Protein solubility of jackfruit seed flour: pH and salt concentration influence

Solubility is a fundamental physicochemical property of proteins because of its importance over other protein properties in foods. Water solubility characteristics determine appropriate protein extraction and fractionation conditions in foods. In this study protein solubility of jackfruit seed flour (Artocarpus integrifolia L.) was determined, combined with the effect of pH and sulfate, chloride and trisodium citrate salt concentration variations. Protein solubility was higher in more acidic (pH =2.0) and alkaline (8.0≤ pH ≥10.0) mediums, in the absence of salts. It was also verified that the best solubility conditions under pH 2.0 using trisodium citrate was at 0.25 mol/L; and for pH 6.0, it was 1.0 mol/L. For sodium chloride, the best conditions occurred at 0.25 mol/L for pH 2.0, 6.0 and 10.0; and the best solubility values using sodium sulfate under pH 4.0 and 8.0 was 0.25 mol/L; and 0.50 mol/L under pH 6.0 and 10.0. Jackfruit seeds flour can be used as an alternative source of edible protein and as a substitute for products already available in the market.