Optimization of Enzymatic Hydrolysis Process and Effect of Sleep-improvement on Mice of the Instant Asparagus Powder

In order to study the enzymatic hydrolysis process conditions of instant asparagus powder and its improvement of sleep function in mice, the market Enyang asparagus was as raw materials, the powder yield and saponin content of instant asparagus powder were as two indicators, and pectinase and cellulas were compounded to enzymatic hydrolysis asparagus after scalded and pulped. The addition of enzyme compound (the mass ratio of pectinase to cellulase was 1:1), enzymolysis temperature, time, and pH were as experimental factors, and the optimum enzymatic hydrolysis process conditions was determined through single factor test and response surface test. Meanwhile, sleep-producing test with subthreshold dose of sodium pentobarbital, sleep latency test and prolonged sleep time test were conducted to investigate its function of improving sleep in mice by comparing the number of sleeping animals and the incidence of sleep, sleep latency and time in each group. The results showed that the optimal enzymolysis conditions for the instant asparagus powder were 0.12% dose of complex enzyme, enzymolysis temperature was 68 ℃, time was 2.2 h, and pH was 5.2. Under these conditions, the powder yield of instant asparagus powder was 42.7% and the saponin content was 21.4%. The incidence of sleep (26.7%, 36.7% and 43.3% respectively), sleep latency (29.0, 26.3 and 25.1 min respectively) and sleep time (36.4, 39.5 and 46.6 min respectively) in the low, medium and high dose groups of the instant asparagus powder were significantly better than those in the blank control group, and the dose-dependent increase or decrease was observed. The results indicated that the instant asparagus powder prepared by this method could improve the sleep function of mice to some extent.