NONCHEMICAL APPROACH FOR REDUCING ANTINUTRITIONAL FACTORS IN RAPESEED(BRASSICA-CAMPESTRIS VAR TORIA) AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ENZYME PHYTASE

Antinutritional factors, viz, glucosinolates, phenols, and phytic acid , decreased with germination of rapeseed. Protein content declined dur ing the first 24 h after imbibition and thereafter increased, Phytase activity increased with germination with a parallel decrease in phytic acid content. Two phytase fractions were separated during elution on DEAE-cellulose column, showing purifications of 26.75- and 19.96-fold, respectively. Optimum pH and temperature for both fractions were 5.2 and 50 degrees C, respectively. Enzyme stability decreased considerabl y after 50 degrees C, and phytase 2 was stable for a longer time. Mn, Co, Ca, and EDTA promoted the enzyme activity, whereas ions of Zn, Fe, Cu, fluoride, molybdate, and arsenate were inhibitory.