The effectiveness of pineapple juice in enzymatic browning inhibition was evaluated on the cut surface of banana slices. After storage of banana slices at 15 degrees C for 3 days, pineapple juice showed browning inhibition to a similar extent as 8 mM ascorbic acid but less than 4 mM sodium metabisulfite. Fractionation of pineapple juice by a solid-phase C18 cartridge revealed that the directly eluted fraction (DE fraction) inhibited banana polyphenol oxidase (PPO) about 100% when compared to the control. The DE fraction also showed more inhibitory effect than 8 mM ascorbic acid in enzymatic browning inhibition of banana puree during storage at 5 degrees C for 24 h. Further identification of the DE fraction by fractionation with ion exchange chromatography and confirmation using model systems indicated that malic acid and citric acid play an important role in the enzymatic browning inhibition of banana PPO.

Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) from pulp of banana [Musa (AAA Group) 'Gros Michel'] was extracted and precipitated with 80% saturated ammonium sulphate followed by conventional column chromatography on Sephacryl S-200 HR and fast protein liquid chromatography on Mono Q column. The lyophilised PPO obtained from Sephacryl S-200 HR column was used for characterisation and inhibition studies. The partially purified PPO obtained from the Mono Q column exhibited at least three isoenzymes. The banana PPO had optimum pH for activity at 7 and it was stable around the same pH. Only 48% of initial enzyme activity was lost after heating at 70°C for 30 min. The enzyme was completely inhibited by 2 mm sodium metabisulphite, 2 mm l-cysteine, 4 mm ascorbic acid, and 100 mm 4-hexylresorcinol. The K m and V max of banana PPO for dopamine were 2.08 mm and 0.124 mm min )1 respectively.