Rapid extraction of watermelon seed proteins using microwave and its functional properties

Solid food industry waste like watermelon seed is an excellent source of value-added components such as proteins, oil, and carbohydrate. In the present study, protein extraction was carried out using microwave energy from defatted watermelon seeds (DWS), containing 50% of proteins. Microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) was optimized with different parameters, namely, solid to solvent ratio (1:10-1:40), pH (7-10), microwave power (30 W, 50 W, 70 W), extraction time (30 s-8 min) and moisture content or pre-leaching effect. Maximum protein recovery was achieved with 50 W microwave power, solid to solvent ration of 1:30, and pH 10 in 2 minutes of microwave irradiation time. MAE gave higher yield in less time compared to conventional extraction. SDS-PAGE confirmed the molecular weight of watermelon seed proteins (WSP) in the range of 25-250 kDa. A comparative study showed 90% protein recovery with MAE in 2 min with 1:30 (w/v) solid to solvent ratio, whereas ultrasound gave 87% in 9 min with 1:50 (w/v) ratio and batch 72% in 25 min with 1:70 (w/v) ratio. Watermelon seed proteins obtained from MAE method possess excellent functional properties with reference to conventional extraction method indicating its application in food products.