Phytase: A Boom in Food Industry

Phytate [myo-inositol(1,2,3,4,5,6)hexakisphosphate] have been considered negative in food industry as it is the main storage form of phosphorus (P) in many plants but this phytate-bound P is not available to non – ruminants as they don’t have these endogenous enzyme and hence the availability and digestibility of phytate phosphorous is very low in these animals. Phytic acid has antinutrients behavior and has a potential for binding positively charged multivalent cations, proteins and amino acids in foods. Phytase [myoinositol(1,2,3,4,5,6)hexakisphosphate phosphohydrolases], a phytate-specific phosphates is an enzyme that can break down the undigestible phytic acid and thus release digestible phosphorus, calcium & other nutrients. Research in the field of animal nutrition has put forth the idea of supplementing phytase enzyme, exogenously, so as to make available bound nutrients from phytic acid and, thereby helps in food processing and digestion in the human alimentary tract. This review covers the application of phytase in food industry and emphasizes is given on developing new effective phytase with improved properties.