Plant food residues including trimmings and peels might contain a range of enzymes capable of transforming bio-organic molecules,
and thus they may have potential uses in several biocatalytic processes, including green organic synthesis, modification of
food physicochemical properties, bioremediation, etc. Although the use of bacterial and fungal enzymes has gained interest
in studies pertaining to biocatalytic applications, plant enzymes have been given less attention or even disregarded. In this
view, this study aimed at investigating the use of a crude peroxidase (POD) preparation from onion solid by-products for oxidizing
chlorogenic acid (CGA), a widespread phenolic acid, various derivatives of which may occur in foods and food wastes. The highest
enzyme activity was observed at a pH value of 4, but considerable activity was also observed at pH 2. Favorable temperatures
for increased activity varied between 5 and 20 °C. Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis of a POD-treated CGA solution
showed the formation of two major oxidation products, which were tentatively identified as CGA dimers.
Keywords Biocatalysis – Chlorogenic acid – Onion – Peroxidase