A novel strategy for using ficin enzyme from fig leaves to extract collagen from tannery-trimming wastes

There is a growing interest in the utilization of animal by-products and wastes. Plant-derived enzymes could play a vital role in collagen extraction from tannery-trimming wastes. Here, the ficin enzyme from fig leaves was used for collagen extraction and compared with conventional acetic acid and pepsin extraction methods, aiming to assess the efficiency and purity of collagen extracted using this plant-based enzyme approach relative to the organic solvents and animal-derived enzymes. The extracted collagen was identified as type I collagen. Response surface methodology analysis revealed that the ficin enzyme-soluble collagen yielded 15.28 % at a hydrolysis time of 39.27 h, a ficin enzyme dose of 5.54 %, and a mixing ratio of 15.87, higher than the acetic acid-soluble collagen yield of 9.52 % and pepsin enzyme-soluble collagen yield of 14.56 %. Ficin enzyme-soluble collagen exhibited better integrity of the triple helical structure with fewer proteinaceous impurities, though it showed poorer thermal stability. Ultrasound treatment at 800 W for 30 min did not significantly disrupt the triple helical structure of collagen. The work aims to develop a green and sustainable method for extracting collagen from tannery-trimming wastes, offering a novel approach for the high-value conversion of animal by-products and agro-residues wastes.