EFFECTS OF ENZYMES ON SAPONINS AND POLYPHENOLS EXTRACTION FROM Musa balbisiana PEEL

Musa balbisiana, widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions, contains fundamental phytochemicals. This study aimed to investigate the effects of cellulase and pectinase enzymes on saponin and polyphenol-rich extractions from M. balbisiana peel. The results indicated that enzymatic treatment with cellulase and pectinase at a concentration of 0.6% (v/w), incubated at 40-45 °C for 90 min, yielded the highest saponin content with the total saponin content (TSC) of 17.50 ± 0.62 mg/gDM (cellulase) and 12.20 ± 0.65 mg/gDM (pectinase). Under the same conditions, the highest polyphenol content (TPC) were also obtained, with values of 19.80 ± 0.67 mgGAE/gDM and 13.27 ± 0.58 mgGAE/gDM for cellulase and pectinase treatments, respectively. Under selected enzymatic extraction conditions, the combined use of pectinase and cellulase at a ratio of 1:3, incubated for 90 min at 45 °C, resulted in the highest yields of bioactive compounds with 26.45 ± 0.90 mg/gDM (TSC) and 30.14 ± 0.47 mgGAE/gDM (TPC). The Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) results also showed that using enzymes changed the cell structure of the starting material and supported the extraction process. The enzyme-assisted extraction method is an effective means of improving the extraction efficiency of saponins and polyphenols from banana peel.