Soybeans and soybean
milk were subjected to a high-pressure treatment to examine resultant changes
in the functional properties of the soy protein. The total solids and nitrogen
contents of the treated soybean milk were found to be less than those of non-treated
soybean milk. The trypsin inhibitor contained in soybeans proved highly
resistant to pressurization, with half of the normal inhibitory activity
remaining after a 30-minute treatment at 700 MPa. Lipoxigenase, which was more
sensitive than the trypsin inhibitor, was rendered inactive by both a 30-minute
treatment at 500 MPa and a 15-minute treatment at 600 MPa. Calcium and
glucono-δ-lactone (GDL)-based gel formation and foaming, both functional
properties of soy protein, were also tested. Compared to heat treatment, which
activated many of the functional properties of soy protein, high-pressure
treatment resulted in softer calcium and GDL gels and in reduced foaming.