EXTRACTION OPTIMIZATION AND FUNCTIONAL PROPERTIES OF PROTEINS FROM KIWI FRUIT (ACTINIDIA CHINENSIS PLANCH.) SEEDS

Kiwi fruit (Actinidia chinensis Planch.) seed proteins, as solid wastes in food industries, remain underutilized. Response surface methodology for kiwi fruit seed proteins extraction optimization results showed that pH and solid/liquid ratio were the most important factors affecting the yield. Maximum yield (613.7 g/kg total protein) was obtained when temperature, pH, extraction time, and solid/liquid ratio were 33.9 degrees C, pH 9.14, 49.2 min, and 1:8.4 (w/v), respectively. Kiwi fruit seed protein had more proteins or peptides with low molecular weights, showing a better digestibility. Functional properties results indicated that kiwi fruit seed protein as potential ingredients could be used as a substitute for soybean protein for food processing.