Protease inhibitors from ripened and unripened bananas

Biochem Int. 1991 May;24(1):13-22.

Abstract

The proteolysis of casein by trypsin, chymotrypsin and papain was inhibited by ripened and unripened bontha, poovan, nendran, cavendish and rasthali bananas. The inhibition of trypsin, chymotrypsin and papain by different ripened banana cultivars was much more than that of unripened banana cultivars. The trypsin and chymotrypsin inhibitory activity of ripened poovan was heat stable, resistant to pronase and partly stable to trypsin but the trypsin and chymotrypsin inhibitory activity of unripened poovan was stable to heat and resistant to pronase only. The partial stability of trypsin inhibitory activity and instability of papain inhibitory activity of ripened poovan to alkaline pH suggests that the inhibitory factors of trypsin and papain were dissimilar. The probable role of unripened banana papain inhibitors in curing stomach ulcers and antinutritional role of ripened banana trypsin inhibitors is discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Fruit / growth & development
  • Fruit / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Protease Inhibitors / isolation & purification
  • Protease Inhibitors / metabolism*
  • Stomach Ulcer / diet therapy
  • Temperature

Substances

  • Protease Inhibitors