Production of an extensive sunflower protein hydrolysate by sequential hydrolysis with endo- and exo-proteases.

A high quality protein isolate has been obtained from defatted sunflower meal by alkaline extraction and isoelectric precipitation. Protein content was increased from 31.2 % in the defatted flour to 97 % in the protein isolate. The percentages of fiber, soluble sugars, polyphenols and residual lipids in the protein isolate were reduced to more than 90 % with respect to the defatted meal. The protein isolate was used as starting material for the generation of an extensive enzymatic protein hydrolysate. The hydrolysis was carried out in a pH stat using sequentially an endo-protease (Alcalase) and an exo-protease (Flavourzyme). The protein hydrolysate, with a degree of hydrolysis of 50.7 %, was white and non bitter.