Comparative study of glucanase and biological compounds from tamarind seeds during germination

The enzyme glucanase was extracted from germinated tamarind (Tamarindus indica) seeds and leaves using different buffers having different pH. Activity was high in endosperm than in leaves. Highest activity was obtained with 50 mM citrate buffer, pH 5.2. The germination profile showed that the activity was high on the 16^th day of germination. The enzyme assay was carried out using Whatman No.1 filter paper and TSP (Tamarind seed powder) as substrates. Activity was observed to be high with filter paper when compared to that of TSP used as a substrate. The kinetic analysis of the enzyme glucanase indicated an optimum incubation time of 15 min, optimum pH 5.2, optimum temperature of 40°C, Km 6.57 and Vmax 0.1515 μmoles min⁻¹ mL⁻¹ of the unpurified enzyme. Further the estimations of proteins, phenolics and antioxidants were carried out in the germinated endosperm and leaves. The results obtained indicated that endosperm contained higher amount of proteins when compared to that of leaves, whereas phenolics and antioxidants were higher in the leaves