Enzymatic preparation and antioxidant activities of protein hydrolysates from defatted egg yolk

This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of protein hydrolysates derived from defatted egg yolk using various proteolytic enzymes and compare the antioxidant activity of the resulting hydrolysates. The defatted egg yolk powder was subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis using four different proteases (alcalase, bromelain, flavourzyme and neutrase), and the resulting hydrolysates were evaluated for their antioxidant properties. Through analysis of available amino group contents and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, it was observed that the defatted egg yolk powder treated with alcalase, flavourzyme, and neutrase for 12 h exhibited a high degree of hydrolysis value. Based on the RC50 values obtained from two different antioxidant analyses, all hydrolysates showed comparable antioxidant activity, except for the alcalase hydrolysate, which demonstrated notably higher scavenging activity against hydrogen peroxide than the other hydrolysates. These findings suggest the potential of protein hydrolysates from defatted egg yolk, a by-product of lecithin extraction, as natural antioxidants.