JPH0718194A - Production of crocetin - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To safely and hygienically obtain the subject compound excellent in brightness of yellow and useful for coloring of foods by reacting an aqueous solution of crocetin with a specific enzyme. CONSTITUTION:100 pts.wt. of an aqueous solution of crocetin is mixed with 0.01-10 pts.wt. of glucoamylase and subject to enzymatic reaction to provide the objective compound. Furthermore, the objective compound can also be obtained by mixing 100 pts.wt. of an aqueous solution of crocetin with 0.01-10 pts.wt. of (hemi)cellulase and subjecting the solution to enzymatic reaction with the (hemi)cellulase.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a method for producing crocetin using an enzyme.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Crocin, which is the main component of gardenia pigments, is known as Gardenia augu
sta MERR. Var. grandiflora
HORT. ) Fruit or saffron of the family Iridaceae ( C
rocus sativus L. ) It is a pigment contained in stigmas of flowers, such as pickles, Japanese sweets, chestnuts,
It is used for coloring rice cakes.

The main component of gardenia pigment is crocin, and a small amount of crocetin is contained as the other component. When the color tones of crocin and crocetin are compared, crocetin exhibits a brighter and clearer yellow color than crocin, in other words, it has a bluish yellow color, and is highly useful when used in foods.

[0004]

When crocin is hydrolyzed, gentiobiose existing in the structure is released and crocetin is produced. However, alkali such as sodium hydroxide is usually used for hydrolysis, which is dangerous for work. Of course, it was not good for occupational health.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems The inventors of the present invention have made diligent efforts to solve the above-mentioned problems, and as a result, have conducted experiments, and as a result, by using one or several kinds of glucoamylase, cellulase and hemicellulase in combination. The inventors have come to find a method for producing crocetin by a method that is safe for work and is favorable for occupational health.

That is, 0.01 to 10 parts of an aqueous solution of crocin, preferably 0.5 to 5 parts of glucoamylase and / or 0.01 to 10 parts, preferably,
0.05 to 5 parts of cellulase and or 0.01
It is possible to produce crocetin by mixing 10 parts, preferably 0.05 part to 5 parts of hemicellulase and then enzymatically reacting at 10 ° C. to 70 ° C., preferably 40 ° C. to 60 ° C. for a certain period of time. It has become.

The enzyme for carrying out the present invention can be used regardless of its origin, and can be used as a purified product or a crude extract having a desired enzymatic activity, and does not impede the practice of the present invention.

The temperature at which the enzyme acts in the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it is a temperature suitable for the action of the enzyme used.

【Example】

Examples will be described below, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples.

Example 1 Cellulase (fiber digestion 30,000 u / g pH 4.
5 g of 5) was mixed. The solution was subjected to an enzymatic reaction for 20 hours in a thermostat adjusted to 50 ° C., and then No. Filter with 2 filter paper, About 3.9 g was obtained.

The obtained crocetin had an absorption maximum at about 421 nm and had a noticeably bluish color as compared with crocin, and when added to food, it exhibited a clear bluish yellow color.

Embodiment 2 Hemicellulase (xylanase titer 90,000 u / g
5g of pH 4.5) was mixed. This solution was subjected to an enzymatic reaction for 17 hours in an incubator adjusted to 45 ° C., and then No. Two
With a filter paper About 2.2 g of powder was obtained.

The crocetin thus obtained had an absorption maximum at about 421 nm and was markedly bluish in comparison with crocin, and when added to food, it exhibited a beautiful bluish yellow color.

Example 3 Glucoamylase (starch saccharification titer 6,000u / g
pH 4.5) was mixed with 10 g. This solution was subjected to an enzymatic reaction for 15 hours in an incubator adjusted to 55 ° C., and then No. Two
With a filter paper About 6.1 g of the powder of 0) was obtained.

The crocetin thus obtained had an absorption maximum at about 421 nm and was markedly bluish in comparison with crocin, and when added to food, it exhibited a beautiful bluish yellow color.

Comparative Example 1 The enzymatic reaction was carried out in the same manner as in Example 1 except that β-amylase was used instead of cellulase. From this enzymatic reaction, almost no precipitation of crocetin was obtained.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Mikinori Asano No. 1157-16 Yubune, Oyama-cho, Sunto-gun, Shizuoka High-tech park Fuji Oyama Taisho Technos Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A method for producing crocetin, which comprises using glucoamylase. 2. A method for producing crocetin, which comprises using cellulase. 3. A method for producing crocetin, which comprises using hemicellulase.