Inclusion of partly purified protease from Abrus precatorius Linn in Ca-alginate gel beads

Abrus precatorius is an edible endemic plant in Cameroon. In the northern regions of Cameroon, the leaves of this plant are used as traditional medications, for the liquefaction of wort obtained after mashing of sorghum or millets for processing the local fermented beer called bili-bili, and to sweeten gruels made from red millet. Abrus precatorius has also being explored as a potential source of proteolytic enzymes. In this work, a partially purified protease from the leaves and stems of the plant was immobilized in a calcium alginate gel beads and the protease activity (PA), investigated using a central composite design plan under the conditions: alginate content (1–5%) (w/v), enzyme/alginate ratio (10–30%) (v/v), and CaCl(2) concentration (100–400 Mmol/L). Results showed that the optimum activity was obtained for an alginate content of 1% (p/v), an enzyme/alginate ratio of 10% (v/v) and a CaCl(2) concentration of 400 mmol/L. At the optimum, kinetic parameters of the immobilized enzyme (KM: 6.83 mg mL(−1); Vmax: 46.95 g.L(−1). min(−1)) were comparable to those of free enzyme (KM: 1.26 mg mL(−1); Vmax: 153.85 g.L(−1). min(−1)). The beads have been preserved at room temperature and reused for four days before loosing 88% of its activity. This indicates that the protease activity of the leaves and stems of A. precatorius can be immobilized in calcium alginate beads and preserve four days at ambient temperature.