Abstract: Response surface methodology was used to optimize conditions for the enzymatic hydrolysis of buckwheat protein with alkaline protease to maximize the degree of hydrolysis (DH). The maximum DH value was obtained under the optimized hydrolysis conditions: a hydrolysis temperature of 64 ℃, pH9, an enzyme loading of 3704 U/g and a substrate concentration of 7.8 g/L. The predicted and observed DH values were 37.43% and 37.35%, respectively, suggesting good agreement.

Key words: response surface analysis, buckwheat protein, enzymolysis, buckwheat polypeptides, degree of hydrolysis