The present work had as aim to study the obtaining and the uses of polyphenoloxidase enzyme (PPO) extracted from ripe custard apple pulp on the reduction of polyphenolic compounds with decrease adstringency and bitterness of cocoa nuts processed at nibs form. The PPO was extracted with 0.025M potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.5), adding ammonium sulfate to the enzyme precipitation. The powdered material obtained was called partially purified enzyme, being the analyses of activity carried out with catechol as substract, showing biochemical characteristics of 5.0 to 6.5 stability pH and 10 to 30°C stability temperature the nibs were autoclaved (121°C for 15 minutes) and non-autoclaved from the same origin, raw nuts insuficiently fermented and dried were soaked in a solution of the enzyme containing 200 units/min/mL, for 30, 60, 90, 210 and 360 minutes, at 23°C and pH 6.0 . The nibs were homogeneized with the enzyme solution each 15 minutes, dried, ground and became unfatted. After enzymatic treatment over 210 minutes carried out on the non-autoclaved unfatted cocoa nibs, it was possible to observe diminishing of 15% in the total phenol, 15% tannin content, 10% of flavan-3-ois and 18% of anthocyanidins concentrations. The nibs of autoclaved unfatted cacao showed diminishing of 25% in the total phenol, 26% of tannins 23% of flavan-3-ois, and 51% of anthocyanidins concentrations.
Custard apple; polyphenoloxidase; polyphenols; cocoa
