European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

PRODUCTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF AMYLASE FROM RHIZOPUS ORYZAE USING AGRICULTURAL WASTES AS SUBSTRATE

Shaheen Sulthana, H. Haseena Banu and S. Suganthi*

ABSTRACT

Fungal α-amylase, an enzyme which holds tremendous industrial and pharmaceutical applications is screened in the present study using the zero value material for submerged fermentation using the sugarcane baggage, banana peel and tapioca waste. Amylase was screened using starch agar plate assay and optimization of amylase production was done in fermentation media using different pH, carbon source, nitrogen source and substrate as three different agriculture wastes. The banana peel showed a maximum activity (231U/ml) of amylase. The maximum activity was observed at pH 6.0 (153U/ml), Maltose served as carbon source (174U/ml) while Yeast extract served as nitrogen source (187U/ml). The enzyme was stable at 400C and the pH was observed to be 7.0. Hence, the present study demonstrates that alpha amylases can be produced from Rhizopus oryzae using agricultural wastes and the amylase enzymes is thermostatically very stable.

Keywords: Rhizopus oryzae, Fungal ?-amylase, Agricultural wastes.