Invertase
See also :
Other Names : EC 3.2.1.26, saccharase, glucosucrase, beta-h-fructosidase, beta-fructosidase, invertin, sucrase, maxinvert L 1000, fructosylinvertase, alkaline invertase, acid invertase and the systematic name: beta-fructofuranosidase. The resulting mixture of fructose and glucose is called inverted sugar syrup.
Invertase is an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis (breakdown) of sucrose (table sugar). Related to invertases are sucrases. Invertases and sucrases hydrolyze sucrose to give the same mixture of glucose and fructose. Invertases cleave the O-C(fructose) bond, whereas the sucrases cleave the O-C(glucose) bond.For industrial use, invertase is usually derived from yeast. It is also synthesized by bees, who use it to make honey from nectar. Optimum temperature at which the rate of reaction is at its greatest is 60 °C and an optimum pH of 4.5. Typically, sugar is inverted with sulfuric acid.
Special Precautions of Invertase
- Diabetes : If a person is high in sugar, he should avoid using products containing invertase.
Health Benefits and uses of Invertase are
- Natural Immune Booster : Enzymes found in honey, such as invertase have been studied for their metabolic activity. Studies done on asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) found that high invertase activity found in the top portion of asparagus spears might be related to the high metabolism occurring in this portion.
- Antioxidant Support : Invertase has many antioxidant properties, and it is a powerful agent against harmful organisms. These two aspects allow it to aid in the defense against of bacterial infestations and gut fermentation due to oxidation. In Ancient India, raw honey was often used in patients with a weak heart. It was known to kill off bacteria and reduce intestinal ailments. It was also used for its hygroscopic (moisture-retaining) properties, and its ability to pull moisture out of the body, causing bacterial infestations to subside. Invertase is one of these key elements of the enzymatic support found in honey.
- Ulcers : Because invertase creates pre-digested simple sugars, it helps reduce stomach toxicity, in that sugars do not remain in the stomach long enough to create toxic fermentation. Fermentation is what causes bacteria and disease to build up in the digestive tract. In this way, invertase helps protect the body from ulcers, as well as many other digestive diseases.
- Naturally Toxic to Harmful Organisms : Again, in honey, enzymes such as invertase show the ability to turn glucose into natural hydrogen peroxide.
- Natural Respiratory Support : Enzymes including invertase have been shown to help reduce colds, flu and other respiratory infections. One European study on 18,000 patients found that honey drastically helped upper respiratory tract infections such as bronchitis, asthma and allergies.
- Cancer Support : Some medicinal studies also show that the invertase enzyme may exhibit some chemotherapeutic properties. Research done in Australia and Japan have found that the enzymes in honey helped support patients with advanced cases of both bone and stomach cancer. In some cases, the cancers even went into regression. Currently, enzyme therapy is being used as a vital component of many natural cancer therapies. European researchers reported, “Studies showed that enzyme therapy can reduce the adverse effects caused by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. There is also evidence that, in some types of tumours, survival may be prolonged and that the beneficial effect of systemic enzyme therapy seems to be based on its potential to reduce redness and swelling.”
References
- Hubert Schiweck, Margaret Clarke, Gunter Pollach. Sugar. Ullmann’s Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. 2007 April 15. DOI: 10.1002/14356007.a25_345.pub2.
- Kelly Joyce Neff. The healing power of honey: from burns to weak bones, raw honey can help. Natural News. 2007 January 26.
- N. Benkeblia, N. Yoshida, Y. Ooi, T. Nagamine, S. Onodera, N. Shiomi. Variations of carbohydrate content and invertase activity in green and white asparagus spears- effects of spear length and portion. Acta Hort. (ISHS) 776:459-464.
- Dale Kiefer. Promoting optimal nutrition with digestive enzymes. Life Extension Magazine. 2008 January.
