Pectinase-assisted extraction of stevioside (333.28 ± 2.20 lg) was more effective than cellulose-(128.05 ± 0.05 lg) or hemicellulase- (152 ± 0.05 lg) assisted extraction (Fig 3).ฃ
Pectinase (being proteolytic) has the ability to degrade pectic compounds, which are found in the middle lamella of primary walls. Increasing extraction times to 65–70 min did not further increase extraction yields (data not shown)