Screening of some catalytic activities of mature berries of Solanum aethiopicum cultivar "Klongbo"

Aubergines of the Solanum aethiopicum cultivar "Klongbo" are widely cultivated and consumed by the Ivorian population. However, their post-harvest conservation is problematic. In order to prevent their post-harvest degradation, this study initiates the screening of enzymatic activities responsible for hydrolysis and oxidation activities in the berries of Solanum aethiopicum cultivar "Klongbo". Among the enzymatic activities tested, phosphatases, N'Acethylglucosaminidase, dopamineoxydase and pyrocatecholoxydase were the predominant enzymatic proteins. The optimum hydrolysis and oxidation conditions in terms of pH and temperature are listed as follows: phosphatases (pH 8.0; 50°C), N-acetylases (pH 5.6; 45°C), dopamineoxydase (pH 9.6; 10°C) and pyrocatecholoxydase (pH 9.0; 10°C). Cu²⁺ ions inhibit all tested enzymatic activities and especially Zn²⁺ ions for polyphenoloxidase activities. EDTA has an inhibitory effect on phosphatase and N'acetylase activities. SDS has an inhibitory effect on dopamineoxydasic, pyrochatecholoxydasic and phosphatasic activities. On the other hand, it has no effect on N'Acethylglucosaminidasic activities.