ºC with optimal pH in alkaline medium between pH 7.00 and 9.00. Conclusion: The results obtained in this study however showed that all the fungi strains are promising sources of β-amylase for potential applications in food and pharmaceutical industries and for biotechnological and industrial applications.

Alpha and Beta amylase activity of Fagopyrum esculentum (Buckwheat): A Medicinal Plant

Background and Objectives: Fagopyrum esculentum, common buckwheat popularly known as mithe fapar is one of the staple food crops of the mountain region. Traditionally, it is used to treat constipation and bowel upsets. It is also used by diabetic in different parts of Nepal and India. Due to its high nutritive and medicinal value, medical scientist and researchers are interested in developing this as pharmaceutical plant. In this regard department of biochemistry, College of Applied Education and Health Sciences, C.C.S. University, Meerut, India is working to analyse the biochemical composition and benefits of this plant. So, as a part of a multidimensional project of analyzing various components and their impact on health and diseases, here we are reporting the amylase activity during germination of seed in Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) plant. Methodology: Common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) seeds were taken and germinated in dark at room temperature from 0 hours to 192 hours. Biochemical analysis for total amylase, alpha and beta amylase activities was measured by the standard method designed by Bernfeld (1955). Results: The seeds of buckwheat showed high level of amylolytic activity during different stages of germination. At 0 hours, negligible amylase activity was found. The first amylase activity was found at 24 hours and increases up to 96 hours. After 96 hours the total amylase activity starts decreasing and becomes almost negligible at 192 hours. Alpha and Beta –Amylase activity is reported separately. Conclusion: The amylases from the buckwheat showed different level of enzymatic activity during seed germination. Alpha amylase contributed a larger account to total amylase activity. The activity starts increasing and becomes maximum at 96 hours and starts decreasing and becomes lowest at 192 hours suggesting that alpha amylase plays a important role in starch metabolism in developing as well as geminating seeds which can be used for the drug discovery and treatment of several diseases like diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome, constipation, bowel upsets, obesity and others.

Producción de etanol a partir de cebada no malteada hidrolizada con α y β amilasas comerciales / Ethanol production from hydrolyzed unmalted barley using commercial α- and β-amylase / Produção de etanol a partir de cevada não maltada hidrolisada com α e β amilases comerciais

Objetivo. Establecer la concentración óptima de α y β amilasas comerciales para la obtención de etanol a partir de cebada sin maltear. Materiales y métodos. Cebada no malteada fue hidrolizada con concentraciones variables de α y β amilasas comerciales (Genencor Internacional), bajo las condiciones establecidas por el fabricante. Los productos de hidrólisis fueron utilizados como sustrato para la producción de etanol con Sacharomyces cerevisiae. Adicionalmente se realizó un ensayo referencia con cebada malteada, bajo las condiciones establecidas por la destilería. Resultados. Se obtuvo un porcentaje de hidrólisis del almidón de 89,4% cuando se adicionaron de α y β amilasas a una concentración de 1gL-1, adicionalmente se obtuvo la máxima producción de etanol (5,02 %), siendo significativamente más alta que cuando se utilizó cebada malteada (3,76 %). Conclusiones. Se demostró que se puede producir etanol a partir de almidón de cebada sin maltear empleando α y β-amilasas comerciales, aunque es necesario optimizar el proceso ya que es más costoso comparado con el tradicional, utilizando cebada malteada.

Objective. To find the optimum concentration of commercial α- and β-amylase for the obtainment of ethanol from unmalted barley. Materials and methods. Unmalted barley was hydrolyzed using various concentrations of commercial α- and β-amylase (Genencor International), following conditions established by the manufacturer. The products of hydrolysis were used as substrates for the production of ethanol by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In addition, a reference assay was performed using malted barley following the conditions established by the distillery. Results. The percentage of starch hydrolysis was 89.4% when adding α-and β-amylase at a concentration of 1 g L-1. Moreover, this concentration of amylases yielded a maximum ethanol production (5.02 %) significantly higher than when malted barley was used (3.76 %). Conclusions. It was demonstrated that ethanol can be obtained from starch of unmalted barley by adding commercial α- and β-amylase. However, optimization of the process is required due to the higher costs when compared to the traditional process with malted barley.

Objetivo. Estabelecer a concentração ideal de α e β amilases comerciais para a obtenção de etanol a partir de cevada não malteada. Materiais e métodos. Cevada não malteada foi hidrolisada com diferentes concentrações de α e β amilases comerciais (Genencor Internacional), sob as condições estabelecidas pelo fabricante. Os produtos da hidrólise foram utilizados como substrato para produção de etanol com Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Além disso, se realizou um teste de referência com cevada malteada, sob as condições estabelecidas pela destilaria. Resultados. Se obtive uma percentagem de hidrólise do amido de 89,4% ao adicionar á e â amilases na concentração de 1gL-1, adicionalmente se obtive a produção máxima de etanol (5,02%), sendo significativamente maior do que quando é usada cevada malteada (3,76%). Conclusões. Foi demonstrado que o etanol pode ser produzido a partir de amido de cevada não maltada com α e β-amilases comerciais, embora seja necessário aperfeiçoar o processo, porque é mais caro, em comparação com o tradicional, utilizando cevada maltada.

Response surface methodology to evaluation the recovery of amylases by hollow fiber membrane

This work aimed to study the pH and the transmembrane pressure effects during the recovery of alpha and beta amylases enzymes from corn malt (Zea mays) by hollow fiber membrane. The optimal condition was obtained for a statistical model, established by response surface methodology (RSM). The response surface analysis showed that the best operation condition for amylolitics enzymes recovery by hollow fiber membrane was 0.05 bar and pH 5.00, while the enzymes were purified about of 26 times.

Este trabalho objetivou estudar o efeito do pH e da pressão trans-membrana durante a recuperação das enzimas alfa e beta amilases do malte de milho (Zea mays) por membranas de fibras ocas, a obtenção das condições ótimas foi feita por um modelo estatístico, estabelecido pela metodologia de superfície de resposta (RSM). A análise da superfície de resposta mostrou que as melhores condições operacionais para a recuperação das enzimas amiloliticas por membranas de fibras ocas foi 0,05 bar e pH 5,00; onde as enzimas foram purificadas cerca de 26 vezes.